For about six months, I’ve had a strange, chronic throat irritation. It started as a feeling like a hair or a popcorn kernel was in my throat. Some days it’s much worse than others. If I have to talk at work a lot, I end up having to clear my throat a lot and almost losing my voice. I’ve been to a throat specialist twice and they have not found anything. They put me on Prilosec for acid reflux and it did not change anything. Sometimes it feels like a lump in my throat. Sometimes it feels like my uvula is irritated and sometimes it feels like I have a tiny piece of glass way in the back of my tongue.

It seems to be worse some days and not as bad others. This is all very strange and I’m wondering if anyone has had similar issues. I have another appointment next month with the real doctor. The first 2 we’re with a Physician Assistant.

Drainage from an allergy condition? My wife has this every year at this time.

Have you had an endoscopy? It seems like a good idea.
My first guess would be acid reflux, which may or may not still be the case, even with the Prilosec.
Another possibility would be a hiatal hernia.
Other causes would be less benign.

It's good that you'll be going to the doctor again.

The PA did stick the camera up my nose and into my throat. She thought acid reflux. But my symptoms and lack of help from Prilosec don’t point to that. It feels better in the morning and gets worse right after eating. I don’t mean digesting, I mean like the food has irritated it. It’s immediate. She saw nothing to be overly concerned about. She did say I have a long uvula (you know what they say about guys with long uvulas? ).

It’s possible uvula touching back of tongue is the problem. But to come on suddenly seems strange too.

She mentioned a cat scan next after doctor.

Get a referral to an GI doc.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Get a referral to an GI doc.

I’ll see what next ENT guy says and go to GI if I get nowhere. I don’t need referrals with my insurance so that’s helpful.

I had the same many years ago and my ENT diagnosed it as cancer of the left vocal cord brought on by acid reflux disease and sleeping on my left side.

They removed around half of the left vocal cord and gave me radiation treatments and I've been cancer free ever since, around 14 years.

Are you taking blood pressure medication?

ACE inhibitor BP meds have throat irritation and intermittent coughing as a common side effect (though I'm not sure the exact mechanism why).

I experienced that several years ago when I was first prescribed a BP med. I'd develop a similar tickle at the back of the throat throughout the day, especially after talking for a while (like teaching a day-long class), but mine was most noticeable when first lying down at night. Staying well-hydrated seemed to minimize the problem, and it went away after about a year on that medication.

Here's the forum thread I posted back then about it. Based on the replies, it's a common experience. https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...935/m/7390076124/p/1

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Are you taking blood pressure medication?

ACE inhibitor BP meds have throat irritation and intermittent coughing as a common side effect (though I'm not sure the exact mechanism why).

I experienced that several years ago when I was first prescribed a BP med. I'd develop a similar tickle at the back of the throat throughout the day, especially after talking for a while (like teaching a day-long class), but mine was most noticeable when first lying down at night. Staying well-hydrated seemed to minimize the problem, and it went away after about a year on that medication.

Here's the forum thread I posted back then about it. Based on the replies, it's a common experience. https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...935/m/7390076124/p/1

I mimic this experience. I thought I was having acid reflux. Tried enzymes. Went to a throat doctor. Went back to my primary doctor. She looked at my record and saw she gave me a new blood pressure prescription. Apparently, what I experienced was a possible side effect. She gave me a different drug and the condition went away.

No BP meds. No meds of any kind. Hopefully it’s not serious. I just want a firm diagnosis before they start cutting parts off of me.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Are you taking blood pressure medication?

ACE inhibitor BP meds have throat irritation and intermittent coughing as a common side effect (though I'm not sure the exact mechanism why).

I experienced that several years ago when I was first prescribed a BP med. I'd develop a similar tickle at the back of the throat throughout the day, especially after talking for a while (like teaching a day-long class), but mine was most noticeable when first lying down at night. Staying well-hydrated seemed to minimize the problem, and it went away after about a year on that medication.

Here's the forum thread I posted back then about it. Based on the replies, it's a common experience. https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...935/m/7390076124/p/1

My dr had me on lisinopril for blood pressure & I developed a chronic cough. I had him change it to something else & the cough went away.

