Sunday I woke up with my throat hurting. Hard to talk or swallow. I went to my GP yesterday and they did the rapid strep test and it turned out negative. They sent the sample off to the lab; but I imagine it's still going to be negative too. My doctor went ahead and started me on an antibiotic because she said my throat was so red it's hard to believe I don't have strep. With my meds she likes to get a jump on anything suspicious.
Can anyone tell me how RA or sjorens (However that's spelled) affects your throat? I'm starting to suspect that's what's causing this. I sure hope this isn't another symptom I'm going to have to learn to live with....it's horrible!!
Any light you might could shed on this sort of problem would really be appreciated.
Maybe it's just allergies....but I don't remember allergies affecting me like this in the past. No other symptoms of illness really. No nasal drip....cough; nothing like that.
Lovie, my mother had sjogrens, and her throat hurt all the time. Her eyes were always dry, and the skin on her hands used to peel off in sheets - she had to wear bandages or mitts doused with ointment all the time. She didn't talk about it much, but those were the three things I remember.Thanks guys.
I didn't feel real good the start of the week....but I really think that was my MTX dragging me down. I feel ok now....but my throat. As long as I don't talk or swallow I'm ok.....BUT; who can live without talking or swallowing?
I have a routine appointment on Monday with my RD and I'll see what he says.
I appreciate your help and well wishes.
FYI - I once had a sore throat like you are describing that lasted 3 weeks. I couldn't talk, swallow, thought I would die. They never found the cause, but it just went away. I think it was a random virus whose only symptom was sore throat. Could be....my doctor said it could just be a virus. You might be right.Hi Lovie,
I have Sjogren's in addition to everything else. I had a sore throat with lesions on the top of my throat for two years before they finally diagnosed me with RA and then Sjogren's.Sometimes I lose my voice and I constantly crave water.Sometimes I have a kind of rash in my throat and sometimes there are cysts. Sjogren's can make you get more cavities although that hasn't happened to me so far. My throat was not responsive to antibiotics and did not clear up on its own. It can also affect your eyes and nose. I use natural tears and saline spray for my nose. If you do have Sjogren's, the treatment for the most part is the same as for RA, so the symptoms get better as the RA gets under control. It's not a horrible affliction, just a pain.
I have been having episodes of sore throat for the past couple of weeks. Also blurred vision and mild burning to the eyes and mild nasal congestion. I think that it is seasonal allergies. I havent had problems like this in over 10 years, but then this is my first allergy season on MTX. I am wondering if there is a correlation there.Linda, I do have Sjogren's and I'm starting to think that's what it is. I sat here at my desk yesterday and drank three bottles of water on top of my tea at lunch!! My throat is so dry.
It actually doesn't hurt to swallow or talk like it has for the past three days....but it's still so, so dry feeling.
My eye doctor recommended "Refresh Tears" and they really are working well. I'll get the blurred vision too Crunch; if I don't use them. The blurred vision is what sent me to the eye doctor to begin with. Come to find out it's "Dry Eye". My RD dx'ed the Sjogrens right after that.
Thanks so much for everyones advise and shared experience. It means a lot to me to have a place to come when I'm in question about something. I always know someone here will have faced this before.
Lovie, I don't know if this will help, but I get sore throats regularly since ra. I always think it is my immune respone along with my lymph glands swelling.
I hope you feel better soon. Sore throats are hard. They can be very painful. Let us know when you find out any more. Rox
You might be right about the lymph glands being involved Rox. All week I could feel mine in my neck and they were painful.
I'm feeling a lot better today though....throad still super dry; but better.
You guys have a nice Easter Holiday. I'll be around some; but not sure how much.
Hi Lovie, Hope you're feeling better. I just wanted to add that the Sjogren's has been better for me since I went on the heavy duty meds for the RA. Also, I have really severe allergies and it seems like a lot of us do, I definitely have more nose and throat problems during hay fever season which in California is almost all the time. When I was young, I had very severe allergy problems with runny nose, upper respiratory problems including ear infections and bronchitis. It's almost like the RA is a reaction to allergies. My nose is now dry and stuffy.
We just had the first sunny day in over a month so I've been out gardening. I know I'll pay later but it was worth it and I feel mentally so much better. Keep the faith and feel better.
Linda~How do you define heavy duty RA meds? I take Humira weekly and 25mg of MTX. That's pretty heavy; right?
My problems this week arrose on Sunday which is the day after my meds. That's ALWAYS a "down day" for me anyway. I kind of count on resting all day long because quite often I don't feel good after my meds on Saturday night.
I am feeling a lot better though. Throat is still real dry feeling and a couple times today I got this awful tickle in my throat that just about choked me until I got some water or a piece of gum in my mouth. I've had to either chew gum or suck on a piece of candy all week to keep my throat moist. Know what I mean?
Lovie, for me heavy duty meds is everyday prednisone(4mg), plaquanil (200mg), folic acid(4 per day) Gluchosamine/condroitin for OA, caltrate, every Wednesday 50 mg of enbrel, every Friday 7.5mg of metetrexate. I'm also on extra strength Tylenol at night and prempro .
Since I have Sjogren's I use Natural Tears. Since I have roseacia and have had skin cancer, I use metrogel on my face morning and night and Total block sunscreen on my face everyday and another strong sunscreen on the other exposed parts of my body. I wear a hat outside all the time and should wear gloves, but refuse. Right now I'm on an enhaler twice a day for asthma. Sorry you asked? I'm literally a walking medicine cabinet.
HEY LOVIE I WAS THINGING ABOUT THIS MY VOICEBOX AND THROAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE RA BUT I DO NOT GET THE SORE THROAT THING VERY OFTEN IT IS ALL THE OTHER SYMTOMS THE TROUBLE SWALLOWING THE CLICKING SOUND FROM MY THROAT THE CHOCKING AT NITE BUT NOT SORE HARDLY EVER AND WHEN THE DR LOOK IT IS NOT RED ANYWAYS THE THROAT SPECIALIST WILL LET ME KNOW AND I WILL PASS IT ON I DO ALSO HAVE SJORGENS.....TERESAThanks T~Don't know if you got my other PM at RAF....but thanks for the info and good luck with the specialist. Definately let me hear how it goes.
I had a horrible night. My throat really isn't sore anymore....just still real dry. I caused me to have this itchy dry cough all night. I didn't get much sleep. Almost choked several times....hate this!!
And Linda~no; i'm not sorry I asked....just sorry you have to deal with all that.
hi,new to site.have ra for 14 yrs.just started plaq,sulfasalazine,metx.only on a week,feeling so-so.i was on remacade for 3 yrs until i had a allergic reaction to it.been having sore throats(fire red)and swelled glands off and on.doc puts me on antibods and it goes away for a while.not sure if its allergys,methx or ra.