Sore throat for 5 weeks!!!

[asiv]

I have had a Sore Throat for 5 weeks now.the Tonsils and back of throat are really sore!! Dr seems to think its nothing to worry about.Also my arms feel really week.Has anyone else suffered with a sore throat for this long??

[Sez70s]

Hi, I know this post is old but I was just wondering if you ever got any real answers? I have had a saw throat for 5 weeks, My voice keeps going up and down, I feel pressure in my head and ringing in my ears. I also feel like there is a lump in my throat and now I have a swollen Lymph node behind my ear. I feel exhausted all the time, Even if I have slept. I barely eat solids now as it agrevates the lump in my throat.

[Emma2701]

I have been sick for going on five weeks.  It started with a bad sinus headache, then a full blown, worse than usual cold, with a fever, then extreme lethargy, and now in the fifth week, I'm still tired, and have and on-again, off-again sore throat.  Today at work I was sneezing and coughing like I had a full blown cold again.  
I have not seen a doctor, I do not have tonsils or smoke, I am usually healthy.  I do not have and seasonal allergies.  Any cold I get usually goes away within a few days and I don't believe I've ever had the flu.  Someone told me it might be a virus.
What's up?  I feel this is never going to go away.

[gsk123]

Dear All,

I have sore throat for 3 weeks with reddishness .it have done cbc esr x ray and are normal also consulted ent .it sore thrat sometimes becomes all ok then suddenly comes back. what coudl be the reason of this .

[TylerAllison]

Common symptoms of Tonsillitis, and it seems to fit in for you perfectly. All you need to do is to get your tonsils removed, which is easy if it is Tonsillitis.

Find that it hurts to swallow. If the pain is intense, the child may stop swallowing saliva and start to drool.
Complain of an earache
Have a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Complain of a headache.
Complain of a stomachache (this is quite common).
Complain of general aches and pains, loss of appetite and may vomit.
Have bad smelling breath.
Possible white/grey/yellow spots on the tonsils.

Because the tonsils are swollen and enlarged, the person may have trouble speaking and may even experience difficulty breathing.

[TylerAllison]

Tonsillitis?

I heard Tonsillitis could conjure the same effects...and it's more common, since the Tonsil's are swore when you have it. To whom that may have this, I sincerely hope that it's nothing serious.

Best Regards,
Tyler Allison.

[kakl]

just checking around sites and came upon this one. I have had a sore throat for 5 weeks with hoarse voice and not being able to swallow solids, its feels like food gets stuck..  Been to the doc he said it was nothing to take meds for, did a culture came back negative, he sent me to an ENT he said he saw nothing maybe a virus because my voice has been affected he is sending me to a voice therapist and then for a barium swallow which is an xray of the throat but I was in such agony I called my doc back after the ENT and asked him if there was anything at all I could take, I've done everything u can imagine.  Finally with a lot of insistence on my part he prescribed clotrimazole.  It hasn't done much so I will probably call him back soon.  Also I have had thrush before and it can be painful.  Might want to ask about foot and mouth disease especially if there are blisters, or the coxsackie virus.  I got so sick once ended up in ER at 4 am on iv couldn't even swallow water.  Not sure if this is a form of it now but I don't want to let it get that far.  It gets to the point where u have to be your own doc and do some research.  

[as77]

I have same symptoms. My doc did full blood count and says it may be viral or stress related. I have been like this for several weeks, along with symptoms of a cold. I know that I feel ill all the time, but doc says its nothing to worry about. I empathise with you.

[gogoboy]

start mediation right away too! you need to chill a bit... i'd be worried that some of your symptoms are now created by your mental condition and expectations of "it" being there.

[beth624]

Two ideas you might try:

Throw away your toothbrush, get a new one and wash and *dry* it with a clean paper towel after each use. Replace with a new brush every two months. This seems to be working for my chronic sore throat.

Have a blood test for thyroid function and have a (exterior of the neck) physical  exam for your thyroid function.

