Throat Clearing

I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced issues with having to clear their throat a lot. It’s not a tickle but more of a slight dry feeling in my throat that provokes the need to clear. When it’s bad, it can be very anxiety inducing. This particular symptom started shortly after I began treatment for Lyme and co-infections. For context, I am treating at a facility that uses a protocol that includes herbals/supplements as opposed to antibiotics.

At first I thought it may be an allergic reaction to something I am eating or supplements I am taking and while I still think this could be the case, it seems to occur even when I’m just drinking water sometimes. I’ve noticed that while it’s mostly consistent, every now and then I’ll have 2-3 weeks where it mostly disappears. Also, when I clear my throat, there really isn’t anything there (most of the time there is very little to no phlegm). Lastly, I seem to notice that when it’s bad, it makes my dizziness worse as well.

I did ask about this at the facility I’m treating at and they thought it was likely related to Candida. I guess the part that is confusing is I have been treating Candida since I started so feel like if it is related, this should have cleared up by now.

Any thoughts?

I have not had that exact symptom. My first thought was it could be something you are taking. Some Rx and herbs can cause dry mouth. Practitioners, in my experience, don’t always know as much as they should about the substances they prescribe. When I have experienced side effects to things and told them, they often say “it shouldn’t” cause xyz.

Is the dryness only in the throat or do you have it anywhere else - nose, mouth, eyes. I have had extreme dryness at times and feeling like my throat was closing at night in my sleep. It was a very scary feeling. I think I also had red, inflamed areas in the back of my throat during some of those times.

You mentioned Candida. Do you have visible thrush, coated tongue, or positive antibodies to Candida?

One other thought is reflux. Do you have any reflux that you can feel? Do you take fish oil, d-limonene, or ingest essential oils?

For a while I had laryngopharangeal reflux, also known as LPR and "silent" reflux ("silent" because there's no heartburn symptom). Sounds similar to what you describe. I felt like there was something in my throat, felt the urge to clear it a lot, irritation deep down. Maybe something to consider. LPR can cause irritation all along the esophagus, as well as sometimes the upper bronchial tissue, nasal passages, and vocal cords.

What helped me was making sure to sit very upright for an hour after eating or drinking, and not eating or drinking after 5 p.m. for a while until the esophageal tissue healed. Being upright sounds simple, but I was very ill and reclining a lot, and hydrating often, so being upright for a long time every single time I drank water was rough. I also started taking digestive bitters and digestive enzymes, but I think gravity was the biggest help for me.

Oh, and I wasnt aware of throat clearing, but ENT said I had been doing it while talking to her.

I was referred to an ENT.
The doc put a scope with a camera on it up my nose and down my throat.

I remember eating a biscuit and the doc taking a video of it. (To check my swallowing)

It was a long time ago - before I was diagnosed with Lyme.

In the end - no diagnosis

I had the scope down the throat and was told I didn’t have acid. I had tons of symptoms of “silent” reflux. Nexium and Zantac stopped it along with unexpectedly stopping some other symptoms. Those meds aren’t good though, so I got off that wagon after 6 months. Thankfully, those symptoms have only come back occasionally, and I usually figured out what was triggering it and got it under control without having to go back on meds.

That’s why I asked if you were taking fish oil, d-limonene, or ingest essential oils. Those can belch back in your throat even if you don’t feel it, and the oils can cause irritation and inflammation that can feel like all sorts of sensations.

You could try skipping the fish oil for a few days and gargling with warm, salt water. See if that brings any relief. If it does, then try adding the fish oil back only in the morning or early in the day and not at night.

Things that could be perpetuating the problem:
- spicy foods
- tomatoes or tomato sauce
- chocolate
- coffee
- citrus fruits and juices
- nuts
- strong herbs like cloves, cinnamon, oregano, garlic
- olive oil, coconut oil
- some gel caps irritate me (NeuroProtek was one)
- living in a moldy environment (inhalation of mold, mycotoxins)

Some things that can help heal the inflammation:
- gargling with (and swallowing small amounts of) warm, salt water
- aloe juice
- eating more mild vegetables like steamed bok choy, zucchini, vegetable broth
- taking digestive enzymes with meals

Post Edited (WalkingbyFaith) : 1/30/2022 6:24:55 PM (GMT-7)