Worried about Throat, even after Reassurance from Doctors

[AnxietyGuy]

So, I was having nose bleeds for a while and it turns out I had a leaky blood vessel in my nose so I had that cauterized. I of course worried that I had something VERY serious going on with my nostril.  Nope, just a 10 minute cauterization. Well, I also just happened to have the same flash light that I would inspect my nostril with handy and I did a mouth/ throat exam.

I saw these slightly raised couple of patches of tissue in my throat, that I thought looked abnormal. So I immediately drove to a quick care clinic and had them inspect it. The Physican Assistant said 'it's from drainage'.  That wasn't enough for me though for reassurance. I went back, embarressingly, to the ENT that did the nasal cauterization and had him look at my throat. He said 'everything looks normal, not sure what you're looking at. Sometimes there can be sub-epithiel lymphoid tissue there'. He wasn't at all concerned.

Now here's where I'm at. My psychologist and everyone else says I need to drop it now, but I have a physical coming up in a couple of weeks with a primary care physician. Is this health anxiety that is wanting me to have this third medical professional provide me with reassurance? I have no throat symptoms, but just my own self-diagnosis of something bad. Should I resist the urge to ask this third doctor after an ENT and Physican assistant both brushed it off?

Ever heard of these little areas (2 for me) in the back of the throat being raised... slightly pink/ fleshy colored.

[Angelofworry]

If it helps at all I have them too. I actually have three areas that have been there forever. My doc always tells me they are normal. Good luck!

[AnxietyGuy]

If it helps at all I have them too. I actually have three areas that have been there forever. My doc always tells me they are normal. Good luck!

That does help... I think with HA, it's just nice knowing that there are other people htat have similar things and it isn't an issue.  Your spots are in the back of your throat too? Yah, they look peculiar, but definitely not something to worry about it sounds like.

I'm going to TRY to take the advice of my psychotherapist and two different medical professionals and not ask the third doctor.  It gets to the point of redundant. If he happens to mention them during my complete physical, then so be it.

[Hohum]

AnxietyGuy - welcome to the forums! The fact that you made an account to discuss your problems here is a great first step.

You have had two medical professionals look at your throat - one of whom is a specialist in that area. Try to remember that ENT doctors see nothing but ears, noses and throats all day long! They have likely seen every condition there is no matter how rare or common, and know exactly what to look for. If an ENT has given you a clean bill of health for this concern, then it's time to try and accept that and move on.

The constant need for reassurance, but unwillingness to accept it when given, is pretty much chapter 1 page 1 from the book on health anxiety. The real issue here is not your throat, but your mindset. You mention that you have a psychologist - do you see them regularly and if so, do you discuss your health anxiety problems?

[AnxietyGuy]

AnxietyGuy - welcome to the forums! The fact that you made an account to discuss your problems here is a great first step.

You have had two medical professionals look at your throat - one of whom is a specialist in that area. Try to remember that ENT doctors see nothing but ears, noses and throats all day long! They have likely seen every condition there is no matter how rare or common, and know exactly what to look for. If an ENT has given you a clean bill of health for this concern, then it's time to try and accept that and move on.

The constant need for reassurance, but unwillingness to accept it when given, is pretty much chapter 1 page 1 from the book on health anxiety. The real issue here is not your throat, but your mindset. You mention that you have a psychologist - do you see them regularly and if so, do you discuss your health anxiety problems?

Thanks for your nice response.  I do discuss the symptoms with my psychologist, but I'm not so sure I'm a fan of his CBT methedology. He tends to go more towards the exposure therapy route. I.e., 'even though your probability is slim, imagine if it were... you'd go through treatments, I'd lose my hair from chemo, etc'.  It's rather torturous, but I've only been in this type of CBT for a month or two.

You're right about the ENT dismissing it. He basically said it's nothing and unless it was hurting or something, well then of course with health anxiety I focus in on waiting for my throat to hurt, which can be anything. Rationally too I know that it's silly, because there are a few spots. Usually a tumor like that from what I've read is one solitary tumor.

[Hohum]

Good news that you're receiving some therapy for your HA. Personally I would not like his tactics either, but I guess it helps to explore all options to find something which works for you. If you really don't find this therapy helpful it might be time to ask him to change it up, or find another therapist?

You've gone from 0-100mph by considering that a random throat spot could be a tumor. It could be anything and it's almost always nothing. Our bodies are full of weird lumps, bumps and spots which are completely normal and don't mean anything at all.

Do stick with the therapy though, and keep trying until you find something that works. For me, self-therapy worked best. After years of living with HA I've finally managed to re-tune my brain to accept many things which I could not before.

Good luck and keep on with this website! I have found it to be a great resource and very helpful.

[AnxietyGuy]

So, in summary, since I've asked one Physician Assistant and an ENT to look at my throat and they didn't seem alarmed. Should I ask a third Physician at my Physical in two weeks or should I fight the urge to reassurance check again. I know he'll check everything anyhow, hence the point of a physical.