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Constant cough, post nasal drip, and swollen sinuses and throat

I have, over the last approximately 15-20 years suffered from swelling of the back of the tongue and the throat, and of the sinus cavities, perpetual unproductive cough, continual sinus drainage down the back of the throat and sometimes to the front of the nose, and overall fatigue and depression as a result. It has gotten so bad that I have had to give up the running and sports in which I used to participate. It is a hindrance to my overall quality of life. I have had several courses of immunotherapy over my life, beginning as a child, and currently. I last suffered asthma when I was 12. I have since taken several spirometry tests and a methacholine challenge test which all proved negative. I have had a bronchoscopy taken which showed nothing, but also had a nasal endoscopy resulting in decision to perform septoplasty. This relieved the stuffy noses I was having, but drainage and cough have worsened. (NOTE: I question whether this is a cause of my increased coughing problems.) Other tests taken have been upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy (negative), thyroid function tests (showed normal), nasal endoscopy (showed no changes since septoplasty), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (showed normal), and laryngoscopy of vocal cords (showed normal; however it found thickened and boggy nasal turbinates), blood gas test (showed normal). Have found LARGE doses of prednisone help greatly (methylprednisolone, less so), but also cause side effects. Am currently taking Astelin and Rynatan as a steady regimen and Flonase semi-regularly. I am at my wit's end....any other ideas?



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Avatar universal
I can't believe how many people have the same symptoms. Sometimes I think I am losing my mind...I have a constant post nasal drip which irritates my throat and I cough ALL the time - it is embarrassing at work and i can't sleep at night - I get depressed and run down.  It usually comes with a lousy sinus headache, earache and upset stomach. I've tried everything...antibiotics (seemed to work short term), flonase, puffers, antihistamines. I went for extensive allergy tests which showed up nothing... My ENT says it is acid reflux and put me on nexium - I thought I was cured - but only lasted 2 weeks and then came back with a vegence...I get so frustrated I don't know what to do - and now even fear going to sleep cause it is so much worse at night...The ENT says my ear aches because it is the same nerve as my esophagus which has damage from acid reflux...the best relief i had was with biaxin - an antibiotic - but you can't take that long term.  If anyone has any tips on getting to sleep I'd appreciate them - sleep deprivation is ruining my life
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I had sinus surgery on July 27th.  Two weeks afterwards, I too have way more drainage than I did prior to the surgery.  I am now on augmentin (after the initial Ketek) and I can tell after 5 days, it is not doing much.  I am sorry I had the surgery too, and I waited two years before deciding to finally go through with it. If my ENT figures it out, I will share.  It is very depressing.
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Everyone of you should at least try Colodial Silver spray or drops. It works for me when my post nasal drip gets overwhelming.  I purchased mine at a health food store.  They offer drops or one with a nasal spray attachment.  Please read up on it.  Very interesting stuff.
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Avatar universal
Hello. Ok, I've finally found people willing to talk about these symptoms and the possibility that there is somthing going on here. I also have been to countless doctors who try to tell me that I have allergies, a sinus infection or a cold. The problem here is that it never goes away. I can relate to everything that you have all said here on this board. I also have noticed that other people around me catch this, including my boyfriend and co-workers. Has anyone else noticed that this is contagious? And then I think that what happens is that eveyone is so embarrased to talk about it and they just try to cover mask the symptoms. It all started for me with a severe flu like sickness. It was different than all other colds that I've ever had. This was about 6 years ago. The symptoms seem to just keep getting worse. I am hoping that the doctors on this panel decide to tackle this once and for all. If there is no cure, if this is some kind of  virus, I at least want to know what I am dealing with. I think that possibly the CDC even knows of this virus and information is being held from the public. I do believe that it is spreading, because I am running into more and more people every day who seem to be affected by the same strange never ending symptoms.
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Avatar universal
I've had the same symptoms every autumn for the last 4 years and it typically lasts for about 3 months. The problems seem to start as soon as I catch a cold and began when I lived in Canada. I'm now living in Florida and I still get it.

Drystan tablet used to be the only thing that offered me any relief but it put me to sleep all the time (not good at the office). Finally, I tried using Mucinex DM and I can finally talk at work and sleep through the night. I've tried a less potent copy from Walgreen but it stops after 3 hours. The Mucinex lasts longer than 4 hours with no other side effects.

