Can a months-long sore throat be innocent?

[bulan]

Hi there,

I've had a sore throat for several months.

At times (morning, evening mostly) I lose my voice.

And once in a while it feels like food goes down a bit more slowly, accompanied by pain around my esophagus.

Can these symptoms, especially the months-long sore throat, have a benign cause?

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I recently had a gastroscopy which found nothing. I also recently went to the ENT, who did a scope and saw only soreness. He suggested I might have acid reflux. But does acid reflux cause a feeling of tightness in the throat when swallowing?

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About my background, I'm 36, I'm an occasional drinker, but since I'm nursing a baby I rarely drink anymore. And even though I've never smoked, the thought of lung cancer has also crossed my mind...

I'm at an increased risk for the big C because I lived in Austria during the Chernobyl incident. Austria was the hardest hit European country, after Finland and Sweden, in terms of radioactive fallout. Anyone who was a child at the time is especially susceptible. We were easily exposed to this radiation (e.g. playing outside in the rain). Research has also shown that milk consumption during that time influenced cancer risk, which also connects to my family's experience. Having lived in a small village, we did what everyone else in the village did--we bought our milk raw/unprocessed from a local farmer. Plus, everyone at the time seemed to smoke, so I was exposed to plenty of second-hand smoke as a kid. Research has shown that thyroid cancer and solid cancers have increased in the last 20+ years in harder-hit countries.

So... that's what's on my mind. While I do struggle with health anxiety, I also know it isn't a totally unfounded fear.

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So back to my first question: Can a months-long sore throat be innocent?

[bulan]

Anyone?

[Catherine S]

I'm not sure how people are meant to advise you to be honest. With your background story I understand your fear, but wouldn't your doctor be monitoring your health because of the risks involved? All I can really say to you is its better to ask your doctor about your sore throat as only he can tell you what it could be. Alot of people here probably get this symptom too, but they don't have your background so its not an easy question to answer sorry.

Take care
ISB x

---------- Post added at 12:43 ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 ----------

However, i can see from your strap lines that you don't have any faith in doctors...is that correct?

[bulan]

Haha, no, thankfully I don't have a problem with doctors in general. My signature is only about doctors who add stress and difficulty to patients' lives. I suppose I should add a comment there about writing reviews for the doctors who've had a positive impact on our lives.

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And to clarify about my original question, I'm not looking for people with insight on my specific background--just explaining why my anxiety about the big C isn't totally unfounded.

My question, simply, is: Have other members had a sore throat that lasted for months, and wasn't serious/suspicious?

[Catherine S]

Well yes, other members can answer and tell you that they have had a sore throat that's lasted a long time and turned out to be nothing suspicious...but only after having a doctor' examination/input. Without that we can't really comfort you, except to say its probably nothing suspicious but its really best to get a negative result from medics before we can say its anxiety related.

ISB x

[AnxietyDJ]

I have had sore throats and coughs for a lonnnng time before - what with the great British weather and being in an office, which has both air con and also people passing illnesses back and forth like nobody's business, it's pretty easy to get ill and stay ill for quite some time.

As ISB said, the best bet is to go to your GP with your concerns, although it sounds as though you've already had several tests that all came back clear? If that was the case then hopefully everything is fine

Let us know how you're getting on!

[bulan]

Thank you for your kind reply, AnxietyDJ! That's pretty much what I was curious about.

Yes, I've been to my doctor and everything's being looked at. My doctor says it's due to stress, but I'm not convinced. Still, my thyroid ultrasound came back clear, and my Ear Nose Throat (ENT) specialist did a scope and wasn't concerned. He actually thinks I have acid reflux... which I still have to follow up on with my family doctor. Fun times!

[bulan]

Thank you, Aaron. I have seen an ENT, and he prescribed acid reflux meds. It's been just over two weeks since I began the meds, and my throat hasn't improved much... :/