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Welcome back Dr. Stoll. I’m so happy to hear you are feeling better.
I have been wanting to ask you about the following:
Around May last year I began noticing a funny feeling below my left ear. Vague, and hard to pinpoint, I have alternately thought it was my left tonsil area, lymph nodes under neck in that area, left side of my tongue, something stuck in my throat, etc. I have to admit, that the weird feeling is so slight that I have questioned whether or not I am making it up. Well, I also have what feels like a hard lymph node right near the area. It’s been there the whole time. I had an ENT look with the fiberoptic scope, and he found nothing. When I went for follow-up I saw a different ENT (the first’s fellowship had run out). He just put a mirror in my throat, looked, and said there was no tumor, etc. He also said what I was feeling was my carotid bulb, and that it was just asymmetrical (a lot larger) than on the other side. Well, the bump feels like a marble. I can feel it very well and have a hard time believing it is my carotid bulb (although it does seem to be situated right where my carotid artery runs). He said I should try prilosec (I’ve had GERD before, but got it under control when I switched to quasi-whole foods diet). Well, it wasn’t the GERD.
I keep asking for an MRI, but the doc says that it is of minimal value since the laryngoscopy shows him just about everything. Docs seem competent, but I am concerned, especially since the bump has been there the whole time. Does this sound like anything serious? Should I demand an MRI? I am 27, lead a fairly stressful life (work full-time, attend law school at night) and smoked marijuana regularly (at night) for the last 8 years. I don’t think this is bracing since my jaw doesn’t feel really tight and I don’t notice myself clenching my jaw at night. I have also had massage treatments. I am a very intense person however.
Any comments would be greatly appreciated. I go back to the doc in a little over a month.
In Reply to: Question for Dr. Stoll posted by R. [1682.1399] on October 12, 2005 at 16:32:26:
Please choose a different nickname because I've been using this one here for years.
In Reply to: Question for Dr. Stoll posted by R. [1682.1399] on October 12, 2005 at 16:32:26:
Hi, R.
There is a rare tumor, called a carotid body tumor, that would be best diagnosed by a head and neck surgeon and usually missed by an ENT specialist.
My next door neighbor (also in her late 20s) has had two of them---VERY rare. These ar not malignant but will continue to grow and become harder and harder to remove as time goes on.
Let us know what you learn.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Question for Dr. Stoll posted by Walt Stoll [93.1889] on October 13, 2005 at 07:49:12:
Thank you very much Dr. Stoll.
I'm wondering, how certain can the ENT be that I don't have some sort of throat cancer from just looking at me with the fiber optic scope?
Also, could the thing I feel be scar tissue from touching so often (could the scar tissue get hard like that?)?
And would the carotid bulb tumor explain the wierd sensations around that area of my jaw/throat/ear/tongue?
Sorry for asking so many questions, but I've been worried about this for awhile and I don't feel like the Dr. (who I think is a heac and neck surgeon) is taking me seriously. I'm thinking of going out and paying for my own MRI.
Thanks again. I will post an update after I see the doctor.
In Reply to: Re: Question for Dr. Stoll posted by RS [4686.1351] on October 13, 2005 at 12:30:05:
Hi, RS.
The ENT looking with a fiber optic pharyngoscope is VERY accurate.
What reason would you have for scar tissue?
Yes, for the CB tumor question.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Question for Dr. Stoll posted by Walt Stoll [93.1889] on October 13, 2005 at 16:11:14:
Hi Dr. Stoll -
Thanks again. To answer your question, for months I've thought it was an enlarged lymph node. Then I was worried it could be some metastasis from something horrible, so I touched it alot to see if it decreased in size. I know, I know - don't touch it! (I've read the archives many times) But I couldn't help myself. I'm still a little worried b/c it just doesn't feel right and it feels strangely tender in the area, but you have made me feel much better!
Off topic - I wanted to thank you for offering yourself to others and for the website. I have really changed my life around, for the better from what I've learned. I eat around 95% whole foods diet for the last couple of years, try to meditate as often as I can (though not the twice a day you recommend), and have really felt a change both in MIND and BODY. (Have self-cured for the most part what was horrible and daily GERD problem which would burn into my back and under my rib cage) I just wanted to add myself to the list of people whose life you have touched.
RS
In Reply to: Re: Question for Dr. Stoll posted by RS [4686.1351] on October 13, 2005 at 12:30:05:
$1437.00-bill for recent head MRI for my kid. Just got second bill-turns out there's a $246.00 charge for a doctor to READ the MRI.Total:$1683.00-USA.
In Reply to: Re: Question for Dr. Stoll posted by ANN [1003.516] on October 13, 2005 at 19:26:15:
Ouch!
I guess I'll have to decide whether its worth it to give me some peace of mind.
Thanks for the info.
RS
In Reply to: Re: Question for Dr. Stoll posted by RS [4686.1351] on October 13, 2005 at 12:30:05:
how certain can the ENT be that I don't have some sort of throat cancer from just looking at me with the fiber optic scope?
any suspicious-looking cells would be sent to lab for a biopsy.
But I know NOTHING about this cartoid body tumor thing.
In Reply to: Re: Question for Dr. Stoll posted by RS [4372.1351] on October 13, 2005 at 16:30:32:
Thanks, RS.
Glad I could help.
Walt
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