Hello fellow Lupies,
I'm just wondering if anyone else has an almost permanent sore throat? The only time it goes away is when I take steroids - just finished a 6 week course yesterday and the sore throat is back today. Other than that I'm only on 400mg hydroxychloroquine at the moment and pain meds. I'm interested to know if it's a Lupus symptom or if it might be thyroiditis, as that's the area that is 'sore'?
Many thanks 💐
Have you checked if you have a post nasal drip.....often caused by a slight sinus infection? Not enough to give you all the full blown sinusitis symptoms...just a stinging feeling in your throat.
The steroids will be calming the inflammation & as soon as they stop the drip starts up again& you get the sore throat.
Ask your Rheumy team or get an ENT referral!
Just a thought!
I have chronic allergic rhinitis, which I take antihistamines and a steroid spray for, so that's a definite possibility? The throat issue is usually worse at the end of the day, especially if I've been talking a lot or have been cold (like today - totally miscalculated for the weather!).
Many thanks for that suggestion. I have an appointment with the Rheumy in October, so will ask then 💐
Coincidence...I was speaking from personal experience
I had allergic rhinitis for years.until one bright spark ENT surgeon decided I should have polyps (know as benign allergic tumours) removed.
Voila...no more sore throats! Worth a mention.
That's really encouraging - thank you!
I have a permanent sore throat too. Recently I've been struggling with horrible choking at night and very thick mucosal saliva. I do have Sjögren's and reflux but the reflux is well managed and I seem to have plenty of saliva. No post nasal drip apparently so I'm none the wiser really. I have small fibre all over my mouth and face and TMJ and when I looked it up I found this on neurological manifestations of Sjögren's - John Hopkins. Maybe this also applies to Lupus?
"Trigeminal neuralgia and glossopharyngeal neuralgia
Sjögren’s syndrome can cause numbness or burning of the face, called “trigeminal neuralgia.” Pain in the back of the throat, which may worsen while swallowing, is called “glossopharyngeal neuralgia.” Patients with trigeminal or glossopharyngeal neuralgia can have agonizing mouth and facial pain. These neuropathies may co-exist with other neuropathies in different parts of the body. For example, up to 20% of patients with a “small-fiber” neuropathy may also have trigeminal neuropathy."
Just read up on it (had never heard of it before) and it's another possibility. Thanks Twitchytoes 👍🏻💐
Hi nurseladybird
My take on it is that if you have ever had glandular fever ( Epstein-Barr virus) and many lupus sufferers have, then you're pretty much stuck with a sore throat. It's the first area to become inflamed if there's a trigger.
I'm in the same boat and those anaesthetic lozenges ( Difflam down here 🇦🇺) are my go to.
Do you often have swollen glands as well?
🤗🤗🤗
Penelope
🐟🐳🦈🐳🐠
Well that's interesting! I was never diagnosed with glandular fever, as the blood tests came back negative, but my old GP strongly suspected it. That was when I was 14 and had frequent bouts of tonsillitis pretty much every two weeks for about a year. Then when I was 21, I started showing lots of signs of what I now think was a Lupus flare - severe fatigue, pains in my feet and knees, chronic migraine, a tendency towards 'sunstroke' (after being a sun worshiper), rosacea, constantly feeling generally unwell, swollen glands and frequent bouts of tonsillitis again. That went on for about 4 years, until I had my son, then it went away!
I'm now 50, and symptoms all started again at a low level about 5 years ago and then got significantly worse after I had a hysterectomy 3 years ago. I seem to be in a constant flare and the only time I feel ok is when I'm on steroids. Roll on October when I see the rheumy, to get a new treatment plan!
Thank you 💐
I can relate to everything you've written! So classic all your s&is, and so tiring to be 'carrying ' them around with you all the time. Makes our activities of daily living just that much harder.
🤞🏼 For the rheumatology appointment!
I found my throat improved by stopping Cows Milk .4yrs now and rarely have what was a constant sore tbroat and catharr .
I might give it a try, thank you 💐
Yep...and frequently swollen glands. It was that it was one of the things made me realise just how long this disease has been in my system, and how often I had brushed it off over the years. I haven't found anything to relieve it, but I guess it's one of my lesser problems, compared to the joint pain, fatigue and sun-sensitivity. I hope you find something to help....
Thanks Anicca,
Sometimes it helps just to know I'm not alone and you're so right about it making you realise how long it's been in your system 💐
I get sore throats when I am having a flare up. It's usually the first sign of a flare up for me. It lasts weeks or sometimes months. When this happens, my glands are not swollen, but it feels like the tissue around my tonsils at the back of my throat are inflamed, like the beginning of a cold or flu.
I often get the 'coming down with the flu' feeling too. I just seem to be in a constant flare lately, although luckily it's quite mild, with no major organ involvement (except my brain, maybe?). 💐
I have no help to offer for you situation but I have been suffering with a flare after overdoing it. I woke up with a sore throat this morning and it's been awful all day. I hope you find something!
I have that also, and swollen glands in my neck. It's a little bit better, I am sorry you have to go through it also. Your not alone with this symptom. I think it's part of a flare. I really do not know for sure.
God bless you, 💜🦋🙏🏻
Weird lupus flare including burning when I pee and sore throat 
Sore throat & painful ear mainly when sleeping. Is this reflux related?
Gerd / throat issues but no indigestion
