Chronic Sore Throat

[Airdale]

Hey Doc,

Need your opinion on something. I'm thinking about getting a referral to an ear/nose/throat specialist. Lately it seems as though every other month, maybe more frequent, I get a sore throat. It comes on very quickly and has no symptoms other than a weird postnasal drip feeling followed by a sore throat in a few hours. Headaches don't usually accompany the problem nor do any other symptoms aside from a slight feeling of fatigue.

I used to get nasal congestion along with it, but my doctor has me on flonase year round now to combat Rhinitis, as in the last year this seems to be a new allergy. Since I've been on Flonase, nasal congestion is not a problem and I thought this throat problem would be solved too. Well here I sit, again, with a sore throat that rapidly comes on and again with a postnasal drip. No congestion, no coughing, no sneezing, no headache, nothing.

This usually lasts for a few days, at worst a week. As soon as it comes on, I start drinking Airborne (seems to work for me) and taking some Zinc supplements. I've been to the doctor twice with the sore throat issue, because a time or two in the past I actually felt very fatigued and *almost* flu like, so I called in sick and saw a doctor.

My doctor swears this is an allergy problem, but I am convinced it is not. I've had seasonal allergies my whole life and they vary by intensity every year. When I get a sore throat, my body feels like it is fighting infection or bacteria by the fact that I feel like I just want to lay down and go to sleep. The fact that the problem goes away on its own after a few days staying on vitamins and immune system boosters leads me to believe that I am merely coming in contact with some bad germs a lot. Could possibly be the NASTY crashpad I stay at. I feel dirty just walking through there.

Is it possible that I am just coming in frequent contact with common cold germs in the disgusting-never-cleaned crashpad, and my immune system is strong enough to limit the symptoms to merely the weakest point - the throat?

I've searched high and low on the internet for answers and haven't found anything. I'm just wondering if the throat/nose is battleground for where these colds/infections start, and my body is able to keep it from reaching its full potential at the expense of some soreness in swallowing for a few days.

Should I see a specialist? I've heard people with chronic sore throats end up getting their tonsils removed.?Thanks!!

[My Flight Surgeon]

It sounds environmental. Is there mold in the crash pad? Try to keep a diary of where you have been, the weather, etc. and correlate the symptoms with some event if possible. If that does not do it, see either an ENT or Allergist.

[Seggy]

Ahhhh Dave, I am no Doctor but you ever think THESE could have something to do with it???



You smoke, what a pack every two days?

[JEP]

Well if that is the case, all bets are off.

[Airdale]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Ahhhh Dave, I am no Doctor but you ever think THESE could have something to do with it???



You smoke, what a pack every two days?

Umm...maybe a bit less. Depends on stress really. I'd say on average a pack to a pack and a half a week. I have Chantix to quit, and I'm starting that come Jan 15th, after my last day of Colgan flying!

Its a different kind of sore throat though. It always starts at the back of my sinuses. I can definitely tell when something is going on, because even though I may not have congestion, the back of my sinuses start to feel funny. I know its not from smoking, thats a different kind of sore throat.

But here it is, two days later after pounding a bunch of immune system boosting vitamins and I feel fine. No sore throat, a bit of congestion but thats it. I definitely think its evironmental.

Mark, you know very well that the crashpad IS disgusting. When you walk through the door you notice immediately a NASTY odor. I've cleaned it, you've cleaned it, but nobody else does. I can only imagine the LOADS of germs just sitting around every corner, horizontal edge and God knows whats in that carpet. Everytime I get sick like this, its either in the middle of a work week up there or when I get home after being up there for a few days. Jim was sick last week too.

Either way, my ALB crashpad days are numbered to I think 1. We'll see what happens when I get out of that place.

Actually I just had a thought sitting my comfy couch at home, looking at a spotless house! You guys need a woman up there! My wife keeps our house so damn clean, you'd think we didn't live here. Women are much cleaner then men. I'm glad to be married to a very clean one.

[djnorton]

I would try Mucinex. It has worked wonders for me in the past. I usually drink a glass of water before and after I take it just to help keep the body hydrated with fluids.

[cfii2007]

Mucinex is good, I just started taking it a week ago.

In reference to your symptoms, I have the same thing from time to time. You start to feel some sinus drainage, along with flu like symptons, or feeling drained?

I'm not sure the cause of this, I'm probably allergic to something, or have sinus rhinitis, but have never been tested.

Typically Tylenol Sinus, Nyquil and tons of fluids tend to clear it up after 3-4 days.