Scared....tell me it's gonna be OK

stina3246 · 12-11-2007, 09:10 PM

OK...first, here are my symptoms
1.feeling of a lump in my throat
2. tighness in throat
3. constant clearing of throat
4. occasional dry cough
5. occasional feeling of congestion
6. Occasional raspy voice, mostly in the morning.
7. Symptoms are worse when I worry
These symptoms come and go, yesterday I felt GREAT! Today I feel aweful.
These symptoms started almost 3 weeks ago. I DO have a large thyroid nodule (about the size of a golf ball) It has been there for over 15 years and I've had every test done on it possible. The last one was just over a year ago and everything was normal. ANY time I get a cold I do get this feeling of a lump in my throat and I always assumed it was just my lump being irritated. It always goes away. I drink a HUGE amount of coffee and eat a lot of spicy foods. Because of work I often eat late at night before I go to bed. Once in a while I get classic heartburn symptoms but have had NONE since these other problems started. I'm a bit over weight (only in the last 2 years) but am working out however I don't seem to be loosing any weight. I'm 40.
The rest of the sypmtoms are new accept for the throat clearing. I feel better being up and moving around then sitting.
I had myself convinced it was throat cancer and was freaking out until I started reading this and another site with so many people with the same symptoms. I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor ASAP but I'm still very scared.
Please someone tell me that I have a very high chance of it being GERD or acid reflux and almost none of it being cancer.

LELE31 · 12-11-2007, 10:34 PM

Hi -- I'm new here too---

I know how scared you're feeling -- you need to go to the Gastro. Doc -- your medical history with the Thyroid and all of this has to be addressed.

The main thing and I have to listen to my own words is to stay calm, all the worry makes ACID REFLUX/GERD worse, I'm learning that. It's taken me 6 months to get diagnosed! I still have more tests to take and I'm scared too.

The feeling of a lump in your throat or something stuck is awful. I myself had a very scary situation today. I was sucking on a hard candy to try to soothe my throat and when it came to the last of it and I chewed it and swallowed it I had the feeling that I had glass stuck in my throat got very anxious and it lasted all day - live and learn I won't be sucking on a candy for a long time.

This message board has been a great source of information and support -- I just found it recently read so many things that were of great help and then found the nerve to join.

be well -- keep in touch --you will be ok just concentrate on staying calm --I know easier said then done.

stina3246 · 12-12-2007, 10:51 AM

Thanks LeLe31.
I have an appointment for Mon. I'm feeling so scared that I'm dizzy. I felt really bad yesterday but today I woke up and only feel a slight congestion. The lump feeling is nearly gone....I guess that good right?

noggin7717 · 12-12-2007, 12:29 PM

Going to let slip out of the bag something about GERD,
(if that is indeed what you have)
....

It will not get better overnight, in a week, in a month, in a year, etc. From the little bit of your history gathered, "I drink a HUGE amount of coffee and eat a lot of spicy foods. Because of work I often eat late at night before I go to bed. Once in a while I get classic heartburn symptoms but have had NONE since these other problems started." it has been several years in the making and will not go away with a little bit of meds. Again, IF it is GERD, it has been doing damage for a very long period of time and your body will need time to heal.

The point being, while you're going through this try to remain calm and above all, be patient. It took me 4 trips to the ER, 4-5 trips to the doctors office, and almost a year being on Nexium before I got my first endoscope done.

Hang in there. Find out what's going on. Be persistent with the doctor(s). Try not to worry, know it's hard, but try. Worrying will only make any condition worse.

-Noggin

stina3246 · 12-12-2007, 12:37 PM

Thanks for your response Noggin7717. I know if it IS GERD or acid reflux then I'll probably be dealing with this for a while. GERD is something that I can handle....throat cancer I can not. I was just hoping someone would say "Yes, you have the classic symptoms of (anything that isn't cancer). I'm trying to relax and think logically about this but......