Persistent Throat Discomfort: Is It Physical or Psychological? - Psychiatry

I have what illness?

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Hello Doctor, I have a severe sensation of a foreign body and sharp pain in my oral cavity, throat, and pharyngeal wall, accompanied by unilateral tinnitus in my left ear for 24 hours.
The base of my left tongue also experiences sharp pain.
Whether I swallow or not, it feels like there is a bone stabbing me in the throat and pharyngeal wall, which is very uncomfortable and distressing.
Although I do not currently have difficulty swallowing, it is painful to swallow.
This has been going on for several months, and I am really scared.
I am worried because five months ago, I underwent a bilateral tonsillectomy due to chronic inflammation and the sensation of a foreign body in my left tonsil.
The doctor mentioned that chronic inflammation could potentially lead to cancer, which is why I decided to have the surgery.

I have visited the hospital multiple times, and I have been treated rudely by some doctors.
I have changed doctors several times and visited different hospitals, but I eventually became too afraid to go to the hospital.
I did visit a mental health clinic and took medication for a year, but my symptoms did not improve.
Since the surgery, my condition has worsened.
Although I have had follow-up appointments four or five times, the doctors have suggested that it might be a problem with scar tissue formation, and later they mentioned it could be caused by acid reflux.
Three months ago, I underwent a nasopharyngoscopy, which showed swelling in my throat and inflammation at the base of my left tongue.
However, my symptoms have not improved despite taking medication for several months.

During my last follow-up, I mentioned a swollen area at the back of my right tongue with white spots.
The doctor only used a tongue depressor to examine it and said that many people have similar issues.
I also had an endoscopy in early July, and the doctor said that the sensation of a foreign body in my throat should not be caused by reflux from the endoscopy.
During my follow-up with the surgeon, the doctor suggested that my perception of a foreign body might be due to anxiety and prescribed me some medication to help alleviate my emotional distress.
I expressed to my husband how uncomfortable and distressing my symptoms are, but he thinks it might be a psychological issue because I did not get better after frequent hospital visits for my tonsils, and now I have other problems after the surgery.
I wonder if it is a psychological effect, but my own sensations make me fearful.

I have a young child who is not yet three years old, and I am really afraid of getting a serious illness.
I am a foreigner and currently not living with my husband; I am taking care of my child alone in Taipei, and I have no relatives here.
If I were to develop a serious illness, I would have no one to rely on.
To be honest, my husband cannot provide me with support either.
I am also not living with my in-laws due to some recent issues, so I have no one to rely on in Taiwan.
The thought of possibly being ill fills me with fear, and I often feel like crying, but I am afraid to do so in front of my in-laws.

I would like to ask the doctor if symptoms caused by cancer would ease slightly for a few minutes after waking up (about five minutes) and then become very pronounced throughout the day.
I frequently experience sudden sharp pain in my mouth and a persistent sensation of a foreign body, which makes me often touch my throat and pharyngeal wall to check for something abnormal.
However, when I touch or press, it feels hard, and I am unsure if that is normal.
Now, swallowing saliva also causes sharp pain and a sensation of a foreign body.
Before the surgery, I had similar but milder sensations of foreign body and pain, which would improve with medication, but this time it feels increasingly severe with no improvement at all.

I am very worried that I might have oropharyngeal cancer or laryngeal cancer, as tumors in this area are difficult to treat.
I feel extremely scared and helpless, and I have been feeling very fatigued over the past few months, lacking energy during the day.
I really don’t know what to do.
Could my oral symptoms be influenced by psychological factors, or is there an underlying issue in my oral cavity that is not being detected? My father, who is 82 years old, has breast cancer, which makes me even more fearful about my own health.

Could you please advise me if my symptoms are psychological, if I have health anxiety, or if I might be experiencing a neurological disorder? Should I seek another ENT specialist for a repeat nasopharyngoscopy or MRI, or should I go directly to a psychiatrist? I apologize for any disturbance, and I appreciate your response.
Thank you.

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Miss Lin, 40~49 year old female. Ask Date: 2021/08/08