I'm 30, and for as long as I can remember I've had chronic sinus issues and excess sputum production--I cannot go half an hour of socialising or talking without having to spit out phlegm. It's a disaster socially and professionally. I've ruled out food and other allergies, so it must be a genetic predisposition?
Apparently there is mounting evidence that people who carry *one* allele for CF can be plagued with sinus and mucus problems that fall short of CF but can still be debilitating.
Most doctors, I've heard, tend to be dismissive of this, but based on my exploration of this topic it seems plausible that being a CF carrier can predispose you to sputum and cough issues. I want to get tested for it.
So can you be tested for the CF gene, even if you don't know of anyone in your family who has CF or has the gene?
I'm not particularly close to much of my family and I don't want to be digging into personal questions like this. But I do want to know if I am a carrier for CF, and whether this may be plaguing me with congestion and post-nasal drip all my life.
The only other idea that comes to mind is that I have an adenoid issue. From the web: "Adenoid infection may cause symptoms such as excessive*mucus*production, which can be treated by its removal."
I briefly saw an ENT before, but it was a short visit and he was, although polite, rather dismissive; he did not know the extent of the problem.