Hello. I'm a 28yo female, treated for post-infections gastroparesis for the past 18 months (domperidone 20mg TID), a history of chronic sinusitis (however not treated for infection in past 12 months), previously treated for GERD-- most recently prescribed Aciphex (d/c in 2010), Protonix prior to that, and Nexium at initial diagnosis (~2005).
I visited urgent care three days ago due to a low fever with drenching night sweats and chills, some frontal sinus and BIL ear pressure for three days prior to the UC visit. I had taken Mucinex w/Acetaminophen for two days prior to the UC visit. I'd had very mild discomfort in my throat in those days prior, but the morning of the visit I began to feel like there was something stuck high in my throat (to me the sensation feels as though it's at the oropharynx level, sometimes rising or falling slightly for an hour or so). I initially tried to clear it with gargling warm salt water, then drinking warm tea, but it didn't clear and eventually attempts to clear it just made me gag and vomit. The PA at urgent care felt it was likely viral, but provided an Augmentin prescription in the event it didn't clear up in 2-3 days. I then visited a primary care physician the next day (2 days ago)-- partly to establish as a new pt because I just moved here, and partly because the feeling in my throat had become more bothersome and while it didn't (and still doesn't) hurt, it was causing me to gag and preventing me from being able to swallow food without vomiting. She felt it was likely from a post-nasal drip and said looking at my throat she didn't even see any redness. All of my other symptoms have resolved, but the feeling of something being stuck persists despite continued gargling with warm salt water, and saline water flushes through my nose. Coughing continues to result in vomiting if I can't get that area to relax enough to relieve the gagging feeling. It's an uncomfortable feeling, which now includes some itching in the back of my mouth, and is significantly affecting my appetite, but those are tolerable symptoms. My main concern is that the past two nights, significantly more last night, if I turn onto my back I wake up suddenly feeling like my throat is completely blocked, I can't even gasp for air until I sit up, lean forward, and try to open my mouth wide, at which point it resolves completely. I used pillows to try to keep myself from turning over, as I'm fine as long as I'm on my stomach, but as soon as I end up supine again I wake up feeling like my throat is completely obstructed. One last thing I wanted to mention is that the past few nights my roommates have asked if I was eating something blue or purple because my lips have been discolored when I'm getting ready for bed, and to a slightly lesser degree when I wake up in the morning.
I'm going to try sleeping upright in a chair tonight, but those nighttime episodes are scary and I'm wondering if it's alright to let it go until Monday, and if so whether I should return to the primary or see an ENT or gastroenterologist. Or if you have a suggestion for how to clear it, that would be great. Thank you!