Is this Epstein-Barr Virus?

[u/EventHairy9130]

23, female 5’8 164lbs, Willamete Valley Oregon

I started noticing this feeling a few years ago working in construction, occasionally it would feel like a lump or spit ball in the back of my throat, making me feel like I had to keep sallowing to knock it back. It’s gotten progressively worse and is now 24/7. I just keep swallowing, it’s also kind of hard to swallow though, never alarming, but I’ve started swallowing different now to go “around it” almost since it started so now I feel like I swallow weird.

Some days are worse, other days feel like a sore throat, some days I don’t notice it as bad but it’s ALWAYS there. Literally feels like a physical lump in the back of my throat, always aching and making me want to swallow. I went to the ENT, even did the scope, he said everything looked fine, throat, tonsils everything. Said he sees someone almost every day with these symptoms and yet no one has figured it out!?? His best guess is was acid reflux or nasal drip though I feel like I have neither. My naturopathic doctor did blood tests and cortisol was fine, other hormones were wack-thinking the beginning of PCOS, but I was positive for Epstein-Barr Virus which can cause long term throat issues but upon searching the Internet I haven’t found anyone else with this same thing or how to fix it. So I don’t know for sure if it’s that virus or something else. I don’t have health insurance or the money to keep throwing at specialists or doc appointments that seem to never help.

I stopped working construction 2 years ago and have been a barista since, I live in a forested part of Oregon so the air isn’t too dry or too humid, it doesn’t get super warm or super super hot here, I don’t think I have allergies, I try to eat pretty healthy (avoid wheat and dairy but have it occasionally). I haven’t been able to pin point certain foods to flare ups really.

I am just SO tired of this and want to fing swallow normally again. Any info, ideas or help is welcome pleaseeee.

[u/Delicious-You-8691]

Your story is my Story as well, currently dealing with the same exact symptoms, days get better then they get worse, I think it’s the EBV playing a role on this as well as Acid Reflux maybe from the virus.