thick sticky saliva/throat swelling

[jenquad]

I am 35 yr old female
history of gerd
symptoms:
1.lots of thick saliva after I eat/drink
2.sticky gelatin like mucus in back of throat constantly, it makes my throat is closing or swelling, I am allways am chooing gum trying to make more salivia so I can swallow
3.burping/presure in esophagus while eating
4. weight gain/upper stomach fullness/bloating feeling
5.tierd all the time
6. feeling of throat swellig and supper dry mouth after brushing my teeth?


I had an allergic reaction about 3 months ago and have been on a lot of antihistamines since, the dr's don't know why I'm feeling this way, I was wondering if you haveexperienced any of these symtoms before?

[Dakotawinks]

I've been told that too, that I had GERD or LPR basically acid reflux. I took all the meds they gave me faithfully for at least 8 months and they did not help me at all. Believe me if I found anything that did help, I'd keep using it. I basically own stock now in Musinex, but it really hasn't helped me either. You still have hope, you've only had it for four months, maybe it is just some sort of stubborn sinus infection or something. Lets keep in touch, maybe we can figure it out together. There is strength in numbers.....
I would totally have surgery if I could get that checked out. I went to several ENT doctors and they were so horrible to me. I think the doctor's all communicate through the computer and therefore I'm on the ____ list for whatever reason. i quit going to one doctor as she told me "how would you like to have a disease like ovarian cancer, where your odds of survival were low? You shouldn't complain about what you have as it isn't life threatening" so I changed doctors after that, and ever since every doctor has treated me terrible. I have no solution for this and I don't feel like I can go to one of the doctor's that my insurance provides now. The doctor I "changed" to told me I should move to a state with an ocean, maybe that would help. that was as much help as he offered me. I want to call again and get another doctor but I'm really afraid of being blacked balled.Although I think I already am.
Sandy

[Toxed2loss]

Did you ever ask for a copy of your file? They often write the most insulting things there. I've even found significant inaccuracies.

[coughting]

Have you gone to a gastro dr.  I thought I had sinus but it turned out that it was acid reflux.  The meds did not help and after lots of testing opted for surgery.  So far so good.
Still have the thick mucus in the am but it is completely different than before surgery.
It is in my throat and not my esphogus now.  Don't give up, find a dr. that will listen to you and ask for the test for reflux.

Good luck.

[Dakotawinks]

What is the test you are talking about? I have been 3 times and they did do a larynoscopy on me where they put the tube through your nose and down your throat?? I had that done and they gave me meds then that didn't work at all, and that is all they are willing to do. I don't know what else to do. I've paid out literally 1000's to find out and I still no nothing.....please give me more info.
Thanks,
Sandy

[RRR50]

I've had similar symptoms, starting with the thick sticky mucous in the morning particularly, which took about an hour of coughing and spitting up before it would settle down.  I,too, thought it was sinus related, but after seeing an allergist, found I had no allergies.
An ENT doctor did the endoscopy in his office and declared it was GERD.  The routines they advise are not always helpful, and avoiding so many foods is not practical either.  
After a flu-like episode in the summer, my doctor put me on stomach meds to curb the acid, but then I broke out in a rash.  She believes it was unrelated, but it was a coincidence.  I stopped taking the stomach meds, and the flu seemed to clear up the mucous for a while.
I have a friend who is a dermatologist, and I asked her about the rash - she told me to take a product called Reactin. Strangely, it seems to help with the mucous problem, when taken in conjunction with a stomach acid remedy at bedtime.
I also have what seems to be a spasm in the esophagus or diaphram region, which makes me cough.  This condition has been present for years, but happens only intermittently.  I believe it may be a result of my pregnancies, perhaps pushing my stomach up into the diaphram region.  No one has said I have a hernia but I wonder is there is something like that going on too.
You have to be a detective and bring suggestions to your doctor.  Unfortunately, they are too busy (or just too incompetent) to diagnose and won't send you to the proper specialist.  But from reading the letters on the net, I can tell you that you are not alone.  There are many out there like you.  
Your unfortunate experience with your doctor reminds me of the time I took my teen-aged daughter to a neurologist because she had severe migraines that lasted three weeks.  She was a good student and had a part time job, but needed help.  He told her she was lucky she didn't live in China, because if she stayed away, somebody else would just take her job away from her.  Some help.
Your doctor was right about one thing - it isn't likely a life-threatening illness.  So try not to fret and get over-anxious about your symptoms.
Just persevere and keep doing research.  You will find the right person to help you eventually.

God Bless.
Marilyn

[Toxed2loss]

I know this was a long time ago, but in case you might still need answers, check out "acute toxicant induced intermittant achalasia." From what I've found its the acetylcholinesterase/cholinesterase metabolic cycle inhibition that triggers it. OP insecticides and glyphosate (roundup) are 2 of the most prevelent acetylecholine cycle inhibitors. OP insecticides, like Raid House & Garden, etc, the stuff they're spraying for mosquitos, and the insectides the put in all synthetic fragrances... Nix the toxic substances, it clears up. It returns when you get around toxins again.

[Dakotawinks]

Thank you for understanding. I just feel like I'm batteling this all on my own. I could go on about other things I have been told by these doctors, but it would take way too long. I just feel like I work hard 40 hours a week, and part of that money goes into my insurance, and for that very reason alone they should want to help me, but instead I've been treated like the red headed step child and I really don't understand it.
I have to ask this.....what is reactin? is is over the counter? Can I go out and buy it to give it a try? Please let me know......
Thanks,
Sandy

[coughting]

In March of this year I had a terrible cough that lasted about 2 1/2 months.  I went to my regular MD and my blood pressure was up.  He thought it was caused by my coughing so hard and not sleeping.  I told him that I couldn't live this way and he called my GI doc and they talked.  My GI doc did the same test as yours, plus swallow test etc. etc.
Put me on 3 inhibitors a day and it still didn't help.  My cough was much better by then, it comes and goes.  This lasted through the first of August and I finally told him that I really couldn't live this way.  The PH test showed that I coughed after I had reflux.  He was worried that the Nissen couldn't be reversed because one of the test, swallow test wasn't great.  He was afraid if that ever got worse I would be in real trouble.   I had a great surgeon that I had used for chrons operation and we finally decided to talk to him.  he assured me that the tests showed it was reflux and that he could fix that.  He also told me that the Nissen could be reversed.  He said I should have a loose wrap and that he was good at doing the loose wrap.  He did the Nissen on 10/9 and I was at home on 10/10 and back at work on 10/15.  I had read so many horror stories about should and back pain before my operation and was prepared.  The surgeon put me on soft foods, nothing thicker than mashed potatoes when I went home.  I have learned to use the blender.  I had some homemade hamburger veggie soup that I blended and it was great.  The menu is getting really boring but will stay on it and follow his advise.  I should see him again sometime next week and hopefully can graduate to other things.  The thing that I have found that causes me any pain is if I eat too much, more than a cup at a time, my back aches cannot really say it hurts but can see that may be why so many have pain.  I just eat real often - every 2-3 hours but no more than a cup.  Hope this helps someone.

If you can't get your dr to do anything change doctors.  I had to push my doctor to get the procedure done because he really didn't think that it was reflux causing my cough.  Since I did not have heart burn.

Take charge and tell him or her that you cannot live this way.  As with me, it may take months of tests and trying things before the dr finally says to go ahead.