I realize it's not a cure but being able to sleep through the night has done a lot for my state of mind (and my marriage).

I hope this helps someone out there.

Sleeping in Florida.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've been told to try 1 TBSP of apple cider vinegar per day.  I have anxiety attacks because of my sinus problems.  I'm too afraid to try this.  Can someone please try it and let me know if it's ok and works.
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Avatar universal
Finally... other people on the Internet with such similar symptoms as me.

I've had my respiratory problems since I was a baby - i'm now 22 and still I have not found a doctor who has been able to help me.

They keep putting me on useless hayfever tablets, nasal sprays which just do not work at all. The nasal sprays give me relief for about 5 minutes max. I'm now on a variety of inhalers which are also not working. I had a low lung capacity reading... but I know I do not have athsma. I can run for miles and not have difficulty breathing... it's just all the mucus getting in my way. The inhalers have not helped get rid of my chronic cough at all.

My main symptons are either constantly blocked up or runny nose which is also painful especially on the bridge of my nose. I have a lot of ear pain which is especially painful when I blow my nose. The glands in my throat are generally always swolen. I literally and contantly always blowing my nose. I have lungs which feel like they are constantly full of mucus / water - I'm coughing most of the time.

I find this embarrasing and it is also an inconvenience to me as well, especially when I used to be at school and now at work. I don't want to have to blow my nose in the office every two seconds so I often have to leave it blocked and then keep leaving the office to go blow my nose and cough up mucus in the loos (bathroom).

I also find that all the mucus in my lungs and nose affects the way I sound when I speak. Does this happen to anyone else? I sound like a little kid talking and have no real projection because I can't breathe through my nose. I really really hate this.

I have to breathe in really deeply to cough up the muck in my lungs and lately this has been causing me pain in my ribs and sometime when I breathe in deeply it hurts. It's not a terrible pain but it's noticeable - kind of hard to describe. I also get pains in my side.

All of this is very hard to describe to my doctor and am getting so impactient waiting for something that will work. I'm sick of all these silly diagnosis such as sinusitus, rhinitus etc... because what I have is so much more complicated than that.

I had allergies tests when younger. I cut out as much dairy as possible and this does reduced my problem but still does not get rid of it. I'm not meant to have sugar either... but trying to find foods that are completely sugar and dairy free is near impossible.

Can anyone please help with treatments thay have had or give me any opinions as to what I have written above please?
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Avatar universal
Does anyone know anything that I can use for Post-Nasal Bad Breath?

Does anyone know abot a laser treatment to remove Tonsilliths and Bad Breath?
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Avatar universal
Hi,

This is a question to Ingana mostly.  Do you use mostly powdered detergents?  I've found a lot of people are irritated by these.  Try washing clothes with a liquid detergent (like All Free & Clear).  I found out that I have a lot less sneezing & wheezing, problems, etc. now.

I don't have the problem with the dish washer - but this is because I use a brand that has crystals not powder.

Another thing that I'm going to try is raising the head of my bed by several inches with those bed raisers that different
stores have for sale.  Several folks have told me that once they got the raisers/risers this helped them extremely.

Later,
Lelly
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Me too folks !! I had my second sinus surgery in January and now how unbeleivable goup on my chest and wheezing. When I wake quite a lot comes from my nose. Mine is worse in the am and evening.I had a total ethmoidectomy with my sinus surgery.
I have also had ashma in the past and some skin problems. I am curious as to the part the subconcious mind plays in this. When I get stressed the anxiety kicks in and I'm sure it makes the symtoms worse.My ENT says I just produce a lot of mucous.
    The worst part is trying to cough the muck up when no one can hear me!! It's embarrasing My wife has had it with the constant coughing!I was hoping this was a stage one goes through after surgery, certainly there is less congestion in my nose and sinus area.
    At least I can make it to work............All the best everybody.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Everybody

I have been following these discussion for a while, and it looks like we all got a similar problem.

