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Throat soreness for several years

I have had a sore throat symptoms for several years now. Back of throat looks red and white, with large red blood vessels.  It isn't just the back of my throat it is also far back roof of mouth.  It doesn't really itch just irritated and uncomfortable.

All year round.
Not every day but many days.
Varying degrees.  
Hurts mostly in the morning when I wake up, but can happen during the day.
Doesn't matter where I go from CA to FL.
Have tried many anti-histamines seem to have little effect except for diphenhydramine but I could be imagining that.
Tried flonaise for a month 2 sprays in morning each nostril, symptoms remained, however may have helped but hard to say.
Have noticed recently during a few weeks symptoms were completely absent. I noticed that I was not drinking milk in my food diary. Was eating bread and peanut butter.
I don't seem to have any other connected symptoms, no watery itchy eyes or runny nose.  It does seem my nose gets dry in the morning and sometimes can't breath through my nose because it is so blocked, but it isn't runny.
As a young child I used to get many ear infections (not sure if that is relavant).

I'm thinking it is either a food allergy (milk suspected) or post nasal drip?
What things can I try to narrow it down?
If it is food allergy, how long does it last after eating the food, would it show up right away?

Thinking of going to a throat specialist tried a general doctor tried the flonaise but haven't figured it out yet.  Before I see a specialist I want to try to narrow it down, and try some things first.
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Do the ujjayi and anulom vilom yog pranayam, as described below, for your throat symptoms. Drink warm water and avoid cold drinks.Come back to report your progress in 21 days.
Ujjayi pranayam
Procedure: While breathing in, tighten throat(contract glotis) and there will be sound from back of throat, then drop chin(rest chin on chest), hold breath as long as possible.Then  chin up, close right nostril and slowly breath out through left nostril.
Duration: 5 – 21 times

Ujjayi pranayam detail.
First exhale fully through the nose.
During inhalation your glottis should remain partially closed. Glottis is the opening between the vocal chords.While inhaling, produce a sound as if you are sobbing, by partially closing the glottis.(This is reverse of clearing your throat, where your are exhaling).
The face muscles should not be contracted during inhalation. Abdominal muscles should be well controlled. Inhale smoothly and uniformly.
After deep inhalation, retain your breath as long as possible. While retaining breath do Jalandhara bandh (lock your chin, touch your chin with your chest).Try to retain breath for 4 to 10 seconds.
After retaining breath, first open the Jalandhar bandh(chin up) and then, close right nostril and exhale slowly through left nostril. The glottis should all along remain partially closed.This is one set of ujjayi.
Do this for 5 to 21 times everyday.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would try the milk free diet again.  It seemed to correct the problem, so to be sure, try it for 3 months and see how it goes.  My daughter also went milk free for throat soreness and it cured the problem.  Milk is also one of the foods to consider when you have many ear infections.  I forget how long it takes to get out of your system after stopping it - usually 1-3 weeks I think.  Hope this helps!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the advice, will try it.  I think I'm going to try to breath out of my nose more. Read that breathing out of the nose increases the tempature of the air and cold air can cause sore throat.

What about drinking soy milk? I like to have cereal in the morning.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sure, soy milk is fine.  There is also almond milk and rice milk.  We alternate all three depending on what we are eating.  

Good luck!  Let us know what helped you so other people who have a similar problem can try what worked for you!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have taken out milk from my diet in favor of soy.  Preliminary evidence shows promise.  

I think breathing out of my mouth while sleeping exacerbates the soreness but not the cause.  Trying to keep my nose clear of obstruction with some salin spray, seems to help.

However, I haven't gotten cheese out of my diet.  Doritos, cheeseburgers, pizza, cheese on saled/sandwiches/vegetables.  Anyone with the milk sore throat problem have problem with cheese?  How critical is keeping cheese out of the diet too?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It is of "utmost importance" to get cheese out of the diet.!!!  My daughter only ate cheese and didn't drink milk - she only consumed two slices of cheese a day.  Then we decided to stop all milk products (anything from milk) and for the first time in years, she didn't have a sore throat.  So if you are trying to figure out if the milk products are the source of the problem, then you have to get off of all of them.  Hope this helps!
Helpful - 0
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