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Sore Throat - Not Strep

Guhlia

By Guhlia
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

For the past month I've had a sore throat off and on. I'm not sick or anything, though I have been sick in the past month. It hurts so bad that I can barely swallow at times, tonight it had me almost in tears. I took a Tylenol and now the pain has subsided to a very bearable level. It makes no sense to me. I went to the doctor this evening and they are totally clueless and have no idea what it could be. He said it didn't look like strep and what I was describing didn't sound like strep. He also said that there are a few small ulcers in my throat, but nothing major and certainly nothing that should be causing all that pain. He thought perhaps I have thrush, but said I didn't have any signs of it. He prescribed an antifungal, but the pharmacy couldn't fill it tonight because they couldn't confirm its gluten free status. Ugh... Anyway, I'm looking for any ideas to mull over. I checked the mayo clinic's symptom checker and of course several different kinds of cancer popped up. Lovely for the holiday stress level. Anyway, I'm trying not to get too worried. If the antifungal doesn't work my doctor is going to send me to an ear nose and throat specialist. I was just hoping to get some ideas of what it could be (other than cancer) to maybe ease my mind a bit. I'm scared. Thanks in advance.

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blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

This seems to be the same thing a few of my coworkers and John are dealing with. It keeps coming and going and they never have any other symptoms and there is no reason for it.

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted
  • Author

OMG, Amanda, you just totally made my morning! I was SO freaked out last night by this. I'm glad to hear that this may just be something that's going around. whew...

Darn210 Enthusiast
Darn210
Posted

Are you having any other sinus symptoms? Could it be a slow drip (so to speak) down the back of your throat.

Here is what we are dealing with my daughter . . . a couple of different docs have noted her throat is irritated. She complains that it's cloggy in the morning. I've heard her coughing at night - like a little tickle cough - something irritating her throat. The consensus was perhaps an allergy that is keeping her sinuses in slow drip mode. Well, the allergist took one look and said "How do you know it's not stomach acid coming back up?" She tested negative for allergens and she does have acid reflux issues. Long story to get to . . . Do you think you may have some acid reflux issues causing a slow burn in your throat?

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted
OMG, Amanda, you just totally made my morning! I was SO freaked out last night by this. I'm glad to hear that this may just be something that's going around. whew...

John is actually home sick again...not with the sore throat but with real bad stomach pains and nausea....he just can't seem to get completely better.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Hi Angie,

I've had a post nasal drip for the last month--at least. My throat is not sore, but I have a cough that comes and goes and my right ear is still plugged.

I'll bet you have a virus that just doesn't want to completely go away--mine started with a bad cold around the time we moved at the end of October.

Also, last year I had a killer sore throat that lasted 2 weeks--strep tests were negative. It just went away after a while. Try not to worry--that just makes it worse and wears you down :)

Until your med is approved, try gargling with warm salt water--it helped me a lot.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Another possibility, do you have forced air heat? I wake up almost every morning with a sore throat when my heat is going. I got a deflector for the vent by my bed so it doesn't blow on me at night, that and drinking more water seem to help a bit.

Something to try to ease the throat symptoms would be honey. That will soothe your throat and also has some properties that may help with fungal and bacterial type stuff. I would try that before the pills if your doctor hasn't done cultures to confirm that you have a fungal infection in the first place.

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kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

Could it be something like mono? A very sore throat is a symptom, and some people are lucky and don't have the fatigue to go along with it.

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted
  • Author

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

Raven, yes we have forced air heat, but its not that kind of sore throat. Its the oddest sore throat I've ever had, never felt anything like it before. Its horribly painful (when it hurts), enough that I just want to cry.

Kbytoyssni, I have been very fatigued lately and, when given the chance, can sleep for endless hours. Last night (minus two feedings) I slept for 12 hours and still could have slept longer if I would have had more time. I also have a 3 month old and a 3-1/2 year old and I'm nursing. I just assumed it was from that. Perhaps I should call the doctor again? What do they do to test for mono?

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Angie,

It's a simple blood test--I had one done years ago. :)

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

The Mono test is a small purple tube, it gets spun and the plasma is frozen. We do ours here at HMC and they are run everyday. So you should have results in 2 days.

kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

A mono test is easy, just a blood test like everyone's said. My doctor actually did mine right in the office - I guess it depends if they have the equipment. There's not much you can do for mono, but it would be nice to know so you don't have to worry anymore.

Some other mono thoughts - mono is thought be be caused by the EBV (Epstein Barr Virus), although I don't think everyone who gets mono necessarily has EBV. There were some studies done on older people and something like 90% of people have had EBV by the time they're old (old like 60 or 70 years old, can't remember the exact age). So many people get EBV but have no symptoms of mono or maybe have a sore throat for a day and that's it. So if you do have it, you will most likely pass it to your kids, but they may not get all the symptoms of mono.