My problem started in February of this year when I had a severe Throat Infection ( My throat felt like somebody stuck a hot candle underneath it, it was that painful).  After the doctor gave to me some amoxycilin, the severe burning throat ( it was more than sore) went away, but since that time I have gone everyday with a blocked nose, and occasional irritated throat (not as painful when I had the infection).  After many doctor Visits, they diagnosised Allegeric Rhinitis and Post Nasal drip, and gave to me Beclonase Nasal spray, which help for a while but in the long run causes my nose to block more.  I found that using saline nasal sprays (presentative free) frequently through out the day, helps with your nose and  throat. Drinking plenty of fluids (hot water can be beneficial) and sucking sweets(candies, which prevents your throat and muscous from drying, can also help. i believe the sore throat is caused by the stuck muscous on your throat drying. If I look at my throat with a flashlight, I can see thin, frothy muscous running down my throat (I sometime feel like I got a piece of rope stuck on my throat), and when I spit it up, it is clear and frothy.

I have some questions for all of you with this condition:

1.  After my throat infection, I have become more attentive about my throat and I have noticed that I am tending to swallow more (and I make a noise after I swallow, which can be very loud, is this the same for everybody?)
2.  Because I am Swallowing more, more air is entrained in the stomach, which causes me to belch a little  more, but what I have noticed is that more flatulence is generated (up to 40 times a day), and a rumbling intestine , which is audible.  Has anybody else develop these symptoms? What can be done about it?

I appreciate your help.

Antonio

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also have the cough, PND, and sinus issues, plus I generally wheeze at night like some sort of broken accordion left out in the wind.  I do notice that it gets worse when I am not drinking water, so I suspect that while dehydration might not be the *cause,* it surely contributes to the level of difficulty (I know there's another word but I can't think of it right now).

So I'm going to slurp through several liters of water tonight.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
man-man

I have also a bad nasal odor. It's been 5 years, went to specialist and they can't do nothing. Getting worse and worse every day. Anyone that has a solution, please share it with us.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
okay here's someone else with the same problem - PDN and coughing, frequent sinus infections... etc.

My own observations lead me to a few theories.

1. There is definitly some allergy reaction going on. I cannot stay in the say room as our dishwasher, washing machine or drier. I think something in the detergents get me going. We've tried different powerders and some are better than others. All I can do at the moment is be out of the house when these things are running.

an allergist recommended shots for a pollen allergy, but I doubt that help with detergents (not to mention costing a lot).

2. I noticed that drinking too little water definitely makes the mucus stikier and harder to cough out. This is important when taking antihistamines etc that dry it up to start with. Defeineitly need more water then.

Last time i i had a sinus infection I get some pseudoephedrine from the doc - dries up the drip nicely.

I have tried all sorts of steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines and have only found one that really helps so far - telnase. can't remember what's in it - a combo of stuff I think.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello,
age:40
weight 205
hieght: 5,10

I have had the same symptoms for over 2 years. It all started with this poping in my throat when i would swollow but if I turned my head and swollow then it would not pop? this hardly ever happens now but I have thick clear  sticky mucus draining into my lungs causeing me to wheez and cough I had also heard some distorted buzzing in my ears when driving.

This is the crazy thing we just built a new house and i had to get state farm to come by for a health test.
everything came back good! accept my colestoral was in the 200's

so I make this doctors appointment 2 months later he runs my blood everything is good excpet my red blood count was  a little high! he ran another test a few days later and it dropped to normal. I had the copd test and my breathing was above normal they said i could have exersied indused asthma.


I asked the doctor to do a sinus  CT to see if this was comming from my sinuses.
they showed a devated septum with some blockage so he put me on a nasal steroid ,albutoral inhaler, singular.and a 2 week augmentan antibiotics hope I spelled that right..

I have to tell you when I go to bed at night I wheez deep down into my stomache and have to use this inhaler every 4 to six hours. I have had asthma attacks out side and during the winter when it is cold I started a new job in a night club about the same time this started  2 years ago and wondering if I am alergic to smoke..

I am about 20 pounds over weight I have borderline high blood pressure that I just started taking 20 mg benicar to see if this can be fixed by loosing weight and eating right. I also drink allot of caffine and wonder if this could be causeing my drainage of mucus.


anyway this sucks and if any doctors here on this board have any advice please leave a post.
Helpful - 0
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