Are my chronic mouth sores and throat lump serious?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 22-year-old female. I have some mouth and throat concerns. I have ulcers, a sore throat, occasional oral thrush, difficulty swallowing, a lump on the throat (larynx), night sweats, fever, loose teeth, and abnormal discoloration in the mouth. I am currently on birth control patch, Dextro-amphetamine, and Cymbalta.

I have been struggling for months now with quite a few mouth and throat issues. I have constant mouth ulcers that are taking weeks to heal. I get the sensation that I have not swallowed something completely down, and that it is stuck, so I will keep swallowing and swallowing it, which drives me mad. It is not easy for me to keep doing this because swallowing feels harder than it should be, almost like my throat is too swollen.

I have a sore throat 80 percent of the time. I have odd waves of oral thrush, and my mouth also has pale and red areas on my soft palate; my hard palate is just very pale. I have a couple of loose teeth, but otherwise in very good shape. Frequent random nose bleeds that are usually heavy but can be light at times. Night sweats every night and feel easily overheated during the day.

I have also now become more concerned since my throat developed a hard lump on the top of my larynx. It feels very swollen, as if it is almost like it is ready to explode. It does not move, and it stays firm, putting a lot of pressure on my throat. I am assuming this is why it feels hard to swallow. It does not hurt, but if I push on it to feel the firmness, it causes discomfort to the surroundings, mostly underneath the lump.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

First and foremost, I want you to stay calm and not feel disheartened. From what you have described, this does not immediately suggest anything serious. We commonly see similar complaints in our outpatient department, and in most cases, they are manageable and resolve with simple care.

Oral ulcers can occur due to many reasons, including vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, mild infections, repeated trauma from teeth or food, low immunity, or even stress. Testing for every possible cause at once can become expensive and overwhelming. It is usually better to start with simple corrective measures and basic investigations if required.

Your difficulty in swallowing, especially without significant pain, may be due to small ulcers in the throat, mild pharyngeal infection, or gastric irritation from acid reflux. Sometimes reflux can present without obvious heartburn but still cause throat discomfort.

I would advise you to start a good multivitamin supplement for two to three months and maintain a healthy, hygienic lifestyle. Avoid smoking and alcohol completely. Stay away from spicy, oily, and junk foods, as they can worsen irritation. Do warm salt water gargles several times a day and sip boiled warm water frequently to keep your throat clean and soothed.

If you notice even mild symptoms of acidity, consider anti-reflux treatment after consulting a doctor. It would also be reasonable to check your blood sugar levels and viral markers such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) to rule out underlying causes.

Most importantly, avoid excessive Googling of symptoms and do not let stress take over. Stress itself can delay healing and contribute to recurrent ulcers. With proper care and a calm approach, these symptoms usually improve. Please follow up if the problem persists or worsens.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert in case of further queries.

Thank you.