Sore throat and burping

[3LeggedCat]

hello, I've had a sore throat for about 15 months. I'm also burping a lot (especially after just having a drink of water). I've been referred to a throat specialist, but they're too busy to see me. A private doctor wants to charge me £600 for a transnasal oesophagoscopy (TNO). Do you think this is worth trying?

After that long. Yes without a doubt

Have you been tested for H Pylori? It's a stool test your GP can organise.

My sister was suddenly burping a lot and it turned out she had H Pylori which can cause reflux - which can cause a sore throat. She took antibiotics which sorted the issue out.

@Wizzywoo18 Thank you, I'll ask the doctor when I see her on Monday. They've tested for calprotectin, but I don't think they've tested for H Pylori. Did your sister have any other symptoms?

I think burping was the major symptom but she saw a doctor fairly quickly after the problem started.

I'm looking into this myself because I've started getting reflux symptoms. A website RefluxUK have a blog post about the possible connection to Covid 19 as their referrals have increased noticeably since the pandemic started.
refluxuk.com/blog/can-COVID-19-cause-reflux/

A persistent sore throat that is unexplained or not responding to treatment would meet the two week wait criteria. Who is telling you they are too busy?

The NHS throat Specialist’s office said I might need to wait another two months to see someone when I phoned at the beginning of September.

I’ve had sudden severe reflux and have been booked in for a ‘camera down the throat’ procedure, also being tested for h pylori. I had a persistent cough a while back too. I was booked in within 2 weeks.
I hope you get sorted quickly OP.

Look up GERD and see if the symptoms ring any bells.

I don’t get a burning sensation.

I just found out I don’t need a burning sensation to have GERD. I do have the bad breath symptom.

I burp a lot, get a funny little cough and a sensation like my throat is blocked.
I rarely get any pain.

I would go back to your GP & ask why they have not referred under the two week wait criteria as a persistent sore throat for 18 months would meet this.

I'm sure it's nothing to worry about but you need it investigated. Do you have any other symptoms of anything?