Throat Pain

Posted By Karen on August 26, 1998 at 15:17:49:







I have been experiencing pain and tenderness in my throat for the
past two months.  The tenderness and pain actually seem to be
felt on the outside more than the inside.  My throat pain is not
like traditional soreness on the back of the throat i.e. when
you have cold.  It seems to be only on the left side - my doctor
said it is near the cartilage around my thyroid.  I have
difficulty in swallowing and the feeling of a lump in my throat.
Pain radiates upward into my jaw and left ear, and sometimes into
my chest and is constant.  It doesn't seem to be made worse by
what I eat.  I do not smoke or drink.
I do have occasional heartburn, but nothing that keeps me awake
at night or that I would call frequent or severe.  I would say
I am aware of heartburn maybe only once a month or so.  My doctor
is trying Prevacid for a couple of weeks to see if it makes a
difference which would mean GERD.  If that doesn't help,
he wants me to see an eye, ear, nose & throat doctor.I'm confused
feeling I would have more chronic heartburn if it were GERD.  I'm
also worried that if it is GERD, I must have some damage to my
esphogas since my pain seems to be worsening.
Do you agree with his suggested method of diagnosing my
problem and agree that it could be GERD?