Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Forum - Sore throat and lightheadedness

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Q: Sore throat and lightheadedness

asked by: Student84 on June 7th, 2008

New User

Hi!

I`m currently on my 2month mark since my first Tonsillectomy(7th April) I`ve gotten re-cauterized 3(!)times after the surgery on day 4 - 6 and 20.

For the past weeks I`ve started getting a really sore throat. It happened all of a sudden for about 2-3weeks ago, back at the time I was drinking nothing but water, and only eating babyfoods and proteinshakes. I couldn`t figure out at the time what was causing it, and thought it might have something to do with chlorine in the water or something....

I started to drink some grapejuice instead and more milk. It helped a little but I was still pretty sore, and each time I drank a little water it would burn my throat afterwards..

I took a peek down my throat and noticed that the left side of my throat(on the picture.) was much more red than the right and I am pretty sure it is the source of my soreness. It seems that it only reacts to liquids, and that water is main culprit, foods, bread, even hot stuff goes down ok.

I cannot understand what the problem is and why I suddenly got it now, I`ve never struggled with sore throat ever before, maybe once or twice every 2years or so.. Also, it doesen`t hurt WHILE I`m drinking, it`s more of an "after effect" if you like... a soreness.

http://www.skjermskudd.com/show.php/636_so rethroat1b.jpg
http://www.skjermskudd.com/show.php/637_so rethroat2.jpg

I would also like to adress a feeling I`ve had the last 3-4days now, lightheadedness. I am allergic to pollen and the day I started getting lightheaded I got this terrible allergic reaction and the nose wouldn`t stop running. Is this the source of my allergies, or could it be something else?

I have a stiff neck(probably due to sleeping with my head elevated for so long..) and I notice that it`s a little hard to keep my balance when I`m standing still upright. I`ve also started to scratch my neck from time to time, like it`s itching.. My head also feels "heavy", in lack of a better word..

I`ve been worried the dizzyness and lightheadedness could be because of diabetes or something like that, since I used to drink a couple of glasses of Pepsi pr.day before these two months with almost no sugar and I know that could be some the symptoms.. I also feel a little less lightheaded after a meal I think..

I`m a healthy male(or was..), 23years old and have no special healthdissorders. I have allergies and had asthma before. I`ve gotten an appointment with the local doctor(not ENT-specialist though..) this tuesday but I`m not sure what to expect ..

Hope for a good response and some advise on what to do, or what I should ask the doctor for..

Replies(11)

CarolDiane

replied on June 7th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

I hate to have to give you such a short reply but, this is not normal. Either your eating the wrong food and it is irritating you throat or you may even have an infection now. I would waste time no longer and go call your surgeon and get to the bottom of this.

Student84

replied on June 7th, 2008

New User

Hi Diane, thanks for the quick response! Smile

Yeah, I figured it wasn`t.. just thought it would go away by itself after a while, but it`s still sore..

This started before I was eating any solids and I was only drinking water, mostly cold.

You say it may be an infection? Wouldn`t it be more spread out//equal on left and right? Do you think it is reason enough to seek a Ear Nose Throat specialist? Because there is one where I live, but if I don`t get an "acute" appointment, I don`t think I will get one for a couple of months.. is this acute you think?

I also sent a link to the admin at this forum, maybe the Dr. can recognize what`s wrong..

CarolDiane

replied on June 7th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Nah, I would not go as far as seeing an ENT yet. I would go straight to the surgeon. And yes, it could only hurt on one side. That is not unusual at all. It could even be a little scare tissue. That is whay I think it best to see the doc that did the sergury.

I wish you the best. If you have any more questions, I will try and answer them for ya.

Student84

replied on June 8th, 2008

New User

Well, there`s just this problem that my original surgeon is 2hours away from where I live, and the surgeon that did my cauterization the first and the third time was some random doc. at the E.R.(dunno who..) So it would be a pretty long trip either way to have it checked out..

I think I will try going to the ENT. tomorrow if he has an available appointment early in the morning. I had an appointment with him about 3weeks ago, so he knows a little about my condition.

