Cause of a frequent sore throat?

[Juliecloud]

Does anyone have any advice about sore throats? I am frequently in agony with my throat and have to take pain killers for it about twice a month. My throat is sore just now and I can hardly move my head. The last time it was like this was mid-March. It’s not tonsillitis, I used to get that a lot and I can’t see the white infection that I can see when I have tonsillitis (unless you can have tonsillitis without that?)

I’ve seen the GP many times about it and am always told it is a virus. I’ve seen an ENT specialist who has said I could get my tonsils out but he also said he wasn’t sure if it’s my tonsils that are causing the problem so I might still get frequent sore throats even if I have my tonsils out

Does anyone have any ideas of what could cause sore throats so frequently?

You sure it's not silent reflux? Pepsin can cause sore throats - try Googling LPR and see if it fits.

Allergy/hay fever?
Mouth breathing?

I had medication from the ENT doctor for reflux, it didn’t help. I don’t think I mouth breath. I do get hay fever but it doesn’t seem to affect me badly any more in terms of runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing.

I used to get really awful sore throats in the winter, every year for about 4 or 5 years running.

I think one year it lasted about 5 or 6 months & it felt like there were knives in my throat, it was so raw I couldn't even swallow my own saliva. And I was really wheezy from it too. I went to the doctor repeatedly, I got through tyrozets like they were sweets (thank goodness they were still available!). Eventually one GP said it was probably a post nasal drip & did we have black mould, damp or similar in our house? I said yes, we did, & the LL knew but wouldn't do anything about it. Apparently I was allergic (blood tests confirmed this) & the constant spores in the air were causing a continual allergic reaction which was worse in the winter, because it was damper then & also because I used to stop taking my antihistamines over winter. I started taking my antihistamines all year round & got onto the LL & told them the state of the house was severely impacting my health (they sorted it out, sort of) & it's been fine since.

That’s interesting- we did have mould behind a wardrobe years ago. I wonder if it’s come back.

I'd check it out. Check all shelves & cupboards that are against external walls, they can be terrible for harbouring mould or mildew. We discovered a patch of mildew in the back corner of a wardrobe that was against the external wall of our old house too, I had to throw a few clothes away & get several more items dry cleaned at higher cost than normal because of the damage (IDK why). And of course we had to get rid of the wardrobe. And treat & paint the wall. So annoying. That house was awful for damp.

Since we moved a couple of years ago I've been much better. And of course I'm still on antihistamines all year.

I used to find that my sore throats started in the autumn & cleared up in spring. So basically, when I wasn't taking AHs. I always thought it was the cold or a change in the air con at work, but duh... obviously allergies.

IDK if it would help but I think you can still get the sore throat anaesthetic spray at the chemist. It's quite good but you have to aim it correctly! The tyrozets pastilles were withdrawn because they had antibiotics in, fear of AB overuse & microbial resistance etc.