Edit: I was typing while you were posting. So bp meds aren't the problem. Disregard.

Frayed, I had the same symptom in my throat for years. Felt like a popcorn kernel stuck on my tounge or throat…I was constantly clearing my throat to try and dislodge it.

Slight pain, Tylenol would relieve it. It went on for years. One doc put me on Prilosec too. After seeing several docs and dentists about it, I was at sick call while deployed to the oil spill , and I brought it up. The civilian contracted doc asked a few questions and said he had another patient with the same symptoms. He said it was actually an irritated tendon from all the throat clearing. He said to drink water whenever I felt like throat clearing to wash down whatever was there and the pain would subside.

I thought he was crazy, but after retraining my response to draining sinuses I haven’t had the irritation as much. I took Tylenol to ease the pain and did what he said. I don’t clear my throat as much as I did before and I don’t have the pain. It was on one side just where the head joins the neck..if you feel your throat, it was in a softer spot above the Adam’s apple.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I thought he was crazy, but after retraining my response to draining sinuses ...

I was going to suggest perhaps it's draining sinuses.

I sometimes have the same problem. With me I know draining sinuses is exactly what causes it.

I employ three mitigation measures for it: Saltwater sinus rinses, oral antihistamines, and either NasalCrom (a non-steroidal sinus spray) or one of the corticosteroid nasal sprays.

I sometimes have a similar thing, and I'm not a Physician.

I was given this treatment by an elderly old school Physician years ago when I worked part time as his clinic, so I feel confident in using it for myself and passing it along to others. It has worked for me for a lot of years.

This is just to treat symptoms, give a little relief, it is not a cure for what ails you. Obviously you will seek professional help. (However this is very good when you have the everyday common variety sore throat and feeling cruddy sick).

You might try this: Take a plain ordinary 325 MG Aspirin. Crush it up into small pieces, very small. (I usually use a coffee cup and a spoon, but if you have one of those mini mortar and pestle things, that's good.

Put in a cup and add very hot water (not boiling), stir and dissolve it, let cool down a bit until you can handle it. Sip into mouth, don't swallow, move it around in your mouth. Then gargle it gently. Give a little time to allow this to work before you swallow, then you can swallow it, or spit it out.

If you have any issues medically taking aspirins, don't. Don't use Tylenols or Advils, etc, just regular plain Aspirins.

Best wishes to you.
.

Have you had a sleep study done for sleep apnea?

You could be irritating the crap out of your throat while snorting and snoring and struggling to breathe each night, I went on a CPAP and a lot of my irritated throat issues went away with that.

Mike: same exact spot. I will try what you suggest. I also have had sinus issues for years. They want me on Flonase for 90 days before they will do any more diagnosis. Read the side effects and said screw that.

Thanks for all the tips guys. I think I have some ideas to try anyhow while I await my appointment.

Not a doctor, but I had similar problem but much worse. Dealt with it for many years, now it it is finally resolved and wish I had done it 20 years ago. My worthless recommendation is to go and get an endoscopy from a competent doctor and see where that leads.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
They want me on Flonase for 90 days before they will do any more diagnosis. Read the side effects and said screw that.

I've used both Flonase (and Costco's Kirkland-branded Aller-Flo) and Nasacort without undue side-effects. As with any corticosteroid it's important to use as directed.

If you feel corticosteroids unacceptable, you might look into NasalCrom. I've found it to frequently be effective.

Also, again, saltwater nasal rinses can be quite effective. Many people use a Neti Pot. Those don't work well, for me, so I simply snort the solution from a small, shallow bowl. (Take a little getting used to.) I also warm the saltwater solution in the microwave. (Note: Warm, not heat!)

If sinus drainage is the root of your problem, then you have to address it.

Suck on a peppermint candy.

Ok i am crazy but thats what helped my throat issues.

quote:

Originally posted by Mustang-PaPa:

Suck on a peppermint candy.

Peppermint Candy is one of the strippers at the local "Gentleman's Club."