[asiv]

Just an update to what has been happening with me.Still having problems swallowing after all these months.My left tonsil is pushing slightly forward and they are always bloodshot red. maybe this is the reason i am not able to swallow.Dr thinks it might be glands which are pushing against the tonsil.When i breathe out it sounds really hollow if that makes sense.Also getting dizzy spells when i look down or if i make a sudden movement with my head.Had tests done i.e. camera down throat e.t.c. and was told all looks fine.Can you suggest something as my DR wont even send me for a scan or x-ray because in HIS professional judgement he thinks he doesnt need to.I sweat quite a bit behind the ears and around the neck and sometimes find it difficult to breathe.Can you please comment.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Throat cancer can be examined by a family physician or ENT (with laryngoscopy)

I'm glad teh A&E cleared you...  patients around my area regularly wait 8 hours for care...

watch the white spot, if it doesn't go away, get it checked out...

[asiv]

Thanks for the advise..i took a trip to the A&E.after waiting over four hours they checked me out and said i was fine.He just felt my throat on the outside and said stop the difflam and i should be ok.that was 2 days ok!! today i noticed a white spot on the inside of my left cheek and instantly im thinking 'leukoplakia'.to top it off my throat is no better and feels really dry too.Im thinking could this be a precursor to throat cancer?? or am i just panicking.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Difflam is benzydamine hydrochloride, a medication that belongs to a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).  

If your have swelling in your throat and constricted, I would worry about angioedema, a swelling of the soft tissue from an allergy to the medication.  This can be a medical emergency and I would go to the A&E right away and stop using difflam

[asiv]

Results came back as normal.Nothing was detected from the swab.G.P said it looks like ive got a lingering viral infection in my throat.She prescribed me some difflam spray
which i tryed but it seems to be making it worse!! Throat feels just really constricted right about now especially on side of neck.Felt like i couldnt breath when i lay down to sleep last night.Feel really helpless now coz its been nearly 9 weeks!

[Enoch Choi, MD]

unlikely, or they would have told you about it already.

[asiv]

Had a throat swab done today with a blood test.Have a follow up appointment a week tuesday.Lets see what they come up with.i hope its nothing too serious.In your opinion do you think it could be something serious??

[Enoch Choi, MD]

If the new doctor told you have an infection, what new antibiotic did he put you on?  Did he obtain a throat culture to make sure you really had an infection?

Ibuprofen is a NSAID not an antibiotic, NSAIDs only help with pain and inflammation.

If you haven't done a swab yet, that would help the doc know if there's a resistant bacterial infection.

[asiv]

Have changed my dr,had an appointment at the new surgery and he confirmed that i did have an infection.He told me to take ibuprofen 3 times a day (400mg) for a week to help bring down the inflammation.Will be going back today because the right side of my throat is hurting and my neck feels really swollen and my ears are aching! hopefully i can get them to do a throat swab.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

If you're still not satisfied with the advise, consider getting a second opinion from another MD

[asiv]

Hi,The dr said there was nothing wrong and the throat was because of Anxiety and to stop thinking about it.Funny because i can clearly see blisters/sores on the back of my throat and also the area before the tonsils is red and sore.The Dimetridazole didnt work and now the Dr has said he will not give me anything for it because he thinks its due to Anxiety.Pls advise.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

How'd it go?

[asiv]

Ok.I have an appointment tomorrow morning.Will let u know how it went.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Dimetridazole isn't an antibiotic I'm familiar with and is not listed in my drug reference "lexi-comp".  Looking online it looks like it's an antiparasitic used in poultry?

Go back and see your doctor, or another for a second opinion!

[asiv]

Have been taken off the Cipro as it was causing a few side effects.It was replaced with
Dimetridazole 3 times a day.(i have 21 tablets)Its nearly been a week and still not much relief.the oropharynx has what look like sores/blisters and the tonsil area is still red.