Could this be due to acid reflux??? - Digestive Disorders Message Board

ESparks · 02-12-2001, 08:54 PM

Hello,
Please bear with me, I know this is long, but it's because I have had this problem and been seeing doctors for over 5 months with no real results, so there is a lot to tell:

I have been seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist for throat pain since late November... I've posted many things on various boards because I can't get a firm diagnosis on the problem and am fishing around for answers...

The problem mainly is near what feels like the right side of my thyroid, it
hurts when I swallow, blow my nose, yawn, sneeze, and occasionally when I say certain words or make certain sounds. It doesn't seem to be a lump though...
When it is hurting, if I press my fingers against the right side of my
throat, just to the right of my adam's apple, I can feel the side of what I
think is my thyroid cartilage and it is very hard and kind of rounded. When
my throat doesn't hurt I have a hard time feeling it at all with my fingers,
so it's like it's swelling up whenever it hurts. I have no idea what could
be causing such a thing or if this is a symptom of any known problem.
This pain has been with me for 5 months plus now, and it comes and goes but
normally hurts when I wake up in the morning, then kind of lessens early in
the day and comes back again and gets worse by late afternoon/evening. I'm
so sick of being in pain every single day without anyone being able to give
me a diagnosis!

I've had a couple tests...
first a laryngoscopy which showed some flushing and swelling but nothing else out of the ordinary. Then I had
a barium swallow test which also came up negative for problems. This led me to believe that there wasn't any major problem inside my throat passageways. I initially had a thyroid function blood test which was
negative. The doctor kept thinking it was a bacterial or possibly even a viral infection that was in the tissue of my neck somewhere or even maybe in my tonsils, but can't give me any real concrete answers to this day.
My glands are somewhat swollen occasionally but I don't know if that's related.
After the barium swallow test, my doctor said I MIGHT have some cartilage or tendon which MAY be calcifying or hardening, but didn't really know. He said to call him in a few months for a follow up, so it seemed like he was giving up!

As far as treatment, I've had 3 different antibiotics thus far and also an
antifungal prescription but none has done anything. (Amoxycillin, Clindamycin, Cephalexin, and liquid Mystatin)
I take Motrin sometimes, which is supposed to reduce the swelling and relieve the pain,
but it only works maybe 1/4 of the time.

Last week my tonsils flared way up so I went to my regular doctor and he said my throat was all red and swollen, did a test for Strep which came back negative, and told me to go back to the specialist as soon as possible. He was on vacation however, so I settled for his assistant...
Today my physician's assistant prescribed me Zantac. She said there's
an outside chance that it may be acid reflux and could be irritating my
throat?? Sometimes I have heartburn, but not so bad that I take any medicine for it. I usually will just drink a ton of water and forget about it. The P.A. said it may not be overly noticeable but still could be enough to produce problems.
I have noticed that my throat feels incredibly dry a lot of the time, even if I drink tons of water, or suck on candy or ice chips or chew gum. I know this can happen if you breathe through your mouth when you sleep, however I know for a fact that I'm breathing through my nose. I use Breathe Right strips, and occasionally nose spray if I'm congested. I'll wake up from a deep sleep and my lips will be practically glued shut, and my throat will feel like it's dry as the Sahara. During the day I know I don't breath through my mouth much.
The doctor didn't mention it in 3 months of visits, so I thought it wasn't even a plausible explanation, but I'm open to any advice anyone may have to offer me!

Next up in my battery of tests is a cat scan and normal X-ray of the neck.

If anyone has any ideas or anything at all which may be useful, please
feel free to post it!

Thanks!
Earl

Robert2 · 02-16-2001, 01:03 PM

You may have a dry mouth problem. It's cause by your saliva glands not put out enough moisture. Sometimes it's genetic. So you need to ask your parents if they ever had that kind of problem. It can also be cause by calcification blocking your saliva ducts in your mouth. These problems can be treated. If there is a blockage, it should be detectible by the CAT scan. You should try documenting your dry mouth problem. A few times a day, touch your tongue against the roof of your mouth. If it sticks, your mouth is dry. So make a note of it. Show your record to your doctor.

In the mean time, drink plenty fluids. Keep a glass of water next to your bed. Use a plastic coffee stirrer as a straw so you can sip just enough to wet your mouth without having to go to the bathroom very often.

The most important thing I can tell you is that if you suffer from dry mouth, it is absolutely vital that you keep your teeth spotless. Your saliva contains chemicals that natural retards the bacteria that causes cavities. If you have dry mouth, that bacteria stays on your teeth and can eat them away very quickly. So you have to brush and brush and rinse with a floride rinse.

ESparks · 02-16-2001, 04:34 PM

thanks for the reply, however I think you read my post wrong...
I don't have a dry mouth at all. My mouth and upper portion of my throat are never dry, plenty of saliva...
The dry feeling is midway down my throat, below and to the right of my adam's apple, and nowhere else... maybe that's why I have no luck trying to moisten it by the means I mentioned. It almost makes me feel as if I need to clear my throat constantly, but the more I do so, the drier it seems to feel. This is most prevalent when I wake up in the morning.
I have no idea what could cause this. I don't smoke cigarettes, and the humidity in my apartment is not especially low either. I have a thermometer that tells me the humidity as well as the temperature... The problem seems to stem from something internal, but what I have no idea.

TAF · 10-19-2003, 09:00 PM

Ask your specialist about laryngopharyngeal reflux. I have that and my symptoms are very similar to yours, almost exact but I'm not in any pain. Extreme discomfort but no pain. My doc prescribed nexium but I've only been on it for a week so I'm still not sure its going to work. Doc said it could take up to 3 mos for relief because the larynx and pharynx are so delicate that they sustain damage more easily. Go on line and search for the disorder. When I read about it a light bulb came on in my head cause for the first time in 6 mos I didn't feel like I was crazy.

suzyshop1 · 10-20-2003, 11:45 PM

You could be having gerd symptoms.Gerd manifests its self in many different ways.Some ppl have few symptoms some a host of other symptoms.

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