Question: Sore throat since December. Difficulty swallowing (sometimes clicks when swallowing). Constant need to clear throat - sometimes get hoarse after a full day of talking. No swelling, no fever, no lumps, lymph glands are normal. History of GERD, history of rinitis. Usually problems relax from morning until evening and the later in the day it gets the more trouble I have. Gargling with saltwater helps. Irrigation of nasal passages helps with breathing. No cough, no itchy watery eyes. Ear ache comes and goes - never too painful. I seem very sensitive to dust and mold. If I drink wine the first swallow burns when it goes through my larynx.

I get something similar almost every year but this year it is "hanging on" and throat seems to be more raw. Normally it lasts maybe 3 or 4 weeks. Just started fluticasone, citrizine and guaifenesin (non-decongestant) about 5 days ago. Lozenges help temporarily. Tea with honey helps temporarily. Gargling with saltwater helps temporarily. When I clear my throat it helps for a moment and what comes up is more just thick saliva than mucus. I also just started running a humidifier every night. I bought it a couple of months ago but didn't use it every night.

Oh, I noticed 1 week ago, the day before I went to see a nurse practitioner, a few small, white blisters on the insides of my cheeks and lips. They have not spread but are still there. Overall I feel really good - no other problems. I can sort of "scratch" the area where it is the most raw with the back of my tongue - I don't do that because it seems to irritate it. I have had no tonsils for 45 years.

My feeling is chronic sinusitis with a latent virus. I can get concurrence on the sinusitis/rhinitis but only a naturopath agrees with the virus. I don't have much faith in silver hydrosol but I'm trying it anyway. Looking for other answers.