Hi, new to this message board.
I was a healthy early 20s guy that had never even been to see a GP before. One morning I woke up with a terrible sore throat and tightness of the throat area.
After a few days with little improvement I booked an appointment with my GP. After a few visits of ‘come back in 2 weeks if it’s not gone away’ they thought I had acid reflux and I began ‘treatment’ for that.
This made no different at all and after what now was a year later and my throat was still sore, voice horse and a tight feeling.
I then was sent to an ENT and had a blood test. The blood test came back as ‘normal’ and the NHS ENT said my throat ‘looked very red’ but nothing out the ordinary. So I was sent back to the GPs with no progress at all.
Fast forward 10 years and I’m still in the exact same situation. What seems to bring on the pain from my thyroid is my ‘using’ my throat, so talking, eating or breathing heavier from exercise). This then remains and gets worse for the rest of the day. I’m the morning it’s settled slightly usually and then when I ‘use’ my throat again it’s a cycle of inflammation again.
Late 2018 I saw a private ENT and had a ultra-sound/blood test again. The blood test came back as ‘normal’. The ultra sound results said that I have Thyroiditis. In my naivety I was excited to know it wasn’t all in my head and now I had something they can treat. My follow-up consultation with the same Private ENT was depressing when he said there’s nothing he can do and just sent me back to my GP (now of which has semi-retired, so I’ve been passed between locums and temporary staff GPs at the practice). They at least have tried me on some NAIDs under instruction from the private ENTx which have had no effect at all.
It’s now 1.5 years on from when I found out what’s causing my DAILY pain and discomfort and I’ve hit a brick wall with what’s causing the Thyroiditis.
In total i’ve had 4 Thyroid blood tests that come back as ‘normal’. I’ve always since day 1 said to the doctor it felt like a viral or bacterial infection that just isn’t shifting on its own.
It’s so hard to know where to turn next. I can barely talk without hoarseness, discomfort and pain from my throat as thyroid, breathing isn’t as easy as it should be.
My GP won’t do anything unless told by an ENT and the ENT doesn’t seem to understand the severity of the problem.
I’m from the Portsmouth UK, south coast area so if anyone would know anywhere for me to turn that would be so amazing and I’d be forever grateful. As currently not 1 minute of my life is not being ruined by this pain I have.
Thanks so much in advance.
Rob 🙂