Chronic xerostomia for 3 years and since the last few weeks I have noticed my voice is changing and I have a sort of chronic sore throat. I have the impression the more I talk the more damage I do to my vocal chords and throat. Will this lead to sore throat cancer? I will schedule an appointment with an ENT doctor asap. Any advice will be appreciated.
Hello - I am not a dr. so cannot tell you for certain what you have but can share my experience. I had a chronic sore throat and dry throat and changes in my voice for a few years prior to my diagnosis. Within 6 months of starting plaquenil and cevelimine my throat is much better and the chronic "soreness" and dryness of my throat is so much better. Do you take any medications to treat your sjogrens? I did not see any listed.
Certainly not a bad idea to see an ENT for sure - they can rule out certain diseases and illnesses.
Keep us posted.
Sending positive thoughts your way.
I saw an ENT at Cedar Sinai, because of my worsening hoarseness & sore throat (checked previously by primary care for strep or virus).
She performed a laryndoscopy:
Results & recommendations:
- no nodes on vocal chords - a big relief; I am a working singer
- dry patches behind vocal chords - discouraging
- beginning signs of acid reflex
-prescribed steroid 'paste' for small sores on soft palate (reason for sore throat )
- aloe in water will 'slick' the throat
- told to Not clear throat ( I knew this, but it is a challenge)
- humidifier by bed (of course)
- the usual: stay hydrated
-avoid spicy food
-facial sauna
-told me that it is fine to keep singing, though my range is limited
I see her again in 12 weeks. Interesting waiting room; she works with celebs for their vocal needs. I am not a celeb! :)
- cemelevine definitely helps!
I really suffered for a couple of years with my throat. I became hoarse and by the end of the day I could hardly speak. I also had pain in my throat/neck area. I saw ENT a couple of times and my vocal cords were always swollen and red. I had to go without speaking for 3 weeks one time which is a hard thing to do when I was a working RN and had to communicate. I used the little boards that you write on like the kids do.
As the years went on I lost my singing voice which really was difficult as I sang in choir and directed a choir. When you love music and can't sing it is miserable. I would have to take Advil and slept with a heating pad or hot water bottle on my neck. One doc said I had some Reflux. I believed that to a point.
Bottom line, I ended up being diagnosed with hypothyroid plus after many years the Sjogrens and 3 other autoimmune diseases. I think that some of the pain and swelling in my vocal cords and neck area was associated with the thyroid disease and Hashimotos or autoimmune thyroid disease. I think a lot of the swelling and pain was from the antibodies trying to kill off my thyroid.
I would be adamant when seeing an ENT about checking out the autoimmune issues and doing more aggressive treatment. I had no idea what was going on. After going through this I am astounded that the ENT's I saw back then didn't even think to check my thyroid.
I am in my 9th year of IVIG for my myasthenia gravis and I never did get my singing voice back, but at least my throat and neck don't hurt much anymore. Remember to sleep with the head of your bed elevated or else in a recliner for the reflux. Watch your diet and take your meds. I have been on many different meds for my GERD over the years and presently take Omeprazole with pretty good results. Good luck, Irish