Chronic Pharyngitis (Sore Throat) - Please Help!!!!

[NPetruzzi]

I'm a 23 year old male and I've had a chronic sore throat for over 5 months now.  It's driving me out of my mind.. Please help me where my other Doctors have not..

I've been tested for allergies and I've had a few allergies to trees indiginous to my location.  But upon use of Clarinex, Allegra, Zyrtec, etc. I received no relief.

I had a Barium swallow which showed reflux.. I was treated with 40 mg Nexium, twice a day.  This did not help.

Went to ENT, and took 875 mg of Augmentin for 2 weeks, with no relief!  Actually, it become WORSE on the antibiotics.

I then underwent an endoscopy, pH probe, and subsequent Nissen Fundoplication.  The endoscopy showed a very small area of inflammation and the pH probe showed supine reflux.  But after the Fundoplication surgery - I have received no RELIEF in the throat area.  This was supposed to fix my problem.  But it has been 3 weeks now and there is NO SIGN OF HEALING in my throat.

I've also been tested for HIV, Lupus, Sinusitis, H. Pylori, and have had a thyroid ultrasound.  All of these came back negative or normal!!

The only unexplored avenue that I can see is that in my Sinus CT the radiologist noticed "Septum Deviates to left with Left-sided septal spur."

Is this a possible cause of the problem??

Also let me tell you what my throat looks like..

If i shine a penlight back there I can see red patches and very dilated blood vessels. Also there is a yellowish lump just posterior to my soft palate if I raise my uvula and observe.  The lump is about .5 cm in diameter and slightly raised, but it looks like some of the vessels are originating from it.

Could this be some kind of Oropharyngeal / Nasopharyngeal Cancer?  Or can this just be a case of bad Post Nasal Drip that needs to be corrected with surgery?

I've tried Nasal Washing, and regularly using Sudafed & Guafennesin without any help as well...

I Do notice that if I drink beer or sometimes even after eating, I get the feeling like I need to clear my throat, but can't get anything up.  My voice will also sometimes go hoarse after actively talking for only 20-30 minutes.

Is there anything else this could be???

Thank you for your help!! This really has put me into a major depression and I'm not the person I was 6 months ago.  I just need to fix this problem and move on with my life.

Look forward to your response,
Nick

[charlote]

i have had my tonsils out and have been in constant pain ever since then i think that surgery should be outlawed for anyone cause they do not cause the problem they help you with the problem i need help with my problem i have had my tonsils taken out and am now going to sue the dr. for this cause i have severe allergies and so bad taht my ears ring. and he did not check that like he should have and now all i do is cry.

[benjo]

I have had my second visit to ENT, and once again they put a camera down my nose, my voice has become worse over the months and my throat has become more sore, this time the Doc said he would send me for a biopsy under aneasthetic, which of course made thankful, but made me worry about cancer, I am waiting for my appointment at this stage, I am surprised none of you have been sent for a biopsy, they cant really tell what the trouble is they look a little deeper, some of you seem to have worse symptoms than I have, and for longer times. keep on posting here with updates, it helps to know others have the same problem, and how they are dealing with it.

[floridian59]

To JK06238:  I can relate to your symptoms more than any others that I have read.  I have had smae symptoms since 1 yr ago.  It started with a core throat, sore under tongue area; redness on right side of throat and my tongue tingles; my ears ring constantly.  I went to my PCP andhe said I have chronic alergies and treated me with sincus medications including augmentin.  I did get much better adn the symptoms went away and then a few mobths ago they cameback andit was much worse; I actually thought I was about to expire; I was sleepy, sluggish, tired from the am to the pm.  I medicated myself with penicillin and motrin 800 for weeks until I ran out and decided to go back to my PCP.  Again, it chronic alergies and he put me on Claritin and flonase which Ihave already used int he past expet for Claratin, I was on Zyrtec and flonase; I got betteragin; symptoms went away but not 100% this time; then justin the lsat fewweeks, they are back and I feel sick in the mornings and night.  I have very little appetite; I went back to my PCPp and requested a referral to see a ENT; waiting on authorization but other symptoms include, my throat is somewhat swollen on right side; I have neck stiffness and tenderness around ear,down my through and under tongue and under chin area.  I have some mucuc but not alot but it seems to be very thick and is hard to cough up.  I smoked for years and quite in early 2004 and that's when I started having these problems.  I thought it was just my body trying to recovery from smoking for so long and I am very concerned.  I am not the happy,lively woman I use to be because all I think about is cancer dayu and night, at work and when I am with my family and it's starting to be notices by my boyfriend and all I do is think about what it could possible be.  So I can relate to your problem very much. I am looking forward to going to the ENT within a week or so and finding o ut what is REALLY going on in my body.  Please reply and let me know if you have had any success with disgnosis of your problem.  Tks, and God's speed....Floridian59

[Demiguise]

Benjo: Sounds like acid-reflux. Zoton is used for severe cases.
It's like U hick-up enzymes that you don't digest well or even
stress causes problem. If stomache/indigestion problems have
been in your history, Dr. might be correct. I use Cepacol spray
at night for a temp-fix at bed. Hot beef broth from a can helps.
Won't make U popular, but 1/2 a raw onion boiled in lg-cup twice
& then sip off/on is a old folk remedy. Juice has a healing
property & works for me + wards off colds/flu. There are some
chewing gums that numb also. Might check pharmacy. Sometimes
an allergy to a food or additive will trigger problem. Ask if U
have Oesophagitis. Sounds better than `why the raw throat?' You
may need to change your diet.

[benjo]

I I have suffered from indigestion and heartburn for quite a few years, nothing serious, but I have had Zoton now and agin from my doctor, they are excellent and completely stop the problems, about 6/8 months ago however I developed a hoarse throat, which wasnt really sore, I could eaat and drink with no problems, my doctor gave me some more zoton and I was sent for the camera down the nose trick, they said it was acid burn on the throat, I was told to carry on taking the Zoton, for two months, which I did, but it has got worse, I have no indigestion now but the the throat is not healing, in fact it is getting worse , it is now hoarse and sore, I have difficulty swallowing now and again, I went back to my Gp and she said carry on taking Zoton, and it could take a long time to heal?? It is a real nuisance and gets me down, it is a strain to talk, and I am worried about it developing in to something more serious. Anyone else had this problem, how long did it take to go, and what has helped you.

[pookyrooh]

I have had the some of the symptons everyone has discussed, but mine seem to be more of allergy symptons I think. My throat has the blood vessels, and I wake up with a hoarse throat everyday. I have been to 3 different ENT'S, and it seems like my next stop will be an allergist, again. I used to be on allergy shots, and it helped me, but then I had to quit taking them because my arm, where the shots were given, started to swell up like a balloon! There is one sad thing about this, I can't sing like I used to because my throat is constantly sore. I know what the people that have this problem is going through, because it seems like every chance you get, you try to feel better and you think it will help, but then it's the same again. I've also had my tonsils removed, and that didn't help! I just wish I knew what is making my throat so sore, it's even like this when I speak for more than like 30 minutes.