Red throat for months, not sore what could it be?

[Zebee]

For at least 3 months I have had a red throat and can feel my glands in my neck are swollen. It isn’t sore although I am aware of it. Occasionally I find my voice is a little croaky. I had a phone conversation with gp and sent photos and was told to wait for a month and ring back if it was still like that. What should I be asking for as a next step and what might it be?

I sympathise as I suffer from regular low-level sort throats. In the past have seen an ENT consultant and been tested for all sorts, including acid reflux, but all he did was suggest I stopped drinking hot tea or coffee...

Some things you might try....all suggested to me at various times:

Do you suffer from hayfever? This might be an allergic reaction. You could try antihistamines to see if they make a difference.
Is the inside of your mouth also sore? If we're ever allowed to go to the dentist again ask them about your throat. Mine was helpful and suggested changing toothpastes as they can be quite harsh.
I find the Kingfisher 'natural' brand of toothpaste has made a difference to my mouth/throat.
It's not cheap, but the Gengigel mouthwash, with which you can also gargle, is very soothing.
A cheaper and effective rinse/gargle is a little salt in warm water, or if you can stand it, a soluble aspirin in warm water.
If you drink tea or coffee black, and therefore hot, try adding a little cold water to them.

My apologies if you're thinking 'No shit, Sherlock' to any of these.

Wishing you well, hope you find a cure!

I agree with the helpful suggestions given by the jenthelibrarian.
Red throat can sometimes be caused by post nasal drip. It can also cause swollen lymph nodes. You won't know a post nasal drip if you have never experienced it before but it could be sour/bitter/metallic taste at back of throat that's not always there. Some says it's like having snot at back of throat. For others it's like having something struck in throat but you cannot clear and have to repeatedly cough.
If you have any of it then try sterimar nasal spray, it will thin your nasal mucus and it will stop the throat irritation. You can also inhale steam. If this does not help then ask your pharmacist for spray that will help with post nasal drip. But use sterimar first because it is natural.

Thanks for some ideas happy to consider anything.

Inside mouth isn’t sore neither is throat just red and feeling of achy/swollen glands.

Don’t have any allergies but willing to try an antihistamine to see if it helps.
Would you be snotty with a post nasal drip as I don’t have any of that. But again something easy to try.

You will rarely have a blocked or runny nose with post nasal drip , that is why it is so difficult to detect. All you get is a mucus/phelgm feeling behind your throat near uvula when you take a deep breath after taking a shower or sitting in front of Air condition.
It is the mucus which drips from your nasal passage into your throat that irritates your throat and makes it red. You don't get a sore throat but might occasionally have itchy ears.

Snap! A month ago, I phoned my doctor with a red and slightly sore throat. She sent me for some 'just in case' blood tests - thyroid, anaemia and full blood count - and based on my answers to her questions decided that it was most likely silent reflux. For this reason, she prescribed a 4-week course of Omeprazole. I am to phone back next week if it is no better.

I was hoping the doctor would run some just in case bloods to see if there is anything underlying. Perhaps I can ask when I go back.

Hi I was wondering did u still have the symptoms as u got to very careful of throat bleeding as it needs medical care ,or throat cancer