Scar tissue you say.. but why would there be scar tissue at the back of my throat, and not where my tonsils were?

This also occurred about 1month after my original surgery, and after 3 cauterizations so I don`t know "who" would be the best to talk to about this, I haven`t had any contact at all with my original surgeon and not with the surgeons at the hospital..

any idea on what I could try to get rid of the dizzyness and lightheadedness?

CarolDiane

replied on June 8th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Then I would go ahead and see your PCP and see what he/she says and then go from there. It is also not uncommon for this proceedure to be tender for a number of weeks. It really depends how deep they have to cut and how much bleeding you did during the proceedure. What I would do is go back to soft food for a while. I know this sounds gross, but of up kave a bender, put your fruit and veggies in there and drink it. And remember to limit you citrus intake. That can cause some reall pain for you.
Let me know how you make out. LOL....just to prove how different patients are, my middle son came home after his and had a plate of spiggetti.

Student84

replied on June 9th, 2008

New User

Hehe, well.. they didn`t cut the back of my throat, they just removed my tonsils(I hope =)) so it really shouldn`t matter what they did to my tonsils? The sores are way in the back of my throat, in the pharynx, or what`s it called.

I don`t see how returning to soft foods would do me any good, as I wrote, this happened when I was only "drinking" my food, and we`re talking mild babyfood, proteinshakes and water - that`s all I ate. So if it got sore after I returned to "normal foods", I could see your point, but it didn`t ://

I`ve kept away from citrus the whole time, oranges, lime, anything with citrus in it, and when I finally tried to have some last week, it didn`t make me burn more than regular tap-water.. so that was a bit strange.

Hehe.. kids are sooo lucky, they don`t even know it :p

I just got off the phone with the ENT-specialist and I was lucky enough to get an appointment, even though the waiting line was 9(!!) weeks.. So I`ve written a long list of things to ask him and what I should do, if there`s any medication and so on..

Thanks for keeping this thread alive, I`ll keep you posted!

Dr. Nikola

replied on June 9th, 2008

Doctor

Can you tell me why your tonsils were removed? Did you have chronic tonsillitis and often tonsils/throat infections?
Why did you need 4 surgical interventions to remove the tonsils completely?
Do you have swollen lymph glands on the neck?
Do you feel the pain all the time or only when swallow?

Student84

replied on June 9th, 2008

New User

Hi Dr.Nikola!

Yes, I had chronic tonsillitis, and that was the main reason.

The first surgery was to remove my tonsils, but after that I started bleeding on day 4(right side), 6(left side), and 20(left side), and had to go to the Emergency Room to get cauterized., to stop the bleeding.

I can`t see or feel any swollen lymph glands on the neck.

I feel a soreness/burning after drinking, but not while I`m drinking. The throat is constantly sore, but it`s often most sore right after I have been drinking any liquid. Only on the left side.

As you see in the picture, that is the way it looks all of the time. It may seem that it`s a little less aggressive in the morning, before I drink anything, but I am not sure.

Thanks.

Dr. Nikola

replied on June 9th, 2008

Doctor

According to your picture and your symptoms it seems to me that you have slight inflammation/infection of the pharynx. It is not so big problem to worry about. You can use some topic antiseptics (1% iodine solution for example) for gargling in order to treat throat infection. You can avoid irritating drinks like carbonated juices.
You can also consult your primary health provider or some ENT-specialist if symptoms become unbearable.

Users who thank Dr. Nikola for this post: Student84

Student84

replied on June 11th, 2008

New User

Ok, thanks Very Happy

I`ll try some "home treatment" and see if it helps.

Thank you again for making the world a more healthier place Smile

Tryx

replied on January 21st, 2009

New User

Hey

just wanted to tell you that I had the same 'heavy-headedness' and went to my sisters chiropractor (even though I've never really liked chiropractors) and he adjusted my neck - long story short, my 'head' symptoms went away along with some throat problems, ear problems, and tooth problems.

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