Several day long allergic sore throat -- problem?

April 10, 2007 9:49 PM

I've had a stuffy nose, post-nasal drip, and consequent sore throat -- all due, I think to an allergy. It's taking several days to clear up, and clearing up very slowly. Should I be seeing a doctor about this?

I'm pretty sure it's an allergy because the mucus is clear. I am a chronic allergy sufferer but usually it's limited to a stuffy nose from dust mites. This is the first time it's developed into a post-nasal drip/sore throat thing. Maybe it's actually a cold?

On a related note, when I gargle with listerine, it burns like crazy (only when I gargle, not merely when I swish the listerine around in my mouth). Often it then feels like there's some kind of grit in the back of my throat when I swallow, at least for several minutes. Any idea what causes either the burning sensation or the gritty feeling?

posted by Malad to health & fitness (16 comments total)

Sounds like post-nasal drip to me. So long as it's clearing up, I wouldn't worry about too much. But if it keeps up, go see an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat). Don't bother with a general practitioner unless you have no better option -- in my experience, GP's just don't "get" why allergies are really a big deal (unless they have them in a bad way too).
posted by treepour at 10:00 PM on April 10, 2007

Weird, I just went to my GP about basically the same thing last Thursday. I'd had a sore throat for about eight days. They did a culture for strep (which I was 99% sure I didn't have, and sure enough I didn't) and told me to come back on Monday if it still hurt. It did, but I haven't gone back and today it's started feeling a bit better. I wouldn't have gone at all but I was planning on doing some pretty serious kissing on the weekend, and on the off chance I did have strep I wanted to know whether to refrain.

Only difference was I didn't have the gritty sensation. Instead I felt like there was some blockage near my left tonsil, which wasn't visible to the GP (or to me with a flashlight). I'd guess that we just had postnasal drip mucus collecting in two different places. At this point it looks like this is going to last me a solid two weeks, which sucks but I guess that's allergies for you.

In other words: I don't think you need to go to the doctor. Unless you see actual bacterial colonies piling up in your throat (flashlight fun!), or have a fever, or are having trouble swallowing/breathing, or want to protect your makeout buddy, this sounds like crummy allergies. I mean, only you can know whether this is worth seeing an MD, but I wouldn't.

BTW, they told me to do a warm salt water gargle a few times a day and take those numbing cough drops. If you go to a GP that's probably what you'll hear too.
posted by crinklebat at 10:09 PM on April 10, 2007

Hmm. There is something going around right now (I know a couple other people with it,) which I have had for a few days. Symptoms for me sound pretty similar (including the clear, water-like mucus, which, yeah, is kinda odd for a cold.) I am not an allergic person (that I know of.)
posted by blenderfish at 10:59 PM on April 10, 2007

Wow, this is exactly what I have had for the last five days. Everyone's been telling me it's allergies, though I've never had spring allergies before. One of your previous AskMe questions indicates you're in Boston -- is this true? Because that's where I am... wonder if there's some weird pollen this year?

Note 1: the sore throat has been helped a lot, for me, by hot tea with honey and lemon in the morning. The soreness usually stops for me by noon or so, then comes back at night.

Note 2: I have a doctor's appt this morning anyway. I'll inquire and she what she thinks about it, then report back :)
posted by olinerd at 3:53 AM on April 11, 2007

I've had chronic sinusitis for decades as the combined result of a deviated septum and likely allergies of some form. IANAD but my guess is that the grittyness you're experiencing is drainage from your upper sinuses. It occurs most often with me after minor sinus infections start to clear up and inflamed passages clear releasing all the gunk that's gathered there. Yuck!
posted by michswiss at 5:42 AM on April 11, 2007

Don't bother with a general practitioner unless you have no better option -- in my experience, GP's just don't "get" why allergies are really a big deal

Just because you've personally had a bad experience with GPs doesn't mean they are all bad with respect to allergies. Additionally, many insurance plans don't allow people to go straight to an ENT without getting a referral from the GP.
posted by Doohickie at 6:17 AM on April 11, 2007

Why would you go to the doctor? The mucus is clear and you know what it making your throat hurt, right? I'd give it another week easily.
posted by dame at 6:55 AM on April 11, 2007

Thanks for the answers so far!

One of your previous AskMe questions indicates you're in Boston -- is this true?

Yes it is...

The soreness usually stops for me by noon or so, then comes back at night.

It doesn't quite stop for me at noon, but it does get better, and then absolutely, gets worse at night. At then gets better in the morning.

I have a doctor's appt this morning anyway. I'll inquire and she what she thinks about it, then report back :)

Please do.
posted by Malad at 7:16 AM on April 11, 2007

Malad and olinerd, I'm in Boston, too and I've had this off and on for 2 or so weeks and am fairly certain it is allergies. I get those Pollen email updates and apparently we've had a ton of "high" days. I have no idea what I'm allergic to, but I'm sure I do not have a cold.
posted by jdl at 7:31 AM on April 11, 2007

Have you tried antihistamines?
posted by mkultra at 8:17 AM on April 11, 2007

Doohickie, that has been my experience with every GP I've ever tried to talk to regarding my allergies. Maybe it's just bad luck, who knows. When I finally went to an ENT (and, yes, I had to go the referral route), it was like I'd finally found someone who spoke my language. I've had two ENT's in the past five or so years, and they've both been breaths of fresh air (pun intended).

I'm sure there are GP's out there who deal well with chronic allergies, but, again, that's not been my experience. YMMV.
posted by treepour at 9:10 AM on April 11, 2007

Malad and olinerd, I'm in Boston, too and I've had this off and on for 2 or so weeks and am fairly certain it is allergies. I get those Pollen email updates and apparently we've had a ton of "high" days. I have no idea what I'm allergic to, but I'm sure I do not have a cold.

Providence here, and have been experiencing a mild sore throat for the past two weeks.
posted by puffin at 9:43 AM on April 11, 2007

This is more or less the story of my allergic life. For me, if I don't treat the allergies, it tends to turn into a sinus infection.

A combination of claritin, sudafed (the real stuff behind the counter), and advil with afrin nasal spray and benedryl as needed can work wonders to dry up that drippiness and keep it from turning into something worse.
posted by mostlymartha at 10:45 AM on April 11, 2007

She shrugged and said allergies. I guess I'll be getting some OTC drugs for it this afternoon...
posted by olinerd at 10:56 AM on April 11, 2007

Don't bother with a general practitioner unless you have no better option -- in my experience, GP's just don't "get" why allergies are really a big deal (unless they have them in a bad way too).

Awesome.
posted by docpops at 11:49 AM on April 11, 2007

Thanks for the updates. My symptoms have gotten a lot better today -- practically no sore throat left at this point, and the nose is far improved. Must just be passing allergies...
posted by Malad at 5:01 PM on April 11, 2007