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Extreme difficulty swallowing + ear pain

Posted by hyunwkc @hyunwkc, Jun 7 9:32am

Symptoms have lasted ~3 days, which are:
- painful to swallow saliva, is somewhat less painful when gulping water
- usually I can easily cough up mucus by making a hocking sound, but now when i do that to get rid of the feeling in my throat it feels like the mucus got trapped in between my nose and my mouth with no way to get it out.
- yawning yields a painful and disturbing sensation of my throat being forced open??
- said swallowing, especially when eating food, causes strange cracking/popping feeling in my right ear
- not visually noticeable but significant swelling/soft bump under right jaw

Please offer some anecdotes/advice on my situation, as I'm in a foreign language country and need to prepare accordingly if medical attention is necessary

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thomason | @thomason | Jun 8 4:07am

Hello @hyunwkc. It sounds like you might have an infection causing that swollen lymph node, which usually requires antibiotics to clear up.

If trapped mucus is a chronic issue for you, that could actually be the root cause of the infections. I went through this myself and spent a year feeling like I was constantly drowning from infections. After an ENT specialist did a nasal endoscopy (scoping down my throat), we discovered that my vocal cords are paralyzed. They act like doors that open and close to let mucus out, so if they are even partially paralyzed, it can cause severe buildup.

I highly recommend seeing an ENT for a scoping if you can. In the meantime, try gargling with warm salt water and look for an over-the-counter Primatene Mist Inhaler—it truly saved me from feeling like I was suffocating. Aerosol saline throat spray is also excellent for breaking down the mucus. I eventually had a tracheotomy surgery, which has been an absolute lifesaver for me. Wishing you all the best and a quick recovery!

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rocket1 | @rocket1 | Jun 8 6:42am

Hi there, most definitely sounds like an infection, I also had a number of infections after ear surgery and your symptoms are very similar to one of my experiences with such a condition, most definitely see a doctor. All the best and stay safe.

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