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
barry12128 derekjp
Posted
I been suffering with this for years and now I think I have a SUPER HYPERSENTIVITY to pollen in the air. I went to the store and brought surgical masks and I put it on and it seems to help tremendously. I guess the Asians knew when they started to wear them. Anytime I feel the phlegm starting to form I would put the mask on and it seems to stop it from flowing. Try it....what do you have to lose? It is helping me....
barry12128 derekjp
Posted
P.S. The surgical mask is no solution to this chronic phlegm but it brings me slight relief. I still suffer like the rest of the people who has written about this unknown condition.
dmitriy37717 barry12128
Posted
don't they have anti alergen shots, when I was at doctor office I saw a few people waiting for them. back to my rhinitis as winter season approaching this means that most of my colds will end up with antiniotics because of sinus infection. even though i managed to stabilize to the the point of not taking any medication. i think the key is taking salads at lunch, lettuce or regular garden greens. so I got a cold recently, and decided to treat it with advil 2 times per day until symptoms disappear. it helped to avoid sinus infection because the sinus had a chance to clear out, but sinse i stipped sleeping on my side only and got it into my lungs, coughed for 3 weeks, advil helped again
pablo69974 derekjp
Posted
HI, derek , happen the same thing to me specially after eating. my thing its post nasal drip, did you find a solution for your problem?
Debbimac derekjp
Posted
i have these same issues ..I also have a deviated septum and chronic sinisitis. I have no symptoms from the sinisitis other than post nasal drip . The thick mucus feels like its blocking my airway and actually making me wheeze . I have no asthma or lung issues ? At mybwits end this has been going on for 2 years as bow
nita28209 Debbimac
Posted
Sounds like me. Do you have an ongoing cough? Mine is 3 years old.
clzrn derekjp
Posted
I'm here again to report a slight improvement in my conditions after exhausting many other possibilities mentioned before. I came across this information on the internet that GERD and LPR may be caused by low stomach acid, not the opposite. Since then I've been trying to increase my stomach acid taking Apple Cider Vinegar capsules with all meals, and occasionally Betaine HCL with heavy protein meals.
This does make sense to me specially because all my reflux exams had negative results, so acid was not coming up, but maybe my lower sphincter was not properly closing because it reacts to how much acid you have in your stomach (low acid opens it, lots of acid and it closes). So pepsin alone could be refluxing and causing my symptoms (hoarseness, throat pain, throat clearing, mucus production, etc).
My voice is improving a lot and I've been able to talk much more than I used before, I have a sensation my throat is not "closed" or "tight" anymore but I feel like it is moisturized. Mucus production didn't improve much, I still have to blow my nose during meals and I get dry mucus in my nostrils throughout the day. I still cough and clear my throat a few times a days but I still see an improvement. Other things I noticed: The skin around my nails don't peel easily anymore, and my skin is in general less red.
I've been increasing my stomach acid for 2 weeks now and I believe if that's the case, I will see more improvements over time as it takes time for my body to heal all the damage and eliminate all pepsin from my airways.
As context for someone reading this. I've tried all ppis, done all possible reflux exams, hernia exam, tried amitriptyline, gabapentin, had a surgery to reduce my turbinates, tried all kinds of crazy diets. I don't have reflux symptoms, like heartburn. No doctors could help me, I've had 2 of them saying there's nothing that could be done, good luck and bye.
Other thins that helped me: Gargling alkaline water (mix warm water and baking soda), and washing my nasal irrigation (Netipot). Both of this can help deactivate pepsin.
I'll report back soon.
nita28209 clzrn
Posted
I take a prescribed med for acid. Before that, it was bad. But, it has made no difference in my problem.
solomon46581 derekjp
Posted
i have been suffering from this problem for the last 6 years. In my case i suspect silent reflux because i don't have heartburn symptom but i tried different diet with no result. It gets better if i don't eat anything after 4 pm. I will try vinegar to see this is low acid issue.
May77 derekjp
Posted
Hi everyone,
I have not commented in a while but wanted to state that my mucus issue has vastly improved. In my particular case, I think it's a kind of immune issue. Since I have been taking supplements to improve my immunity, things have gotten a lot better. I am under the care of a doctor who is very naturally-inclined and the supplements he advised seem to help a lot. I take Cat's claw, zinc, L-Lysine, Echinacea and goldenseal, as well as elderberry syrup/gummies as needed. My mucus is now about 90% better than it was before. Rarely bothers me. I also don't have much dairy at all, and I stopped eating eggs (both are mucus-producing foods). Curious to know if this is something others may have done to help?
nita28209 derekjp
Posted
At times, my cough goes away completely, a week or 10 days but always returns and I am eating the same all the time, so I don't get it.
barry12128 derekjp
Posted
I am still studying this but I stopped smoking and thickness of my mucus has stopped. I will continue to watch this....and let you all know about the progress.
tom48103 derekjp
Posted
I had the exact same symptoms for nearly two years. I won't bore you with the list of medical professionals I saw or the list of remedies I tried. The only two things that worked for me were lying down and taking pseudoephedrine, neither of which is an acceptable long-term solution.
