Throat pain for 8 weeks...also tremors

[mat-uk]

I have had pains in my throat area for the last 8 weeks....the pains seem to come and go by the hour and doesn't really have any connection to eating or sleeping etc. I can't really tie it down to a specific part of my throat but it appears to be around my glands and adams apple area mainly. My throat is not particularly swollen and the pain is dull. I have occasionally had a 'flare up' where the pain / tightness seems to increase and I have had to go to bed for a few hours. Aspirin does calm this down. I don't really feel any pain / sensation when swallowing (actually feels a bit better)

The other symptom is a tremor in my hands / body. Again this seems to come and go but possibly more occurrances happen while sleeping (I wake up with tremors). My heart beat seems steady but at the start of the illness I was getting heart palpultations.

I have had 2 sets of blood tests, both returning 'normal' TSH, T3 and T4 levels.

I have also recently had an ultrasound on my thyroid / neck area and was told this was fine, other than one enlarged lymph node. I was told to forget about the lymph node as it wasn't significant.

My GP put me on some Proton Pump Inhibitors just to ensure that it wasn't a stomach acid problem (GORD/GERD) effecting my esophagus. I have reduced my consumption of alcohol / spicy food etc but after 2 weeks this hasn't really had any effect.

The only other thing I can say is that prior to this illness I had shingles on my chest and back....this came and went very quickly (1 week or so) with the help of aciclovar tablets.

My GP has referred me to a specialist but any advice would be greatly received

[thesecret]

A related discussion, What causes neck/throat pains? was started.

[RJ2007]

I was experiencing low grade fever which would come and go in spurts and jerks in May 2007. Post which my Thyroid tests showed elevated T3,T4 and low TSH..a scan confirmed poor uptake of RAIU...post that currently am in the hypo phase. Till date there has not been any pain in the neck area..fever persisted till about last week..however since last 3/4 days there has been no occurence of low grade fever but I experience tremors in my right hand fingers... So far am not any medications, Please Help.

[mat-uk]

Thanks for your supportive comments

[baynative]

Hi Mat,

I had also been told by my GP and ER doctors that my throat issues where either muscular or caused by stress.  While that is a possibility, it would be beneficial to get the antibodies test anyway.  Personally I feel that the diagnosis of stress and anxiety are used a little too freely when doctors are not able to find anything wrong.  So, rest, a balanced diet,  no caffeine, and implementation of relaxing activities will certainly help you.  If you try all these and you still have problems, don't give up on getting help.  Don't wait as long as I did.

[mat-uk]

Thanks for your answers.

The ENT specialist has diagnosed this as 'classic anxiety' - the pain is muscular and not viral. I guess stress etc is a funny thing with a multitude of symptoms/effects. I will take this on board and hopefully move forward

Regards

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Sounds like you have had normal thyroid testing (labs and ultrasound) -- so at this point either an ENT (ear-nose-throat specialist) or a GI (stomach specialist) evaluation is in order.

[baynative]

Hi there, what you have sounds similar to what I have.  I started with a choking sensation last year that seemed to be brought on by eating certain foods.  It would come and go, but when I did feel it I felt so drained and ill.  It progressed to where I started having a constant choking feeling along with pain no matter what I ate.  I had an ultrasound of my throat last year and the ENT found a small lymph node.  Had another ultrasound this year and was told my thyroid was textured.  I too thought that I had acid reflux, but the ENT looked down my throat with a camera and said my vocal cords were perfect, no swelling or redness.  That, along with high thyroid antibodies, lead her to refer me to an endo.  Saw endo a few days ago who put me on Levoxyl (cautiously optimistic that this will help).  I have other symptoms (fatigue, swollen calves, palpitations, low urine output, pale face, lack of concentration, to name a few.)  All my other thyroid tests were normal.  I would suggest convincing your doctor or a specialist to test for thyroid antibodies.  I'm being treated based on my high thyroid antibodies alone.  I should have requested treatment last year, and now I regret it because I wouldn't have had to go through the discomfort and pain I'm dealing with now.  Take it from me, the sooner you get treated, the better.  Good luck to you!