2 years of throat clearing, thick mucus and post nasal drip sensation (allergy/reflux/nerve?)

I found this thread sometime last summer, while suffering from what sounds like the same sensation. The best way I could describe it was when you eat something like eggs and accidentally inhale, causing a small piece to lodge behind your nose. I was only occasionally able to snort mucus down out of my nasal passages, and even then it only got rid of the sensation temporarily. I thought I was going mad. I would lie awake at night making horrible snorting sounds, which disgusted my husband. After six or seven months, the anxiety of laying awake in the dark with nothing to think about but my nose was enough to cause severe insomnia-- I started getting panic attacks, and I would pace from room to room until I was too exhausted to stay awake any longer, often not until around 7AM. After several weeks of that, I didn't even try to sleep in bed anymore because that room was such a trigger. I was put on all kinds of nasal sprays, saw an ENT (they could only see some mild inflammation when they scoped me), tested negative for any allergy, and was prescribed a variety of anti-anxiety meds as well, but NONE of that helped. The ENT discussed surgery because I have a mildly deviated septum, but my airway never really felt that obstructed; additionally, I was terrified that if the sensation as mild as it is now was enough to induce panic attacks, I could not imagine how I would survive recovering from surgery. I was very grateful to find this thread, because I really thought that I was losing my mind. 

I know a lot of people in this thread were tested and/or prescribed meds for GERD to no avail, but I will say, I've been on Zantac and Nexium both for about a week, and I have been able to sleep. I have been trying to address these issues from all angles, so if the sensation is because of GERD in my case, I still have the anxiety and the insomnia now to contend with. I've stopped eating close to bedtime, am trying to follow a more bland diet, and have started drinking much less alcohol than I was (which admittedly was one of my coping mechanisms-- you don't get quality sleep on four shots of bourbon, but sometimes you just need to change up the panic attack routine). I got a light therapy lamp and blue light filtering glasses to help reestablish circadian rhythms. I'm drinking Yogi herbal tea-- one kind for digestion that has ginger and fennel among other things (NO mint), and one kind for promoting sleep (again, no mint). I've also been using Emergen-Zzzz's drink powder before bed, and I'm liking that a lot. I spray my pillow with a Sleep Mist by Calm (makers of the app by the same name). I try to concentrate on how wonderful and relaxing my pillow smells, rather than whether or not I can feel an obstruction in my nose. I use a saline nasal rinse every day, which used to give me nosebleeds, but now I shove a bunch of coconut oil up my nostrils as recommended by my ENT, and it actually helped.

I know that these things aren't going to help everyone, but I know too well how the hopelessness and desperation can derail your life. It was a little over a year that I dealt with this, and once the insomnia and panic attacks started, it was a really frightening few months before I found a solution. I hope that these things continue to work for me, and I really, really hope that the others in this thread who are suffering can also find some relief!

Best wishes to all of you, and thank you so much for sharing your experiences-- it was really helpful to not feel so alone.

Hi Derekjp, I understand how your feeling I've also suffered for years. I started off with thick green mucus and often bloody. Now it's clear mainly. It's thick and constant. I'm forever coughing or making awful noises to clear my throat. I've even started scrapping my throat with a straw and gagging to get mucus out. I can't sleep constantly tired it's mentally draining. I've been on flixonase, steroid sprays nasal washes ect. Waiting now for my endoscopy. I've had sinus problems as a child but I'm now 48 and its worse than ever. I feel I can't breath some times even started to hyperventilate. I am at my wits end so very grateful for everyone's stories and remedies. Many thanks and good luck to you all. Vicki

Hi to all those who suffer with sinus issues! I relate very much with many of the posts on this. I have been to multiple ENTs, doctors, had allergy tests in both California where I am from,and in the Midwest. Dust mites are an allergy...My problem goes with me everywhere and has kept me in a separate room from my husband for years. 😶Recently, I got some kind of nasty bug that invaded my chest and has kept my sinuses congested for about a month.

Sinus balloon surgery in 2015 did not help at all. No nasal sprays help either. Yet. Constantly use peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils,but only small help with head congestion. Would love to have runny nose instead of the tenacious thick stuff that causes misery...I often fantasize about a "sinus transplant "! Seriously,as an RN I believe in natural remedies and even cures,but have yet to find this for my sinuses..I have heard there is a sinus " microbiome", the type of bacteria that colonize your sinuses and that we who have sinusitis are lacking a specific type of bacteria called sakei. This may not be proper spelling, but researchers say when it is provided, it stops sinusitis...Anyone ever hear about this? I hope to get some and inhale it!

