Throat problems in 10yr old dd. Please advise ....

[frazzledbutcalm]

I'll try to be as brief as possible! Dd is 10, has a couple of issues which I don't think are relevant to this problem. Since October last year Dd has had a sore throat. She has a feeling that something is stuck, it's uncomfortable when she swallows and it feels like some food gets stuck and takes more effort to get down. She can feel something there all the time. If she tilts her head back it's no different, but if she tilts it forward towards putting chin on chest it feels much worse. We've been to ENT they can't feel or see anything abnormal. They put a camera up her nose and down into her throat and there's nothing there. We've been told now by ENT and 2 G.P's that there's nothing wrong and her symptoms will disappear of their own accord. Basically, they've said 12 months is not a long time for this to go on, it can go on for much longer! We have to believe, act and talk like there's nothing wrong, then that will magically happen .... I just can't believe she can feel what she does if there's really nothing there ... any thoughts??

Just to add ... I don't think or want there to be anything wrong, I don't think there's anything bad here, I just want this to go away for my dd sake.

[Badvoc]

Have they dx pharyngitis?
My ds2 (4) had this in June and was really poorly...lost loads of weight.
He also said he felt like there was something stuck.
I know my ds - for some weeks - still didn't eat much and also still complained of the "stuck" feeling.
Maybe google it and see if it fits your Dds symptoms?
Hope she feels better soon x

[frazzledbutcalm]

Thanks for your reply bad ... They've said nothing is wrong at all. No inflammation, tonsils normal. It first started last October when she had a throat infection. That cleared within a couple of weeks but she was left with a sore throat which has never gone away. She describes it now as uncomfortable rather than sore. But it's there constant 24 hours a day We're now 11 months down the line and it's no better at all ...

[frazzledbutcalm]

I've had a quick google around. Lots of sites saying this type of problem is due to anxiety. Dd is a very anxious child. Poss ASD, we've just stared assessments. Could it be due to this (anxiety)?? Her throat infection and this problem started last year around the time she was getting bullied ... I wonder if there's a connection?

[Badvoc]

Could well be tbh.
Anxiety and stress do cause physical symptoms...quite often in dc it's tummy problems or headache but it could be pain anywhere.

[frazzledbutcalm]

I'd never thought of anxiety... but constant 24/7 for almost a year? ... I'm happy to rule anything in or out ... just wish I can know for sure ...

[ihearttc]

Strange question but have they checked her ears?

Ive got something called Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Syndrome...basically glue ear in adults! I suspect Ive had it for years because when I was a child I used to get really bad "throats" but the doctors could never find anything wrong.

It feels like I have got something in my throat either side every time I swallow even though there is nothing there at all...don't completely understand why but its something to do with the pressure in the tubes which they go into the back of the throat.

Would explain why when they looked in her throat there is nothing there.

[frazzledbutcalm]

Oh ... I don't think her ears have been checked ... Thanks iheart, I'll look into that!

[frazzledbutcalm]

Oh and sorry, you poor thing, it must feel awful. Can they do anything for you?

[ihearttc]

No problem...it's probably not that at all but seeing as everything in that area is connected to the throat it might be worth investigating.

I can vividly remember coming home from school one night when I was young and literally sobbing cause it hurt so much but there was nothing there when the doctor looked..I had my tonsils out when I was 7 so knew it wasn't that.

It cleared up a bit for a good few years then had loads of issues with my wisdom teeth and put all the pain I had in my throat down to that but its only in the last year that GP has put everything together and worked out what it is so can totally see how your DD must feel.

And yes the only solution is grommets lol but Im not desperate enough to go down that route yet...Now I know what it is it's manageable most of the time. It comes and goes but it's always there slightly if that makes sense and if it gets unbearable I can have steroid nasal sprays which randomly clears the mucus in the tubes and therefore the blockage so it doesn't hurt anymore. Ive have some high dose AB's as well but only when it gets really bad.

If she is getting drainage from her nose as well that could possibly make it feel sore as well so I would think perhaps ENT should investigate nose and ears as well. Hope you find an answer-even if it is anxiety having a sore throat all the time is awful so can completely sympathise how she feels.

[greencybermummy]

Google 'globus sensation' or 'globus pharyngius'. Sounds similar to these maybe?

[frazzledbutcalm]

Thanks greency ... yes I would say it is like this. But, some food dd eats takes a lot more effort to get past the 'stuck' bit. It hurts more when she eats and swallows. Also when she tips her head forward it hurts more, but not when she tips her head back. The uncomfortable feeling is there all time, it doesn't go away. G.P said just to forget about it, not to talk about it and it will go away. It has been 11 months now, we've not talked about it for the past few months, we didn't really talk about it much before then either tbh. With 4 children in the house there's not much time for dwelling on problems! So I'm not sure it's just going to go away. I wish I had a magic wand