Chronic sore throat - Cancer Message Board

cbintn · 08-26-2003, 06:48 PM

I have had a chronic sore throat for 2 months. I started of very mild and then over the course of the next couple of weeks it went crazy. Burning and tingling sensations in the neck. Shooting pains up my neck every few minutes. Then one day my lymph nodes in my neck pumped like crazy when I was at work and by evening part of my face and neck went numb. I went to the doctor, he said it was probably just an infection and gave me some amoxicillin. After a few days and no relief I started getting cancer phobia and went to an ENT. He scoped my throat and neck and said that it was very red and probably viral. No tumors. The next few days I got bad laryngitis for a couple of days and then it started getting better. But it never completely healed. So, after 3 more weeks, I went back the ENT and he looked down my throat with mirrors and said that it was still red and probably acid reflux related. I then started taking Prilosec for reflux and Claratin daily in case they were causing the problem. I have had reflux for many years but did not think that it was that bad. He referred me to a GI specialist. He did an upper endoscopy with dilation. I had no esophageal scarring and really nothing looked all that bad. He did say my throat was still red. My throat has gotten slowly better. But not every day. Most of the sharp pain has subsided, voice stronger but still can’t really shout or sing. It is best during the morning and as the day wears on it gets worse. Which is opposite of reflux throat problems. I still have a tightness across my lower throat, a perceived lump at my Adam’s apple and a mild burning sensation that extends from my lower neck, into my chest and shoulders. I have scoured the internet looking for some viral, bacterial or fungal infection that I may have caught. Of course, I still have not ruled out cancer. Will cancer cause your throat and neck muscles to be red? I’m 45 and I do (that’s stopped!) have some smoking history. About one to 2 packs a week for about 25 years. Does anyone have any other clues? Thanks so much!

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projapoti · 08-27-2003, 10:31 AM

What you have sounds exactly like an atypical presentation of GERD (i.e. acid reflux disease). Your throat being read, chronically sore, sometimes hoarse etc. etc. all go along with it. I doubt it's cancer at this point, though, if the GERD isn't treated, you can get cellular changes in your throat's mucosa (called Barrett's esophagus) and it CAN proceed to cancer unless you're treated.

Have the prilosec tablets helped the burning at all? Why did you take claritin? If you're thinking about stopping the dripping down the back of your throat (which is another cause of chronic sore throat), try taking a decongestant like sudafed.

cbintn · 08-27-2003, 04:17 PM

My GI doc called today and said I tested positive for Helicobater pylori bacteria. He is sending me a slew of antibiotics to fight it. That could cause my GERD to crank up, but I have not really felt that acid burning in my throat. Yes, I was using the Claratin in case of drip. Wrong choice? I really don't feel congested though.
Thanks for your help...

cbintn · 09-01-2003, 12:10 PM

They discovered the H. Phylori during the upper endoscopy. It's a bateria in your stomach.

mesueminna · 09-16-2003, 01:36 PM

Dont know if they have metioned this to you but maybe you should see a endocrenologist. I have had a sore throught dry and scratchy at times. I cough sometimes and lose my voice. I have had it since last October. I was given antibotics and told it would go away. I sometimes feel it getting better then it comes back. My throat is red and swollen at times. I had my tonsils out at age 12 so I did not think that was a problem. However I finally got them to do a CAT scan. I have swollen lingual tonsils the ones you dont usually get taken out. But they saw some small cysts on my lymphnoids that they could not see with exams. And I had one on my thyroid. They biopsy showed my lymphnoids were fine but the thyroid I do have cancer. I see my surgeon tomorrow. Thyroid cancer is very treatable.
At least now I know why my throat wont heal and it has been almost a year now. So once my thyroid is out the rest will clear up.
Just a thought.
Melinda

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I am 35 years old. I have had two liver transplants and a kidney transplant.
I am married for 16 years now. We have one son who died at birth.