Permanent throat pain

[AdiW]

I'm 23 and experience a disturbing throat pain for a long while (several years). I have this pain mainly during morning but also when I try to swallow up something. Basically I feel my throat irritated also when I breathe.. This pain actually started about seven years ago when I caught a very bad cold and when I've also been diagnosed with streptococcus beta hemolytic. Back then I did about 9 months of injections with moldamin. But the pain actually never stopped since then. I must say that I'm not sensitive to environment factors such as pollution or smoke and I experience this pain during summer as well as during winter. It's always the same. I have no other problems beside such as fever or runny nose. I did several rapid strep tests since then and they were negative.  Anyway, at an examination, my throat looks red. I've just been to a doctor but couldn't tell her this is a chronic problem since my insurance covers only accidents. Thus my question is could I still have the streptococcus? Or might this be a chronic pharyngitis? Does it have a cure? Thank you.

[groovysherrie]

Do you snore?  I have for years, and sometime I will wake up with a dry throat that just won't go away.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Your symptoms are probably exacerbation of exacerbation of the GERD.  It could also be hiatal hernia. Treatment is a combination of drugs to reduce the acid and lifestyle changes. You will need to take a combination of medications (under medical supervision) like a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole, lansoprazole or pantoprazole empty stomach in the morning and an antacid gel after meals for complete relief. Possibility of H pylori infection too should be looked into by a carbon urea breath test and a combination antibiotic tried. Many a times a persisting H pylori infection can be the cause behind acidity not responding to treatment.
Life style changes that will help include: Avoid heavy meals and eat frequent small meals. Avoid too much of caffeine, tea, smoking, fried food and drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic fuzzy ones. Avoid heavy exercises within 4 hours of a heavy meal. Raise the head end of the bed by pillows to 30 degrees. Avoid lying down for least 2 hours after food. Maybe these tips will help you.
Log in the food intake and the symptoms as they appear. See if there is a correlation between a particular food item and symptoms. Take care!

[RandiRuns]

Have you ever been tested for acid reflux disease? This can cause persistent sore throats.