Cure for constant Post Nasal Drip and throat clearing

[rflchamps]

I have the constant Post Nasal Drip and throat clearing as a result of it.  This has bothered me for about eighteen years and just keeps getting worse.  Being a stand up comedian, this really hampers my profession.

On December 8,2005 I was doing a show in Virgina and saw a local doctor there.  She gave me Tussionex and within the hour of the first dosage the drainage stopped.  The next week was wonderful as I was even able to cough up stuff for the first time in a long time.

I have tried the 8 mg dosage of Chlorpheniramine but it doesn't work. I have taken hydrocodone before with dental problems and I know that after taking it I get the itch in the nose for about five minutes.

I am convinced that this is a cure and that the Chlorpheniramine somehow bonds to the hydrocodone to be most affective.  Problem is ofcourse that it is a narcotic and no doctor will give that on a daily bases for the rest of my life.

Are there any other drugs that could possibly bond with the Chlorpheniramine and take it right to the nasal area?

I have done all the alergy testing three times.  Head xray, Barium swallow, and all the prescription sprays, decongestants and antihistamines.  Nothing has ever worked but this.

Steve

[Bron1]

I started getting PND about a year ago around the time I received a herniated disc in my neck and after a couple of years of gastric reflux problems.   Then I had an attack one night, thought I was dying because I couldn't breathe, ferried to hospital only to be told I'd had an allergic reaction (to dust) and should take an antihistamine.  
Now I live with occasional bouts of PND which seem to be related to diet (avoid beer, icecream, milk drinks at night), dust and anxiety.  Nights are the worst but have noticed big difference on days I am well hydrated.      Don't know if this helps but I receive regular chiropractic and have a recurring C5 problem which apparently is connected to neck problems.   Maybe posture has something to do with it given the fact we're all on the computer these days!
  I have found the BEST way to deal with PND is mind over matter.  I literally talk myself through the attack to avoid popping a pill - although I'm not always successful.  It's a bit of a vicious cycle I think - the more you let it bother you, the more it will.  If your condition is exacerbated by stress, one piece of advice I can give is to breathe, breathe, breathe.  It will calm you down and at least get rid of one of the causal factors.

[pammacsailing]

I thought that was an interesting post from Bron1.  I've also got problems with my neck at C4&5, and the doctor who did my barium swallow said there were some bony growths on the _insides_ of the cervical vertebrae which she thought might be preventing the PND from sliding down my throat.  (I've also got a 'torus' or bony lump on the roof of my mouth which appeared at the same time as the initial PND).
I also agree that posture is a factor (like a previous contributor, I find that neck position can be critical, esp. at the computer). And stress certainly doesn't help - but then we all 'tighten up' when we're under stress, including the stress of a PND 'attack' !  
Some of the neck/shoulder strengthening exercises my physio gave me (shrugging, stretching, shoulder rotation etc.) do seem to help.  So does breathing (as Bron1 suggests) - but for me it only works if I breathe through my mouth - nose breathing makes it worse.
After reading all the posts (it really helps to know our problem is shared!) I think I've come to the conclusion that fretting about a 'cure' isn't going to help - the medics will have to work on that.  I'm going to concentrate on trying to manage it.   The last few days I've used the nasal douche morning and night to prevent the stuff accumulating & drying up.  I've been using the solution cool/cold and it doesn't seem to hurt that way, but you have to tilt your head back a bit to get to where the stuff is stuck.

[smichael81]

Wow.  It is nice to know that I am not alone with the allergy issues.  

Thank you for everyone who has posted their results, etc.  Your posts inspired so many questions and things that I had to take notes when reading it so I had an outline (organized thought of points) to hit upon in my response.


I. Intro
For a little bit on myself, my name is Michael and I have moved to the South (US) from the North East.  I am now 25 years old and living on my own

[Billie1026]

Hi!! I would like to share my success story that came from using oil of oregano. Last October I was on antibiotics for yet another sinus infection. This time the sinus infection did not go away...instead all of the dreadful symptoms I have read about in these posts were added to my condition. My doctor would not put me on any more antibiotics. He said it was nasal allergies and gave me nasacort and, of course, something for acid reflex. I have been completely miserable since October of 2005. I thought I was allergic to the Christmas tree ( we get a real tree every year, and this never happened before) and I rushed my daughter to take it out this time. I have been on most of the meds you all have and yet I still had that unbelievable lump of mucus and drip and cough and on and on.
I read on some board that someone had tried oil of oregano. Now, I am the first to be skeptical of herbs and the such, but I was so desperate I drove right to the health food store the next day and purchased a bottle (get the oil,not the capsules)
Right there in the car I put a few drops under my tonge and I felt nearly instant relief. I have to add that the sinus infection never did go away, it just sat there...it had proved resistant to all the antibiotics around.) Well, I have been using this stuff for 5 days now. My "green" stuff has turned nearly normal color. My PND has improved to the point that it is almost gone. It is hard to swallow straight so I mix 2-3 drops in a glass of tomatoe juice 3-4 times a day. It is working, it is curing my sinus infection (it is a natural antibiotic and anti fungal and a lot more).When I have that lump in my throat and all of the other symptoms we get....I put a very tiny drop under my nostrals to breathe in and inhale a few of the vapors from the bottle...and instant relief.
There is a book out that talks about the uses for oil of oregano, "The Cure is in the Cupboard" by Dr. Cass Ingram...I Highly recommend reading this book. He also tells you what to look for in oil of oregano...p73 and carvnol ( I think that is it) I paid 30.00 for the bottle ( and it will last a really long time, you only need a few drops) but I found it on eBay for a better price. I hope you all will experience the relief I have felt since using this product. It saved my life, I was completely beside myself and I felt "what  have I got to loose?"
Here's to our health!!! Billie1026

[123go]

I had extremely bad postnasal drip and all its side effects for years. Tried EVERYTHING (and I mean everything - homeopathic, naturapathic, western medicine, etc...)without success. Tussionex was the only thing that worked but who wants to be dependant on a cough syrup that costs $90 a bottle and is a narcotic???! After a lot of research I determined that my tonsils were the issue - not only were they useless, they were inviting constant reinfection. I resorted to having them removed 3 years ago. It's a painful procedure when you're an adult and I had to fight to get an ENT surgeon to agree to perform the surgery, but it has made a world of difference - now I get postnasal drip maybe once a year and it goes away within a week as opposed to lasting months and recurring 5 or 6 times a year minimum. While I'm sure this option isn't for everyone, I wanted to put it out here because it has literally been a lifesaver for me and I know how the constant hacking cough, sleepless nights etc..can make each day more miserable than the next. Hope this helps some of you...
Good luck!!

[zachary135]

Just want to add that I have Post Nasal Drip too. My case is not so bad and I havent done much to take care of it yet. I will try antihistamines and probably OOO (oil of oregano :) I once took zyrtec for it and that helped a lot. I just have a lump which sometimes hurts a lot, sometimes I forget about it. It probably affects me 4 or 5 times a year, but usually after I take a long airplane trip. I also have sleep problems too (I usually sleep plenty and still feel unrested throughout the day. My speech is not very clear either. I never thought that these things were related until tonight while reading this board.  Most people just dont get it, but we can emphathize with each other here. I dont have much to add to this discussion, but just want to join the team here. I hope we can share more ideas; and I encourage you to keep this discussion going  and post --- even the little info you are able to add (like this post of mine). Every little bit is a small step closer to our cure.

Z