I accidentally stumbled upon a solution that has been working for me for the past 2 months. I now use a Neti pot. I had tried that before, but this time I use it differently. When pouring the saline solution into my nose, I draw it into my mouth, then spit it out. Sometimes, it takes a reasonable amount of effort to start the flow into my mouth, but once it's started it's easy to maintain. I usually need to do this once per day. Occasionally, I do it twice per day. It has really been somewhat of a miracle for me.
melkyto derekjp
Edited
I know this is an old post. but even better to ask this question to everyone. did everyone got better from this? if so, what made it stop?and after how long? my daughter who is 14 has been clearing her throat constantly for over 6 weeks and close to 2 months. the weird thing to us is that she is not stuffy or congested. its just her clearing her throat and at night it gets worse. sometimes she gets a cough attach due to the clearing of her throat for even 1 hour. she does not have mucus coming out but she says that she feels something in her throat and sometimes she thinks is mucus but does bot know. the regular Doctor casually said its post nasal drip. she told her to have some nasal thing and allergy pills. it does not really do much help. we went to an allergist and he feels is the same. thats it. I dont want to see her like this.
BadDNA melkyto
Posted
I stopped ALL SUGAR INTAKE (except for the very very rare piece of fruit) for more than 6 months and saw a COMPLETE HALT of the problem within the FIRST WEEK....after having the problem for YEARS!!!!
After that 6 months I started drinking sodas again (and have for the past 3 months or so) and BOOM....I have the problem once again!
So....my suggestion (since you have already seen a physician) is for you, her parent, to look into the back of her throat yourself, when she tells you it feels like she has mucous back there, and see if you can SEE it on the back of her throat!
Then, if you can, no matter how much she might fight you on it...remove ALL SUGAR (even from fruits for a while at first) from her diet...and see what happens within a month.
It may be very difficult for her....but just remind her of HOW MUCH she HATES that feeling in her throat....and tell her if its sugar that's causing it...she'll be more than welcomed to choose between the two...once the test is over.
For me, the sodas have been sweet (pardon the pun) but I'm choosing to go back "sugar free" again after New Year's Day.
It's simply TOO MISERABLE to go on like this!
Good Luck to you and yours.
And please keep us updated!
perry37168 BadDNA
Posted
hi, so is this cut out sugar all together?
anything with any sugar in at all ?
what do u eat ?
BadDNA perry37168
Posted
yes cut out sugar like, within reason, I suppose is how I'll put it.
I know that things like salad dressings, crackers, BBQ Sauce, bread, and really just about everything has "some" amount of sugar in them....so cutting out everything like that would be almost impossible for most of us.
That being said....just no cookies, candy, sugar sweetened sodas or other drinks, no cake or pie, or cobbler, cheesecake....aaaah (I'm torturing myself here lol) but you get the picture.
Just basically eat vegetables, meats, nuts and nut butter, just things with zero or extremely low sugar content.
Its a tough struggle for most people (myself included) but anyone can do it for a month, or at least a few weeks, just to SEE if that's what's causing it for you.
If it isn't....then hey, you've maybe lost a few pounds...lol
And if it is...then at least you know how to turn it off.
Good Luck
solomon46581 BadDNA
Posted
thanks for sharing this. I did try to cut out sugar for about 5 days, although i saw a slight change, i felt like the sugar was not the root cause. you think 5 days is not enough i should try for extended period of time? thanks
BadDNA solomon46581
Posted
oh yes definitely! Especially if you have been a sugaraholic (made up word lol) like i have always been. Pretty sure it took no less than 2 weeks for my body to flush it out. And everything just got better and better as the weeks rolled on. Also, please remember that in order for a "test" like this to tell the WHOLE TRUTH...you mustn't cheat at all....minus just what may be in a slice of bread or in, say, like salad dressing, which you still need to use in extremely minute amounts. It helped me to remind myself, that even if no one else was around, and I could have cheated, that if I did....I was "cheating" no one but MYSELF. I found much "willpower" in that thought. Let us know how things work out for you.
nita28209 BadDNA
Posted
I am going to try this. If it is sugar, then it seems like it is a yeast problem, overgrown. I want to ask others if your cough has changed. Mine started out as a dry constant cough, but it is now wet with obvious mucus there.
