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

[jimdc58]

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?

[heymate2]

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.

[Tony Pachy]

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

[Rillibee]

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.

[jojo4]

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.

[Inanga]

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.

[alfred510]

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.