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How Can Painful Swallowing Be Treated After Completing Treatment For The Flu?
Posted on
Wed, 21 Mar 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 21 Mar 2018
Answered on
Fri, 5 Apr 2019
Last reviewed on
Question : I feel like my throat is swollen and hard to swallow , feel pressure in the ears. I assumed it was flu and that's what my doctor assumed also I been several time and "it it sounds viral" , no strep i was tested, no mono. It's been a month and all my flu symptoms are gone no more nose or cough or fever. So I feel totally normal but the painful hard swallowing just won't do away! Over a month. Any idea what to get tested for? I am changing doctors.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It's possible that there is some residual post nasal drainage that is causing the throat symptoms, and when there is fluid going down the back of the throat, then it can affect the ears.
The ears are connected to the throat by the eustachian tubes and fluid going down the throat can create pressure changes in the ears - popping, muffled sound, dripping sounds, crackling, pain, or sometimes just feelings of pressure or feeling stuffed up.
You might try an over the counter steroid nasal spray such as Flonase for a week, and a decongestant, pseudoephedrine, for a few days - even if you don't have symptoms in the nose itself.
And at the same time, make an appointment with an ENT (ear nose throat doctor aka otolaryngologist) if you are able.
When you go in, they can get a good look at your throat, and do a swab for general bacterial culture (which would grow out any bacteria, not just strep which you've already had done).
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
It's possible that there is some residual post nasal drainage that is causing the throat symptoms, and when there is fluid going down the back of the throat, then it can affect the ears.
The ears are connected to the throat by the eustachian tubes and fluid going down the throat can create pressure changes in the ears - popping, muffled sound, dripping sounds, crackling, pain, or sometimes just feelings of pressure or feeling stuffed up.
You might try an over the counter steroid nasal spray such as Flonase for a week, and a decongestant, pseudoephedrine, for a few days - even if you don't have symptoms in the nose itself.
And at the same time, make an appointment with an ENT (ear nose throat doctor aka otolaryngologist) if you are able.
When you go in, they can get a good look at your throat, and do a swab for general bacterial culture (which would grow out any bacteria, not just strep which you've already had done).
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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