solomon46581 BadDNA
Posted
Thank you. i will do anything to get read of this miserable condition. if this doesn't work, i will go to the next suspect, reflux.. no heart burn but doctor is saying that this could be silent reflux, no heart burn. which means try to quit the drink that i love in the morning, coffee. there is hope if we troubleshoot it diligently. Gave up on Docs on this condition. by the way i wanted to say that i don't have any cough at all. my main problem is the thick mucus that blocks my air way and make me snore and wake me up multiple times at night.
donnag1966 melkyto
Edited
It has been awhile since I was on here, and this is just a suggestion, but I have been diagnosed with subglottic stenosis. I could have written most of these posts. Mine is idiopathic, but some have other reasons for having it. It is a narrowing of the airway at some point. Mine is just below the vocal chords, but it can be in other areas of the airway. It took several years of wrong diagnosis. I was given meds for reflux which I didn't have, inhalers for possible asthma, etc. Finally a pulmonologist did a bronchoscopy and found a very dangerously narrowed airway. This causes most of the symptoms throughout this thread. It seems to be rare, but possibly because of misdiagnosis. There are not many doctors who treat or even know about this condition. ASK and research it. There are treatments and procedures for it. And it can be life threatening as it involves the airway.
As a side note but important, diet can make a huge difference in this and ANY health issue. Simple carbohydrates do cause inflammation and mucus build up and can aggravate and exacerbate things. I have found this to be very true.
Hope you all find help and good health.
nita28209 donnag1966
Edited
I read that it causes a cough and noisy breathing and a feeling of phlegm at the back of the throat. I don't have a feeling of phlegm, I HAVE phlegm at the back almost always, so I wonder if that means I don't have the same.
solomon46581 donnag1966
Posted
very interesting!! about 9 years ago i went to see a orthodontist for my misaligned tooth. The doctor took x-ray around my jaws and mentioned about my airway being narrow and suggested upper and lower jaw surgery to open up the air way. i never took it serious. so what is the solution for you? how can i confirm about this. i have been suspected reflux as it gets worst when i eat spicy food. but now i need to look in to this.
nita28209 solomon46581
Posted
This airway thing is scary.
donnag1966 solomon46581
Edited
Depending on the severity, the solution can be clearing the airway with dilation or steroid injections. Some have it so severe that it requires resection of part of the airway. It is still fairly new to discovery and a lot of different things are being tried. After a few years of trying to get mine to respond to a few different treatments I had all affected tissue removed and had a graft placed to encourage new tissue growth. I've been breathing great for 2 years now.
To nita28209, yes, I had phlegm also. And yes, the airway is scary and this disease is progressive. A plug of mucus covering a small opening in your airway can take your life. And it has. And while reflux does not now seem to be a cause, it can irritate the area. My encouragement would be to have a pulmonologist take an actual look with a scope to look at your airway. PAST YOUR VOCAL CHORDS. I had one look up to my chords and missed an almost closed airway. Almost a year later a different doctor attempted a bronchoscopy and found the issue. He couldn't even do the procedure as my airway was almost closed. This was after YEARS of other doctors guessing and "treating". It can be gradual or fast. And it is not always easily detected on scans. You need an actual look at the airway. My airway opening was about the size of a premature baby's. Not good!
It's just a thought. It may not be your answer but I find myself in all these posts. Especially with nothing ever really getting better. My pulmonologist immediately called in a colleague to look and this colleague just so happened to go to school with a doctor who he knew was treating and teaching on "something like this". I consider myself very fortunate to have found him. I was at a very dangerous point and didn't even know it. He got me an appointment the following week and told my husband if I even got a cold to take me to the emergency room because my life could depend on it. A single cough of mucus could cut off my narrow airway completely. AND to let them know my airway was compromised. Trying to intubate could be catastrophic.
I would at least have this possibility ruled out. I'm in a support group and the stories of years of misdiagnosis are the same across the board. I kept saying someone needs to look. Finally someone did look, and looked far enough, and I got help.
nita28209 donnag1966
Posted
Did you have any trouble breathing before they acted on this?
donnag1966 nita28209
Posted
I did. I got out of breath drying off from the shower even. Or walking up a few stairs. Even talking was affected.
nita28209 donnag1966
Posted
Thank you.
solomon46581 donnag1966
Edited
Thank you for sharing this. My narrow air way was able to detected with x-ray at orthodontics office. Not sure if this is the same and how severe it is but the doctor showed me the difference by comparing mine with other normal air way and showed me before and after upper and lower jaw surgery to open up the air way. He suggested not to go with removing tissue as it is not a long lasting solution. Also i want to say that i don't have breathing problem during the day, i do work out in the GYM because it gives me the relief as it clears all the mucus. my main problem is at night, lots of air way abstraction by the thick mucus, which makes me snore and interrupt my sleep.