2 years of throat clearing, thick mucus and post nasal drip sensation (allergy/reflux/nerve?)
Posted , 216 users are following.
Hello,
Suffering for 2 years with sensation of thick mucus stuck at the back of the nose, which I'm often able to hock up out of my mouth (clear but very "snotty" and like thick glue when it's in a tissue).
Sometimes it gets in my throat and I often clear my throat all day long too. I guess this is post-nasal drip, but not watery or thin (like you apparently get from an allergy), it's very thick and feels awful like a lump or glob that won't move, until I hock it up, but within minutes it's back again...
Tried all reflux and allergy medications (double-dose PPIs, steroid sprays, allergy RAST tests, antihistamines, singulair, antihistamine sprays, nasal irrigation, gastrocopy, multiple nasal/throat endoscopes, sinus CT scans), and they can't identify the problem... All of my symptoms disappear completely, when I eat or lay down with my head to either side (which I find very odd! Equally, if I take pseudoephridrine (oral decongestant), my symptoms go too (but I know that's not a long term option).
Anyone ever dealt with anything similar or know what to suggest next?I've been thinking of self-treating with amitriptyline (10mg at night) and gabapentin (100mg 3x per day), to see if this is a hypersensitivity/nerve issue. I have absolutely no other symptoms and can't live much longer like this, it's completely ruined my life and things are just getting worse 
Thanks for any help at all.
15 likes, 758 replies
Lurcecita derekjp
Posted
I'm writing this because I don't know if anyone will be feeling the same as me. I've been looking for the cause for two years and why this happens to me but I can't find it. I do therapy and I have tried all kinds of medications, including the possibility that it is something psychological... sometimes I want it to really be; Or that it would happen to me like some people who one day realize that this was all about one thing in particular. I don't even know if there is anyone in the world who is feeling what I feel.... It seems that I am alone and lost and that I spread of a disease of which still nothing is known.
UKLady Lurcecita
Posted
Lurcecita derekjp
Posted
What happens to me is that I feel that I cannot swallow completely; Or when swallow something is bothering in the throat, in the neck; Then I go back to swallowing again and again and it's worse. When I talk a long time I feel like I'm going to stay hoarse or I have to clearing. It's really desperate.
tom78394 Lurcecita
Posted
pat87372 derekjp
Posted
nita28209 pat87372
Posted
What is wrong with beans? I can understand the grains. I take a really strong anti reflux med and I still have mucus. Is Gaviscon particular to getting rid of mucus?
clzrn pat87372
Posted
What you said is absolutely true, silent reflux plays a major role on all of this. I also drink and gargle baking soda (check my previous post) to destroy as much pepsin in the form of vapor as I can.
How many times a day you take Gaviscon? I read it works only for 4 hours.
john26164 pat87372
Posted
Hi Pat
I am amazed, I have been suffering for 3+ years now and read your post, tried some Gavoscon and 60% fixed my issues. Thanks so much John
pat87372 derekjp
Posted
Anything that creates gas in your system, may push acid up the esophagus. If beans and grains do not bother you, then enjoy! Also, you might explore the fact that you do not have enough acid. The muscles at the top of the stomach closes once acid begins to be excreted in your stomach. If you are not creating enough acid, the muscle isn't signaled to close, so it can come up. Particularly what I have a problem with is not actual liquid acid, but acid that comes up in the for of vapor or mist. This is called LPR or silent reflux and you constantly feel like you have to clear your throat and you feel like something is lodged there. It gets into my lungs and creates asthma like symptoms.
UKLady pat87372
Posted
I'm the same. What did the doctor give you. I've had Metoclopramide 10mg then Domperidone thenBaclofen which was the best but know I'm on Morphine sulfate. Watch this space..
pat87372 UKLady
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nita28209 pat87372
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How did u find this out? Tests? I take a heavy med for acid reflux, wouldn't this stop the silent reflux too?
UKLady derekjp
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Really sorry your suffering. I've had this on and off for years the last thing I've been given is Morphine sulfate 1 5mg which is half the recommended dosage. It is helping but I'm going to try Gaviscon. Don't let it make you depressed see your doctor. Good luck
njacksonl derekjp
Posted
I've now had PND for nearly 30 years and it never goes away. Nothing seems to work and even the ENT consultant said he can't do any more for me. No allergies, no Acid Reflux, nothing.......My quality of life is almost nil, I find it difficult to socialise and I just thank goodness that I'm now retired as work was a real problem for me. I've tried, steriod nasal sprays, non-steriod nasal sprays, nasal washes, antihistamines, sucking sweets, chewing gum, you name it I've tried it. The only thing I haven't tried is this Grapefruit Seed nasal spray that some people are saying helps. I do take blood pressure tablets in the form of water tablets, and wonder if I'm OK to use the Grapefruit Nasal Spray.
The one thing that has changed over the years is that its now constant whereby when it first started, I would suffer for a little while then it would go away for maybe a year or two, but it always came back. And now its constant. My mucus is thin and translucent, probably because I'm constantly drinking water to try and clear the back of my throat.
If anyone has any helpful hints, I'm all ears!
tina_05195 njacksonl
Posted
Have you tried the the neti pot?
I use this a couple times a week and have been experimenting with different things to help. I want to try the grapes seed spray and have been researching the "mucus free diet" It seems to require quite a commitment and drastic diet changes but I'm willing to try anything to clear up this mystery. Look up liferegenerator on YouTube he has some interesting thoughts on mucus clearing. I will update when I have tried it.
Good luck and keep us posted.
njacksonl tina_05195
Posted
Hello there Tina, many thanks for your reply. I have tried the neti pot, but will look up the YouTube article on mucus clearing and good luck with the diet, as you say, it may be very drastic.
My consultant did say that I was allergic to something, but what he couldn't tell. I had the usual tests, including one for food allergies too - all came back clear. It doesn't change when I go on holiday, so that rules out the something in the air where I live. I'm learning to live with it these days but it does limit me doing things, I'm just so glad I have an understanding partner who is a deep sleeper and who will put up with my coughing, wheezing, mucus clearing and heaving!
Linda
tina_05195 njacksonl
Posted
Hi Linda,
I have cut all dairy out of my diet for the last month (at the recommendation of an allergist specialist). Noticed that the mucus isn't as thick as prior even though it's still present. Just a thought. I also use a cold pack on my throat if it feels like there's a lump there or swollen.
Have you had any success with treatments?
Tina
njacksonl tina_05195
Posted
I don't have a problem with thick mucus, mine is watery and tickles down the back of my throat and causes me to cough and gag. I used to get a "lump" in the throat but I guess after 30 years of this the "lump" has given up and I haven't had it for the last few years.
Some relief from steroid nasal spray but dont like using it all the time. Using it at present, but havent done so since January. In between times I use a non-steroid nasal spray Asteline. Also take some pretty strong antihistamine tablets up to 4 a day, but tend to use just 2 at night. Sucking loads of sugar free sweets and chewing gum, the latter was a hint in a previous forum and actually it does work a little. Consultant has signed me off 5 years ago saying he couldn't do any more, after checking I didn't have a deviated septum or polyps which I didn't. He said the steroid nasal spray is the only answer. My GP said the same, and my GP said I wasn't the only person in his practice that suffers with the complaint, there are many of us. With so many you'd think someone would come up with a solution eh? Anyway, onwards and upwards they say!