Painful throat, glands, neck and headache

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teacuplady
teacuplady Member Posts: 20
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I had cancer of the voice box almost five years ago with radiation and chemo for my treatment. Happy to say I've had a good four and a half years with one or two scares that proved nothing to worry about. In August I started to get a burning in my throat. A helpful person on the boards suggested acid reflux backing up to the throat. I tried Prilosec for a month, but it didn't make a difference. Anyway I have been to my ENT twice and several other doctors. I had a cat scan and ultrasound, and everything looks okay. For the last month I've still had the burning in my throat, my left gland is painful, I've had a little problem with phlem and coughing, ear ache, and terrible headaches. (stress?) I am currently taking another pill stronger than Prilosec, but it hasn't worked yet. (only been on it five days). Has anyone had anything like this? Any ideas? The doctors don't seem too helpful. Any ideas would be so appreciated as I am starting to get frustrated.

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  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #2
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    Not sure if this will help....

    I have very bad acid reflux, it is LPR and goes up higher in your throat but rarely have heart burn. The only thing that helps is a Rx Dexlant 60mg. Now you are supposed to take one a day but I take two a day. one in the morning and one at night. My insurance had a fit and denied it. My doctor got with them and got it oked to take twice as day. It is very expencive. Most I pay is around $3.00 - $15.00, but this is $100.00 for 60 pils or 30 days. Dexlant will pay some as well to affter insurances pays you only pay $20.00. So I get a 90 day supply and only pay $20.00. 

    Is the pain in the ear on the same side as the enlarged glang? Did your ENT use mirror or a scope? I just think a scope is best. 

  • teacuplady
    teacuplady Member Posts: 20
    #3
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    wmc said:

    Not sure if this will help....

    I have very bad acid reflux, it is LPR and goes up higher in your throat but rarely have heart burn. The only thing that helps is a Rx Dexlant 60mg. Now you are supposed to take one a day but I take two a day. one in the morning and one at night. My insurance had a fit and denied it. My doctor got with them and got it oked to take twice as day. It is very expencive. Most I pay is around $3.00 - $15.00, but this is $100.00 for 60 pils or 30 days. Dexlant will pay some as well to affter insurances pays you only pay $20.00. So I get a 90 day supply and only pay $20.00. 

    Is the pain in the ear on the same side as the enlarged glang? Did your ENT use mirror or a scope? I just think a scope is best. 

    Painful throat

    Thanks so much for your helpful comments. I don't have the typical heart burn symptons either. The doctor just put me on Pantoprazole twice a day, so I'll see how that works. My ear pain is on the same side as all my pains  (left, where the cancer was). Could it be possible that all my nerves are started to get regenerated? My saliva is starting to finally come back.

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 615 Member
    #4
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    Pain

    It is definitely possible that all your pain is due to acid reflux. A friend of mine actually experienced hearing loss from it. I also noticed ear stuffiness, pain, and some of your other symptoms when I tried to cut back on my Pantoprozole. It does work for me. You might try elevating the head of your bed, sleeping on your left side, and avoiding trigger foods and eating too close to bedtime. I hope you feel better soon.

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