Every Autumn, for several days or weeks, I get the feeling that my throat is going to close. There is actually some uncomfortable pressure around it–quite near the top, in the back of my mouth actually. I assume it is some kind of allergic reaction, but what causes it? Is it common? Could it be my tonsils? Or am I just malingering?
Tonsil Stones gummin’ up the works? 
Try gently poking around the tonsils with a pencil eraser…see if any white chuncks pop out. :eek:
The tonsils are on the sides, way back past the uvula (the hanging down thing). Google image search for “tonsils” for a few pictures of icky tonsils. They’re very visible with a flashlight and a mirror, but not very visible if they’re OK.
Routine tonsilectomies are not so routine anymore. Basically, the tonsils are immune organs. They make stuff that helps fight infection. Sometimes, they make too much stuff and become inflammed or infected themselves. Check with your doctor, but most of the time if it’s something you can live with, they won’t remove them anymore.
IF you really feel your throat is in danger of closing up, get the heck off the computer and go to the ER! Intubation through really swollen tissue is no fun, and it’s better to get it checked early.
No, no… never had a tonsil stone. I promise. I looked in my mouth last night and couldn’t even find my tonsils.
Then it’s probably not them. Seasonal allergies can often cause a generalized swelling of the mucous membranes, so maybe that’s what you’re experiencing. Because it’s cyclical, and therefore normal for you, it’s probably not worth freaking out over and making a trip to the ER. But do mention it to your doctor at your next visit.
I had tonsil troubles off and on for more than a decade and none of the medical stuff seemed to help. I eventually grew out of it.
The cause apparently wasn’t malingering, but fat wallet syndrome.
Righto. I’m not freaking out, just curious what this could be. It really does feel like my throat is being squeezed. Not painful, doesn’t interfere with breathing or swallowing, just darned uncomfortable.
I’m not sure this is what you’re asking, but autumn allergies are most often from ragweed pollen. Goldenrod blooms at the same time, and it often gets the blame, but ragweed is the real culprit. Some grasses also pollenate then, so it could be that. I’m not really qualified to guess about your symptoms.
If it was just allergies to pollen, then normally you’d also experience some itching, sneezing or wheezing as well. Do you think it could be the change in weather (i.e. colder, drier air) causing your throat muscles to tighten a bit? It doesn’t sound like a tonsil problem, since you don’t have a sore throat or enlarged tonsils.