Sore throat - what next?

downshifted

I have had a sore throat for over a year. It is worse in the mornings and has now affected my voice - I sound deeper and hoarser, particularly in the mornings.

I was referred to ENT and had the camera up the nose procedure - was told I had silent acid reflux and no untoward lesions had been seen. I was prescribed Omeprazole and then it was changed to Lansaprazole and more recently Rabeprazole - each change being because very lttle difference had been made to my symptoms.

I was referred for a Gastroscopy and had it this morning. For this procedure you have to come off the tablets a week before - and again there was no real difference to the sore throat symptoms. I do sometimes get heartburn symptoms now (really hadn't noticed them at the beginning of all this)

Anyway, good news and bad news. The gastroscopy was normal. So that's good. Nothing untoward and the Dr said the supposed link between sore throats and acid reflux was not proven by research anyway. The bad news is I still have a sore throat!

I'm not asking for medical advice here - I know that is inappropriate. But has anyone else gone through this and found a solution? I guess I am going to have to ask for a second opinion from an ENT consultant next.

Many thanks

teddysmum

Is your bedroom dry, have heating on and windows closed ?


I ask because, my condition needs me to be warm and I've noticed sore throats this winter, so must remember to add a bowl of water to the window sill, as the air is certainly dry .

dandy-candy

I started to suffer from acid reflux and other digestive problems after my gallbladder was removed. After months of discomfort I switched to being vegetarian, and all the problems cleared up. Maybe try eating veggie and see if it helps you too?

jenniewb

I'm on omeprazole and recently when taking a new medication found I had such bad heart burn I was sent to A&E by another medical person when I attended my appointment with them because the pain was that bad. They wanted to do a gastroscopy, I've not had it yet though but did look in to things I can do to help my situation because the idea of a gastroscopy pretty much scares me!


I've looking at foods which are not good for heart burn. It may seem like sweeping up crumbs in the face of an avalanche but it's better than doing nothing at all and also helps me to feel a bit like I'm not just watching it happen and doing nothing.
I don't eat them myself but dairy based foods are a big problem so if you can minimise or cut back on these it can help. Some say that those foods are less acidic but actually they cause your body to produce acid rather than being acidic themselves.


Drinking water is helpful because it dilutes acid your body creates but if you have problems with gas it could be hat acid is able to move around more than it otherwise would. It is not OK to become dehydrated so make sure you drink enough but don't drink more than you feel comfortable with in the hope you are helping yourself because it might actually be making the problem worse for some people.


If you sleep flat on your back, it can help to sleep propped up by your pillows. Some actually think this is great for wrinkles (curbing rather than causing!!) but the reason it's supposed to help is just by using gravity to keep the acid from moving around so easily.


Stress is supposed to make it worse. I can't say that I'm so sure about this being a cause as I've no more stress than normally but maybe for some the idea of mindfulness meditation or regular massages or whatever does it for you (being aware of the gravity thing if it affects you so things like Yoga may not always be so suitable for everyone) it could be worth trying if you are sure stress affects you.


And other things I've been told to stay clear of or cut back on are;
Coffee (I've been told to opt for tea or water), fizzy drinks of any type- even the diet and plain water types; stick to squash and if possible non-sugar squash, pure fruit juice and vegetable juice, tomatos, alcoholic drinks and the higher the alcohol the more it affects things, chewing gum- although this can help and not help; it helps by causing you to swallow more so acid is swallowed down more than being able to rise upwards, but it also can cause acid to form more so it really depends on the causes of your condition. Things like sweets; plain sugar sweets like Haribo are not great for the same reason fruit isn't great and things like cakes with lots of sugar in; if you do eat them try to opt for the more bready types than things like cup-cakes or cakes made with mostly dried fruit or lots of icing.


I was told that carbs are generally the most helpful and to try to not eat too much in one go, little and often is better than 2-3 big meals a day.


I hope you get some answers.

downshifted

Thanks for these helpful replies. One possibility is that the acid reflux is caused by my long term use of high blood pressure medication - I'm not sure there is one that doesn't have this as a possible side effect but will ask my doctor next week.

I am keeping a food diary now, and eating smaller meals. Even though my last food is 4 hours before bed I am still waking up with heartburn and having a sore throat in the morning and through the day.

I have usually low carbed in the past (borderline diabetic and trying to stave it off by not eating carbs) so that has meant a higher fat diet - I will cut back on this drastically over the next few weeks. I don't think I could be totally vegetarian but am already eating more chicken and fish than red meat. I probably don't drink enough water and too much tea - I will try to drink more herbal teas. I'm not overweight - 5'4 and 9 stone 7lbs

I am also thinking of trying acpuncture or reflexology

I'll let you know how I get on - again, thanks for taking the trouble to reply

downshifted

By the way, the gastroscopy was not bad at all, I had a light sedative and it was over very quickly with no issues afterwards

I'm fed up of not being able to have a drink though - never thought I would be toasting in the new year with water!

teddysmum

downshifted wrote: »

Thanks for these helpful replies. One possibility is that the acid reflux is caused by my long term use of high blood pressure medication - I'm not sure there is one that doesn't have this as a possible side effect but will ask my doctor next week.

Odd you should say this, but I have been on blood pressure tablets for kidney function, (I'm diabetic), for the last two months, during which my dry sore throats have started.


I've booked a GP visit for Monday, anyway, as I've been feeling progressively more unwell, for a while.


However, I did have a mug of water by the bed ,last night, and didn't wake up with a dry sore throat.

greenbee

As well as cutting out sugary foods, alcohol, coffee and fizzy drinks also look at cutting out onions and possibly cucumber. Personally I find salad and raw veg hard to digest, but it varies from person to person so a food diary is definitely worth it. As is looking at making sure that your bedroom isn't too dry overnight (I keep the heating off in mine for that reason).

I've had both reflux (side effect of iron deficiency anaemia) and a vocal cord granuloma (unrelated - due to coughing when I had pneumonia). Both digestion and throat need looking after properly. Drinking plenty of water will help both.

downshifted

Just an update

We bought an hygrometer to check if the bedroom was too dry and that was contributing to my sore throat. Au contraire, it measures 62% and should be nearer 50%. However, we live within sight of the sea and it has been raining this week, so it has been 66% outside. I'll keep an eye on this - we don't have visible condensation but we are making extra efforts to keep steam away from the bedroom. Higher humidity can lead to mould spores though and that could be having an effect - I need longer to decide.

The food diary is showing me that alcohol and pastries do have an effect. Also I really need 4 hours before lying down after a meal

Finally I have made an appointment with a local and well recommended Chinese doctor for next week - there are good results with acupuncture and reflexology apparently - I am willing to give anything a try and am pretty sure that I will need several different ways of managing this condition/ the symptoms

theoretica

Some people find it helps to have the bed at a slant - a couple of bricks under each of the legs at the head of the bed works to try this out. Also being overweight can be a contributor.

Starrystarrynight1

I had a cough for years and years, which sometimes was worse at night. Eventually, a doctor identified that heartburn was causing burning in my oesophagus, and the cough was a reflex reaction to that. Luckily, the PPI medication has been really effective, but I will need to stay on it for life. Some years later I had a camera down my throat and a Hiatus Hernia was found to be the cause.
I still have the odd bout of heartburn occasionally, and still get the cough along with it but, like the OP, I have found that pastry is not good for me in this respect! I also find sleeping propped up helps a bit, and I'm never too far away from something to drink.
I hope the alternative therapies give you some relief, OP. Please keep us posted on how you get on.