Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
chronic sore throat not GERD
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
chronic sore throat not GERD
by syndye, May 27, 2003 12:00AM
16 months ago I came down with a burning very sore throat w/ difficulty talking. Also had asthma. Visit to ENT showed swelling and inflamation (inflammation)...diagnosis GERD. Vists to Gastro Dr, eventually Cleveland Clinic, had meds and fundoplication. Asthma disappeared after I took meds to control the acid and now the GERD is gone but I still have the burny mouth, throat and unable to return to work. I don't smoke or drink. My health is excellent otherwise. Have had many tests. Gerd was supposed to be the problem and the operation would solve it all. Its now $30,000 later and the throat is still inflammed. This comes and goes. It will last a week and then be gone 2 weeks and back. I still have my tonsils. I am 63, female, and my occupation is in telephone sales, which is why I can't work. Any ideas out there???
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Jun 04, 2003 12:00AM
, Jun 04, 2003 12:00AM
There are two different possibilities that might be causing this problem. The first, and most obvious, is that the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the problem. There may be times when the acid reflux comes back causing your “burny mouth and throat” to come and go. The fact that the asthma disappeared may make it less likely, but it is still worth some investigation.
The second cause is that the throat inflammation is coming from your upper airways, especially your sinuses. It is possible that there is chronic sinus inflammation also called sinusitis. This could be due to an allergy, an infection or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Sinusitis can cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip, which is irritating to the throat. This is easier to evaluate than GERD. It simply takes a CT scan of the sinuses. Either it will be positive or negative. If it is positive, then further investigation will be needed to find the cause and control it.
The second cause is that the throat inflammation is coming from your upper airways, especially your sinuses. It is possible that there is chronic sinus inflammation also called sinusitis. This could be due to an allergy, an infection or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Sinusitis can cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip, which is irritating to the throat. This is easier to evaluate than GERD. It simply takes a CT scan of the sinuses. Either it will be positive or negative. If it is positive, then further investigation will be needed to find the cause and control it.
Member Comments (2)
by syndye, Jun 04, 2003 12:00AM
For anyone not getting satisfaction in the area of Gerd, the Cleveland Clinic Gastro Dept has a study. I am now in it and will be studied for 1 year. They work with the ENT dept. This study will determine why some people respond to medication or surgery and why others don't. According to them it is the only one in the country doing this. I do not work for the Cleveland Clinic, this is not an adverstisement. I just had a real problem trying to get help and it took months to find out about this dept. They aren't just throwing pills at me. I have found out that although my condition actually worsened after the surgery, this is not unusual. It is only 4 weeks since the surgery( which was really easy) and I will see the Gastro /Otolarynology depts in 90 days and 6 mos and 1 yr. Thanks to this website for your response. Cat scan has been done on sinus, haven't got the results yet. Thanks to all.
