Constant sore throat

Hi everyone,

I seem to have a constant sore throat except the doctors say it is fine? It feels like an ulcer is way down and swallowing is quite sore. Wondering if this could be a lupus or a sjogrens thing? Perhaps it is just "dry"??.

Sounds weird I know but it has been happening for weeks now with some days way worse than others.

[SjogiBear]

Hi there StillSmiling

I have had huge problems with a sore throat this year - for me it started back in the early months of the year around February/March time. This just felt really sore and achy and got worse and worse as time wore on - for me it was complicated by a bereavement and my job contract finishing which I think just made everything worse. So I did go along to the GP around the end of April and she referred me to ENT - however I then got caught up in NHS bureaucracy hell where I was given a 'choose and book' form but when I called them they had no appointments at all even months and months into the future - when I asked them what I was supposed to do I was just told that I could always just go back to the GP (it was like being in a Kafka novel).

I have also been seeing an oral maxfax consultant who I saw in May and he was concerned about the throat and referred me for an MRI which covered both the jaw and throat - this came back with an issue and so when I was back getting the results with him he got me an appointment with ENT that very evening. To cut a long story short (and it's not really finished yet either) I ended up having numerous endoscopies down the throat as well as a pharyngoscopy plus biopsy done under general anaesthetic. Apart from inflammation they couldn't really find much of a specific cause although there was some evidence of silent reflux (LPR) - it would seem that quite a few of us with Sjogrens seem to get this issue. It might be worth finding out if this is causing your sore throat? The treatment is with a course of PPI meds such as something like omeprazole to stop the acid rising up and burning the throat. Apparently damage to the throat can take quite a while to resolve (which is what I am finding now). I have stopped the PPI meds but have bought a reflux wedge pillow which I think might be helping. The other issue which I have no evidence for other than anecdotal is that every time I get some issue or other, it takes forever to heal up and resolve.

According to the ENT doctors the Sjogrens will make all this worse as will a postnasal drip if you have evidence of that (I did). Apart from the PPI meds they weren't able to give much helpful advice I'm afraid - they suggest using Difflam spray or gargle as that is anti-inflammatory.

I guess you have seen your doctor about this issue or are you just waiting to see if it will resolve? I kept waiting but it just got worse to the point that I had to be prescribed prescription strength cocodamol to deal with the level of pain in my throat so don't leave it too long will you.

[Hidden in reply to SjogiBear]

Wow! I hadnt thought of it being reflux but makes so much sense. I get a "gurgle" in the back of my throat that doesnt hurt but is annoying and do take nexium when it is really bad so maybe I need to up the timing of the nexium. I will have to chat to my doctor first of course but lightbulb moment!!! Thankyou x

[Mandypandy1969]

I have had a sore throat for almost a week. It is only on the right hand side and feels uncomfortable when swallowing.

[Chanpreet_Walia LUPUS UK]

Hi Stillsmiling,

Some lupus patients experience dryness of the mouth which leads to sore throats, coughing and difficulty swallowing dry foods. According to The Lupus Encyclopedia, eating soft, moist foods can help alleviate swallowing pain. We published a factsheet on ‘LUPUS: The Mouth, Nose and Eyes’ which contains helpful tips and information: lupusuk.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Oral (mouth) and nasal (nose) ulcers are one of the most common features of lupus occurring in around 45% of people who have SLE. We published a blog article on coping with oral and nasal ulcers which you can read here: lupusuk.org.uk/coping-with-...

It is important to bear in mind that it is possible for people to experience periods of remission where their lupus is controlled and they feel relatively better; reducing the signs of their symptoms.

Please let us know how you get on, wishing you all the best.