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??

[asiv]

Anyone????

[Enoch Choi, MD]

If you've seen the doc, has he done a culture?  5 weeks is an awfully long time, and is less likely from infection.  Do you have allergies or acid reflux?

[asiv]

Thanks for replying,No allegies that i know of.I do remember just before the sore throat started that i was spraying some wasp killer on a nest that i had discovered in my front garden and becaause of the wind direction i got some in my mouth.Do you think that could be the cause?? Im on cipro and Doxy for a urine infection and the Dr said it should help clear the throat too but no luck.It feels like ive got a lump in my throat by the Adams apple and my tonsil area is really red and what look like small blisters just in front of the tonsils.Also the pain sometimes extends to my ears too and the area below my jaw line also seems sensitive.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline would clear out most bacteria from an infected throat.  Ask your doctor to look and consider herpes simplex or aphthous ulcers.

Unlikely to be from the wasp killer

[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.

[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]

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

[Enoch Choi, MD]

How'd it go?

[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]

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

[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 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]

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]

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

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.  

[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.