I agree that most doctors have no clue how destrucive this illness is...

Thanks to anyone for suggestions of things that can help.

I have the same problem.a cough for seven weeks 24 hours a day. But I've had in the past for 6months. I find steam inhalation helps. I put nearly boiled water in a bowl with a towel over my head breath in hold my nose pop my ears and spit out resulting sticky gunk. Also a specialist from the cough clinic at my local hospital gave me METOCLOPRAMIDE. Only just started it will operate you later. I'm sorry you all have it but I'm glad I'm not alone having it.

I am facing same problem since more than 2 years and no doctor is able to treat it permanently.

Did anyone found a solution or perfect treatment to the problem?

I have taken antibiotics/ nasal sprays, salt water in nose to wash sinuses.

But nothing worked

Pleeeeeease helppppppppp

I have had Catarrh since i was a child (Im 65 now) but things have got worse in my 60s.

The thick Mucus and feeling there is something stuck i cant clear is the worst.

I have had 2 operations for Hiatus hernia so the doctor always relates to the first. He did send me to see an ENT surgeon, today i have had a biopsy taken under anaesthetic in case it was Cancer, the surgeon rang me this evening to tell me the sample has been sent away and i should know in 10 days BUT from what he has seen its not a tumour and he thinks its thick mucus collecting in my post nasal space and as ive had a fundoplication the wrap maybe stopping mucus draining away correctly. I feel I have either to get used to it or push now to go back to see a surgeon about the fundoplication. I have tried loads of things, Nasal washouts, even an electric one that pumps saline solution. Have bought one of those Salt pump filters, expensive! also i have a Humidifier, strangely the only thing that eases it during the night is to get up and drink some Liquorish tea and a couple of plain biscuits but during the day im constantly trying to clear my throat. I note all the above comments on what sprays etc but tried them all. I wonder if there will ever be anything to help.

It looks as though i may need to see if I have Barrets Oesophagus but again im clutching at straws.

I've read a number of posts and see some similaritees to what I've experienced and some differences. Here's my story and what's worked for me. About two years ago I developed a sore throat. I took medicine that dried it out badly. I had some blood in my throat. I took an antibiotic. It got better. A few weeks later, I started noticing chronic dry throat/mouth, irritating mucus in my throat that felt like I was choking. It seems like sometimes my throat tightens and swells. Food can be hard to swallow, as a result of less mucus and narrowing of my throat passage. It can make me very anxious. Sometimes my blood pressure sores, though only in the evening.  There are times when I have to sleep in a chair. Sometimes when I lie down at night I get a funny feeling in my chest. I have to get up and then I feel anxious. I've seen lots of specialists. I've been diagnosed with reflux but the PPI's made it worse and Zantac does help much either. I've since learned that PPI's slow down digestion because they decrease acid. That causes more bloating. Bloating can cause reflux because it puts pressure on the sphincter to your stomach. So what to do? Consider only taking Zantac when needed and not a PPI. Also, focus on what you eat and drink and reducing stress. PPI's also lower magnesium and calcium, among other things, which can add to stress. Identify triggers, if it is GERD and Reflux. For me the worst is wine and alcohol, followed by coffee, spicy foods, garlic, etc. But strangely, the one thing that really irritates my throat is water. Mucus comes up instantly and irritates my upper throat. I wonder if I'm aspirating the water because of a swallowing disorder. I got tested for this by doing a barium swallow and was told that I'm only aspirating water, and that wouldn't be enough to explain my condition, but maybe they are wrong. I've now just seen a allergist who is treating me for possible Eiosinophlic Esophagitis. He's giving me a steroid called FLOVENT which is an inhaler that I swallow. It's coats the esophagus. It's too early to know if it's working. I will also consider SJOGREN'S if nothing else pans out. I don't know if this is what others of you have. It's been very debilitating. It's hard to swallow food and even water. I often feel anxious when it's bad, usually at night. I get bloating and uncomfortable pressure in my chest. Sometimes after I arise from bed with that weird feeling, I will start shivering. I don't know if this is from anxiety or what. Those episodes usually where off after a few hours. I will often take an antihistamine in case it's an allergy and a clozapepam for anxiety (though I'm trying to avoid getting hooked on that stuff). This evening when my throat got very dry and irritates I drank ice water which helped and stimulated saliva production. For anybody here with dry mouth/throat, I would GOOGle that condition and look at DO'S & DON'Ts for Dry mouth.