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Author Topic: Sore throat and health anxiety  (Read 12526 times)

Donnadoobie

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Sore throat and health anxiety
« on: February 12, 2020, 02:50:26 PM »

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?
 
« Last Edit: February 12, 2020, 02:56:59 PM by Donnadoobie »
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Kathleen

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2020, 03:24:45 PM »

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.
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Donnadoobie

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2020, 03:29:24 PM »

Thanks it is reassuring.
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marge

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2020, 05:09:16 PM »

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.
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Donnadoobie

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2020, 05:28:19 PM »

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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CLKD

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2020, 05:34:55 PM »

Post nasal drip was my first thought followed by acid reflux.

I had a low grade 'leak' from a tooth but my mouth tasted foul until the tooth was removed. 

If 1 snores the mouth and throat will be dry.

Glandular fever can whitter on for months both prior and after diagnosis.  It makes 1 feel really ill.

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Kathleen

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2020, 05:53:36 PM »

Hello again Donnadoobie

Well done for getting the dental work moved forward. I am keen to have my tooth removed but can't see my dentist until next week and that will only be a quick review appointment.

I'll be interested to know if your sore throat does improve when the tooth is gone.  My dentist told me that chronic infection was always a possibility with a diseased tooth so other problems are bound to occur.

Hope all goes well tomorrow and please let us know how you get on.

Take care.

K.
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bear

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2020, 07:02:17 PM »

Hi Donnadobbie,

Do you snore, by any chance?

BeaR.
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Donnadoobie

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2020, 07:36:11 PM »

Probably, I am a mouth breather, my husband snores a lot, so we do not sleep together, so he cannot tell me if I do or not.   
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Tc

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2020, 07:48:25 PM »

Donna. I agree about post nasal drip. It can make throat sore and dry.   It's worse when laying flat on back so maybe try raising pillows.

Also, any issue with the teeth can cause the nearby glands to swell.

Xx
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Donnadoobie

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2020, 11:01:07 PM »

Thanks for your reassurances everyone

My tooth problems are from hereditary gum disease, I pay to have them cleaned, Privately by a dental specialist, after I lost one tooth to bone loss.  I have paid around ?1500 over the past 18 months but although most of my teeth have improved this one has not,   The problem is that the gums gets sore and then prone to infection and then down to the bone, where there is bone loss.  There is movement in this healthy but unstable tooth.  Rife for infection, it has to come out.

Interestingly,  me and my husband have had a heart to heart over a drink tonight and I have barely noticed my sore throat, I am sure there are some anxiety issues involved here.

Tomorrow is a tough day, who wants to face a tooth extraction?!  Wisdom teeth aside, it is only my second, so at 58 to have 27, soon to be 26 out of 32 teeth is something to be thankful for .

I will let you know how this works out,  but feeling more hopeful tonight.
« Last Edit: February 13, 2020, 06:26:44 AM by Donnadoobie »
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CLKD

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2020, 09:16:05 AM »

Are you on anti-biotics to avoid infection during/after extraction  :-\

Let us know how you are!!  I have a sore area under an implant following a deep clean last month.  I have to eat on the right when I remember  ::)
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Donnadoobie

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2020, 10:27:25 AM »

I am going to ask for antibiotics.  Hopefully he will oblige.
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Donnadoobie

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #13 on: February 13, 2020, 11:55:49 AM »

Tooth is out!  I asked for antibiotics beforehand, he said no.  After the tooth was extracted he said there was long term infection around the tooth and bone, he scraped out what he could  Gave me antibiotics and said he would rather I did not take them but only if necessary.  I have started taking them, I don't need any more problems with infection
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marge

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Re: Sore throat and health anxiety
« Reply #14 on: February 13, 2020, 12:17:02 PM »

Did you mention your sore throat and whether the tooth could have been the cause?
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