Brief Answer:
Some information

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

It sound like you have an upper respiratory viral infection. Given that you have fibromyalgia, I would suspect you are more likely to have chills and fatigue when you have an infection.

Some suggestions:
1. As I suspect the scratchy throat is coming from drainage from the sinuses, consider a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase which is sold without prescription at most drug stores. It may take a couple of days of regular use to work.

2. Since it is hard to swallow at night, there must be a lot of mucus or tissue swelling. A couple of things you can try are
- gargle with warm salt water
- irrigate your sinuses with saline rinse (nettipot) or saline spray (such as Simply Saline) - but don't do this within an hour of taking the Flonase or it will make the Flonase drip down into your stomach.
- The Flonase nasal spray might help.
- Pseudoephedrine decongestant can help this but just use during the day. It can keep you awake at night. At night you can use phenylephrine decongestant - it isn't quite as effective as pseudo ephedrine, but isn't so stimulating. These can help the earache too.
- Guaifenesin + lots of water can help thin out secretions so that it isn't hard to swallow.

A note - if you decide to try pseudo ephedrine, you have to ask the pharmacist for it as it is kept behind the pharmacy counter (it doesn't require a prescription, but they don't sell it on the shelves).

If the ear ache localizes to one ear and none of these things make it better, consider going in to see a doctor to check your ears and make sure you don't have a bacterial infection.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.

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Brief Answer:
Your welcome!

Detailed Answer:
I hope you feel better soon!

Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD

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