Sore throat, increased AHI?

[Cuda]

I think my throat must be swollen or something, I feel horrible now for the last 4-5 days. I have a sore throat the likes I have never felt before. I plan to have an ENT check it out next week. My AHI is higher, about 3.5 instead of 1.5. The timing of the obstructive events seems in line with REM. Anyone else notice anything like this? I have pressure at 13cm with EPR 1. I swallow a little air while sleeping and higher pressures cause me to wake up bloated to the point of pain from swallowing air. I think tonight I will switch to APAP 13-15cm to see if the small amount of pressure can push through or limit these events. Any thoughts?

[xenablue]

I use bee propolis at the first sign of a scratchy throat and take it as a supplement between October and April - haven't had a 'sore' throat in years. It makes sense if your AHI is higher if your throat is swollen and painful.

Cheers,
xena

[RandyJ]

Do you have a nasal or nasal pillows mask you could use for a few days to see if it would help? (Assuming you have one & have a method of avoiding mouthbreathing...) I would at the very least add a salt water gargle 2-3 times a day to help w/throat, and an herbal tea containing slippery elm (like Throat Coat) is very soothing...

If a possible cause is post-nasal drip, then an antihistamine could help.

Good luck.

[Cuda]

Ibuprofen seems to help with the pain. Its something with lymph nodes I think, more pain then scratchiness. I guess its time to go to the doctor which I can't stand because they seldom get anything done. If anything I can have a white blood cell count, make sure its nothing anti-biotics can quickly settle. If thats normal I need to see an ENT anyway.

[RandyJ]

I find ibuprofen very effective for pain related to sore throat. If your glands on either side of your neck are swollen then it is probably infection and ENT will be your best choice to check it out asap. The warm salt water gargle will help if there is infection, and a hot tea promotes healing (actually anything hot that doesn't contain caffeine is good for stimulating red blood cell production/presence in the region). Hope you get it cleared up quickly. Cheers.

[Gerald?]

Cuda

Until I got teated for sleep apnea, it was not uncommon for me to get tonsillitis which sounds a lot like how you are feeling. The lack of sleep makes you far more susceptible.

Good news is that anti-biotics get rid of it fairly quickly. However, it might also be an indication your sleep therapy is not working at its best.

[Cuda]

Pharyngitis. It almost killed me when I was a teenager and again when I was 34. So far anti-biotics 0, pharyngitis 1. Hope to barge in on an ENT tomorrow. When the anti-biotics were helping my AHI did go back down. Be honest I am a little scared. I had a real rough go of it last time, real rough, almost didn't make it.

On a positive note when you stop eating completely you do lose a lot of weight.

[RandyJ]

By any chance do you use eye drops? Some eye drops, like Patanol for allergies, can cause severe irritation of the pharynx. For some reason if they leak into throat from tear ducts they can do this. I ended up at ENT several years ago with a bad case of pharyngitis from Patanol. When I stopped it I recovered quite quickly.

Just a thought...

[Cuda]

I appreciate the advise but I do not use eye drops. My mother happens to have an appointment with an ENT to get scoped but its routine. We heard this doctor is a nice guy and I do have an appointment next week. I am just going to show up and beg. I can feel my body losing the fight. Just pushing fluids like a mad fool while I can, learned that from last time. Once I cant swallow I will go south in a hurry. I hope I get something stronger this time. Last anti-biotic I took this thing had for breakfast. Now its seems ticked off and making up for lost time.

Just whining, my wife is a great cook so I want to be able to eat Thursday!

[Cuda]

Give anything now for a decent doctor. Third round of anti-biotics have failed. Now I have a 104+ temp. The last doctor I saw said it was acid reflux. Think I am headed for a hospital stay, this thing is really getting the better of me.

[rlyndecker]

Did you actually see an ENT? I have extremely swollen glands currently & was told I had an EAR INFECTION (At urgent care). If I had time/money I probably would go see the ENT just to make sure that's all it was. But I am not running a fever. I say go see an ENT if they said it's acid reflux go see someone else. I had to see 2 Drs. & 2 Nurse Pract. just to get Gallstones diagnosed so if you have a fever GO SEE ANOTHER DR. ASAP; or go to an Urgent Care if you don't know of a good Dr.

[Cuda]

Yes it was an ENT, I went back for a second visit and really got the feeling from the doctor I was over reacting. I just figured the outside of my throat is now visible swollen, I cannot eat and I am running a high fever. He did not even look just saying "We have to pick one course of action and follow through with it, come back in a MONTH if you still have a fever"

My hometown is near Mayo in MN. I may just go home. I think 2-3 months with this much pain and now a temp is a bad thing. I have never heard of people just dealing with such high temps long term.

I really have no faith in doctors, they keep explaining the best course of action is to wait until I cant eat or drink and I have crashed and they will look into it in the emergency room. I did that once before and almost did not make it. Would seem easier to treat it before it gets that bad. Nope, here the doctors motto is to prolong suffering and shorten life. It sucks.

[raggs]

Going to Mayo is probably the best idea. I do not live near but have used them. Just show up very early one morning and some one will see you and then will refer you to to the correct offices there GREAT PLACE
Hope you feel better
RAGGS