Swollen neck glands and tightness of throat

Just a thought but have you tried any antihistamines in case the cause/problem is due to some sort of allergy - you can develop allergies at any age.

Come to think of it I had quit smoking about 8 weeks prior to this starting up but now I realize this all started happening after I started smoking again........Wonder if there is a connection. Well good news is that I quit again...But this time for good. I feel better when I don't.....Thanks for the thought

Spazgal: I have recently developed similar symptoms. It started after a night out drinking with a trip to the hospital because the swelling had cut off my breathing passage.

I am familiar with the constant swallowing because you feel like something is there, but there isn't.

Caffiene, smoking, sugar, and alcohol seem to add to the problem. I have bendadryl that I take and it used to take care of the problem. But now benadryl is losing its punch.

I quit smoking recently to see if that helps. Time will tell. I am very scared.
I am planning to see a ear/nose/throat specialist soon.

Let me know if you have had any recent developments.

Hey, I realize this thread is very old but I have been having a very similar problem for about a month now (feel like something's in my throat constantly, feels strained when I talk) and this all transpired after a night of screaming along to a CD in the car with some friends. I've smoked and drank (pretty heavily) since then which was obviously a bad idea and I am now very worried that this might be a permanent thing going on. I was wondering, if you're still out there, if everything ended up alright for you and if so how you went about fixing yourself. Hope you see this!

Did any of you find out what was wrong?

It sounds like the common theme here is smoking. I quit three days ago and developed what is called "the quitter's flu". Last night I felt some pain in my ear and realized one of my lymph nodes below my chin was swollen, and I couldn't swallow or speak loudly without extreme discomfort.

From what I understand, this goes away pretty quickly (within a week or two) of COMPLETELY ceasing smoking. There is a ton of good information on this stuff at about.com. Go to the homepage, and type in "smoking cessation" in the search engine. This should take you straight to the Smoking Cessation forum's home. They have a "Quit Smoking Library" link on the right side of the screen. In addition, you can jump onto one of the forums and ask some of the more experienced quitters what their symptoms were like and how long they lasted.

If smoking isn't the cause, swollen nodes are usually a sign of infection. There is a high concentration of white blood cells around the nodes - the cells responsible for fighting infection. When your body is trying to fight something off, the nodes can often become inflamed.

If you don't smoke, and have been experiencing swollen nodes for longer than a few days, I would definitely go and see a physician. And if cost is an issue, one of the RN's at a Minute Clinic may be able to help you.

Best of luck to everyone!

Fortysomething y/o male. smoker for 20 years, quit a year ago. 2.5 months ago I noticed a swelling that occured only when speaking at certain pitch and tone; swelling or mass (hate the word) that appears is just lateral to the larynx on my left side approximately 2.5 cm above clavicular notch. Mass is not well defined at all and is obviously movable. After palpating area and attempting to illicit the appearance of mass again with speaking and various muscle positions /tone, area becomes sore for prolonged period. Same motions of palpations on right side, no pain residual. Slight discomfort with swallowing. Discomfort starts at the same area of approximately 2.5 cm above clavicular notch moves up along medial side of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle. No other masses noted, no apparent glandular involvement
No recent history (over a year) of any fever, no weight loss, no significant night sweats, always did get a little diaphoretic at certain points in my sleep cycle, no change from that baseline. Note, chronic mild sinusitis, responds to Claritin D.
This has not been overly symptomatic in past 80 days since onset, many times during this time period, was unable to illicit any mass or discomfort.
Finally remembered to mention to my doc today in office, was able to reproduce mass with speech. Doc not a poker playerclearly saw his concern. Sending me for ultrasound, rule out lymph node vs thyroid, I got appointment for today (same day).
Meanwhile, any insight anyone?

Today I had to go to the dr. as I awoke to find a lump on my left side of neck, just below my ear.
I quit smoking about 3 months ago. He sent me for blood work, and then a visit to the ear/nose/throat specialist.
My face is a tad swollen on the left side by my ear aswell. I feel an infection perhaps?

i have been dipping (mouth tobacco) for about two years, about a month ago i noticed a lymph node was swollen under my left chin, which is the same side i put my dip. recently i have noticed a sharp pain when i swallow or drink in my throat around the area my lymph node is. today i noticed a sudden tightness in my throat that would come and go rappidly. help?

i have been dipping (mouth tobacco) for about two years, about a month ago i noticed a lymph node was swollen under my left chin, which is the same side i put my dip. recently i have noticed a sharp pain when i swallow or drink in my throat around the area my lymph node is. today i noticed a sudden tightness in my throat that would come and go rappidly. help?

Hi

I can understand your situation. First please go to ENT doctor. If possible ask him to take fnac test. This is a very simple test in which sample is taken from the lymph node using syringe. Also ask to get culture of the sample taken. I just recently had swollen lymph node, was terrified thinking it could be cancer. Thank god it is not, but was diagnosed for tuberculosis.

So please get this checked soon.