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Sore throat and health anxiety

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Donnadoobie:
A long post so bear with me!

A few weeks ago I went to the doctor with an uncomfortable and sore throat.  I was given antibiotics for a throat infection, which helped with the tightness and uncomfortable feeling but my sore throat persisted. 

Yesterday I visited the dentist, I have an ongoing tooth problem as I have been treated for gum problems all my life, with a tooth being extracted about 5 years ago due to bone loss and recurrent infections.  I need another tooth out and think that my throat problems maybe down to this tooth.  The dentist agreed this could be possible but cannot really be sure.  He said it was likely that I had a grumbling, chronic low grade infection in that tooth and to be honest most of the pain is on that side of my throat. tooth out on 6th March

Today I have been to the gp again, who said she cannot see anything (my throat is really sore) she prescribed omeprazole for reflux and had added a blood test into my annual one in two weeks to check for glandular fever. Blood test is on 25th Feb.   I have been taking reflux medication for a week as I had read that his could be a cause, so don’t think it is that.

She asked if I had ever smoked and did I drink.  Health anxiety kicks in as I know ( because I have googled it!) that a persistent sore throat is a sign on throat cancer, even though it is mainly in men over 65 but hey maybe I will be an exception.

Can over 50 year olds get glandular fever?  Seems unlikely, as I have worked with kids all my life coughing and spluttering over me.  I am generally run down but could that be because of the sore throat or the cause!

Health anxiety is in overdrive.  If she thought it was cancer she would have been more urgent in the blood test?
 

Kathleen:
Hello  Donnadoobie

I answer to your question 'can over 50 year olds get Glandular Fever?' my answer is, they sure can!

I am 63 and had a very sore throat and raised glands in September for about 3 weeks. The infection passed but my GP thinks it was Glandular Fever and warned me that the virus can hang around a long time. I always thought this only affected young people but it seems not.  I still have a sore throat most days even now. Incidentally I was found to have hypothyroidism in December and this could have been brought on by the virus so  you may be feeling run down due to the lingering virus or low thyroid function.

Coincidentally I was having a troublesome tooth treated when I became ill and I now think it needs to be extracted.

I hope all this reassures you and that you feel better soon.

Take care.

K.

Donnadoobie:
Thanks it is reassuring.

marge:
Could be post nasal drip. I have this which started as a sore throat last summer and comes and goes.  Blood tests showed nothing sinister, but, like you, sent my health anxiety into overdrive. Strangely, l've been fine for about 6 weeks, but woke up this morning and the sore throat is back.

Donnadoobie:
I have been able to move the tooth extraction to tomorrow, so if it clears up then that will be the cause, otherwise I am left worrying until 25th and the blood tests.  Anxiety is making this worse I am sure.

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