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted
  • Author

My doctor doesn't do any blood draws in office, so I would have to go to the lab to get it done. If the sore throat persists I will definitely call and see what they think. I find it odd that with THAT sore of a throat they couldn't see anything. He said it was barely even inflamed. Weird, huh? I haven't picked up my prescription yet as I'm not sure I want to take it since he saw no signs of thrush or yeast overgrowth. Usually my doctor is so good about things. I'm surprised he wasn't more thorough.

jewi0008 Contributor
jewi0008
Posted
For the past month I've had a sore throat off and on. I'm not sick or anything, though I have been sick in the past month. It hurts so bad that I can barely swallow at times, tonight it had me almost in tears. I took a Tylenol and now the pain has subsided to a very bearable level. It makes no sense to me. I went to the doctor this evening and they are totally clueless and have no idea what it could be. He said it didn't look like strep and what I was describing didn't sound like strep. He also said that there are a few small ulcers in my throat, but nothing major and certainly nothing that should be causing all that pain. He thought perhaps I have thrush, but said I didn't have any signs of it. He prescribed an antifungal, but the pharmacy couldn't fill it tonight because they couldn't confirm its gluten free status. Ugh... Anyway, I'm looking for any ideas to mull over. I checked the mayo clinic's symptom checker and of course several different kinds of cancer popped up. Lovely for the holiday stress level. Anyway, I'm trying not to get too worried. If the antifungal doesn't work my doctor is going to send me to an ear nose and throat specialist. I was just hoping to get some ideas of what it could be (other than cancer) to maybe ease my mind a bit. I'm scared. Thanks in advance.

I'm curious...do you still have your tonsils? Or anyone else out there with this sore throat problem..do any of you still have tonsils?

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted
  • Author

I don't have my tonsils...

jewi0008 Contributor
jewi0008
Posted
I don't have my tonsils...

Interesting. I don't have mine either. My Junior year of college was just plain awful. infection after infection...chronically ill. I had them out. Then I started to develop all sorts of oral problems. And while I never get sick, my throat, too, will hurt and burn.

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

Everyone I know including John still have their tonsils.

  • 2 weeks later...
Joyous Enthusiast
Joyous
Posted
For the past month I've had a sore throat off and on. I'm not sick or anything, though I have been sick in the past month. It hurts so bad that I can barely swallow at times, tonight it had me almost in tears. I took a Tylenol and now the pain has subsided to a very bearable level. It makes no sense to me. I went to the doctor this evening and they are totally clueless and have no idea what it could be. He said it didn't look like strep and what I was describing didn't sound like strep. He also said that there are a few small ulcers in my throat, but nothing major and certainly nothing that should be causing all that pain. He thought perhaps I have thrush, but said I didn't have any signs of it. He prescribed an antifungal, but the pharmacy couldn't fill it tonight because they couldn't confirm its gluten free status. Ugh... Anyway, I'm looking for any ideas to mull over. I checked the mayo clinic's symptom checker and of course several different kinds of cancer popped up. Lovely for the holiday stress level. Anyway, I'm trying not to get too worried. If the antifungal doesn't work my doctor is going to send me to an ear nose and throat specialist. I was just hoping to get some ideas of what it could be (other than cancer) to maybe ease my mind a bit. I'm scared. Thanks in advance.

my first thought was post nasal drip?

  • 3 weeks later...
marfa62 Newbie
marfa62
Posted
For the past month I've had a sore throat off and on. I'm not sick or anything, though I have been sick in the past month. It hurts so bad that I can barely swallow at times, tonight it had me almost in tears. I took a Tylenol and now the pain has subsided to a very bearable level. It makes no sense to me. I went to the doctor this evening and they are totally clueless and have no idea what it could be. He said it didn't look like strep and what I was describing didn't sound like strep. He also said that there are a few small ulcers in my throat, but nothing major and certainly nothing that should be causing all that pain. He thought perhaps I have thrush, but said I didn't have any signs of it. He prescribed an antifungal, but the pharmacy couldn't fill it tonight because they couldn't confirm its gluten free status. Ugh... Anyway, I'm looking for any ideas to mull over. I checked the mayo clinic's symptom checker and of course several different kinds of cancer popped up. Lovely for the holiday stress level. Anyway, I'm trying not to get too worried. If the antifungal doesn't work my doctor is going to send me to an ear nose and throat specialist. I was just hoping to get some ideas of what it could be (other than cancer) to maybe ease my mind a bit. I'm scared. Thanks in advance.

This is a little late and by now I hope you know what it is.

I often had reflux at night. At first I slept through it, but later I would wake up with acid in my throat. eventually I did some nice damage to my esophagus. There are foods I still avoid. Low fat eat early, take antacids. Be aware it can be happening, if nothing else shows up. M

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted

I'm sorry you are sick!

If possible, drink lots of hot liquids (at least 8 ounces every hour--pee those germs down the toilet and flush'em away!)--chicken broth (if you have no energy, just get the kind in the carton, but don't get College Inn brand, it has gluten--read the labels), herbal tea, and hot lemonade (make it from frozen concentrate which is REAL lemonade made from REAl lemon juice, don't make it from the powder, that's garbage) with a spoonful of honey in each cup. For an added boost, when you heat the lemonade, put a slice or two of fresh ginger in, that acts as both antibiotic and antiviral.

For a quick and easy sore-throat-meal, heat the carton of chicken broth to boiling, and slowly stir in 2-3 well-beaten eggs (add in a slow stream while stirring constantly) to make egg drop soup. Add frozen peas and chopped green onions, and serve!

With any upper respiratory illness, stay away from all dairy products except possibly yogurt, and i'm not even sure about the yogurt. Of course, if you are dairy intolerant, then you are already staying away from them!

Hope you feel much better very soon.

Fiddle-Faddle Community Regular
Fiddle-Faddle
Posted

Forgot to add, if you can find licorice herbal tea (some brands call it "Throat-Coat," that's especially soothing to a poor sore throat.

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