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

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derekjp
derekjp

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 sad

Thanks for any help at all.

15 likes, 758 replies

758 Replies

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  • barry12128
    barry12128 derekjp

    Posted

    I recently started to take a Natural Anxiety medicine from a Health Store.   After two days I do not have anymore phlegm.   So, I come to the conclusion that stress and anxiety was throwing my system out of wack which caused sinus pressure and overproduced phlegm which got stuck in my throat and sometimes chest.  Cross my fingers on the anxiety medicine..so far...so good.  If I looked back on my life I always stress and have been an anxious person.   I guess in aging the anxiety is causing my body to react.  
  • dee27480
    dee27480 derekjp

    Posted

    What is the natural anxiety supplement?  I’m willing to try it because I just can’t stomach the black seed oil!  I am getting desperate enough to go to a gastro just to rule out reflux, because I am convinced that it is nasal related.  It gets worse when I have a cold and the reaction is immediate after eating certain things, I can’t believe reflux could work that fast?  Also, it’s worse when my nose runs or it’s cold making my nose run.
    • barry12128
      barry12128 dee27480

      Posted

      Any anxiety medicine should work from a Health Store.  But I am currently taking something called “Ultra Plan GABA Plus 600 mg”....It is a vicious cycle.  Because stress and anxiety brings on the symptoms.   And the symptoms causes stress and anxiety.  So, if you take care of the anxiety with the medicine...the symptoms should stop.  I know the Black Seed is disgusting in it taste.   I too was searching and trying anything to resolve these issues.  I know how bad you are feeling and the desperation in trying to least minimize these symptoms.  I never thought I had anxiety problems but the last time I visit my PCP doctor.  He asked me was I an anxious person?  I told him “Maybe and that I wasn’t sure”.    He wanted to prescribe me some Pharmaceutical pills but I declined.  I rather go the natural route in finding a solution.   Hopefully, you too will find comfort.   
    • barry12128
      barry12128 dee27480

      Posted

      P.S.  I am going on three days now without any major symptoms.  My sinus seem to have dried up and working properly as it should.  It is amazing the effects anxiety and stress can have on the body.  Take Care
  • b11308
    b11308 derekjp

    Posted

    Hi everyone.

    Check if the medications you are taking have inflammatory or anti-inflammatory properties.

    I have done a lot of research around this and certain antidepressants, antipsychotics and even paracetomol can 'inflame' your system. The doctors discovered my internal system is inflamed, the nose, gastric passages, stomach lining, everything. I now believe it to be medication related.

    I wonder, is there medication I can take to reduce an inflamed system? If not I will explore other medications I can take illnesses I have. Hope this helps.

    • b11308
      b11308

      Posted

      Followup:

      The ENT told me acid is coming back up from my stomach and inflaming my airways (throat and nose) this can cause scarring damage.

      This is known as Silent Reflux it is not accompanied with indigestion. I guarantee this is what is happening to some of you. It was overlooked in my case many times.

      Kind of gross.

    • Lincombe
      Lincombe b11308

      Posted

      Hello b11308,

      You are lucky to have a doctor who is aware of Silent Reflux. Most are unaware that it exists. I found out about it by searching the web and though it's been only 4 days since I've changed to a "reflux diet", I was amazed to see such a dramatic improvement in the amount of phlegm in my throat! Now as I eat carefully, I can tell which foods trigger the mucous response and know to avoid them. Also important to eat small meals and don't eat anything within 3 hrs of lying down at night. Bummer that I had to give up some of my favorite foods though.

  • radiolouis
    radiolouis derekjp

    Posted

    yes all of this is me lately. Asthma caused by PND. On montekeulast, nothing...using nebulizer every day. helps a little while. I thought maybe the neti pot i started did this. I eat cough drops one after another the increased saliva helps pass the mucus. It's like my sinuses will not turn off. Pseudoephedrin does nothing, the only that kind of helps is two benadryl. Loratadine nothing, zyrtec nothing..... neti pot releives it right before bed..... Saline solution where I flood suck and swallow the mess works a little. Glad to see I am not alone. Feel like I am drowning sometimes. I am allergic to all grasses, cats, mold, you name...no med or food allergies except truffle oil....

  • neil45382
    neil45382 derekjp

    Posted

    Hi 

    I live in the interior of British Columbia. I have been an asthmatic my whole life, i'm 63. For the last 40 years it has been very well controlled with a long acting Beta agonist Fomoteral(foradil) and Flovent , corticosteroid.

    This past summer was the summer from hell, there were forest fires all summer , ery hazy skies and warnings not too go outside due to bad air quality. During this period I had three courses of prednisone and three course of antibiotics and now am seeing a respirologist as my asthma is not in control like it was before the fires.

    But now I have a new problem and you and all the other people have described it perfectly.... white sticky gunk in my throat that makes my asthma worse and i feel terrible all the time and probably depressed by it all. I  can no longer exercise very much and very slowly because my throat hurts and my asthma flares up and the gunk just keeps coming back. Sleeping with a humidifier helps, so I don't have as much gunk in my throat in the morning.......it goes into my lungs and I have to cough it up all morning. its the same as you all describe!

    THIS IS THE KICKER, THE ONLY THING  THAT MAKES  ME FEEL BETTER ,....AND THE GUNK GOES AWAY .....IS PSEUDOEPHEDRINE AND THAT'S VERY BAD FOR US ALL LONG TERM. BUT I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE READ IN ALL THESE POSTS AND ITS THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS. PLEASE HELP, ANY ADVICE THAT WORKS IS SO APPRECIATED. I am desperate for something else but i'm taking pseudoephedrine now because nothing else works!!!!!!!

    • b11308
      b11308 neil45382

      Posted

      Consider Silent Reflux. This is where acid is coming from your stomach into your throat and nose, it is often undiagnosed. It may well be asthma and acid reflux. It can cause scarring in the throat.

      Chewing gum helps to begin with but there is much more you can do. Ask doctors to have your throat looked at for inflammation.

  • jay93764
    jay93764 derekjp

    Posted

    I have had thick mucus stuck in my throat for years. Two days ago I bought a squeeze bottle of saline and I have been snorting from it about once an hour. It seems to be thinning the nasty thick gunky mucus and I guess it is just going down my throat on its own. The mucus is still there and I can feel it but it is now about a 1.5 when before it was a 9.5 on a scale of 10. Big big difference. I think the saline is helping because I have not done anything else except maybe drink a little more water each day. Try saline and report back please. 
    • ooops64
      ooops64 jay93764

      Posted

      Sterimar nasal hygene aerosol spray is very good. I am in UK and over 60 so I get this free on perscription. It is just a saline spray for the nasal cavities and works really well. It is just over £6 on that well known online delivery website. Shoots really high up, I actually being flexible, after sprying both nostrils I get on my knees and put top of my head on floor, too get it to stay in nostrils. Staying a couple of minutes.

    • dee27480
      dee27480 ooops64

      Posted

      What a strange coincidence, I JUST got back from a trip to London last night, and noticed that my clearing was not nearly as bad as it is usually at home in Florida!  It was so nice not having an irratated throat for a whole week!  I wonder if mine has something to do with the hot humid weather of Florida, or an allergy to something here?.........
    • Lincombe
      Lincombe jay93764

      Posted

      I agree, the saline irrigations are an integral part of the solution. I use a SinuPulse Elite nasal irrigator with 3 NeilMed salt packets in 20 oz of warm distilled water 2-3x day and it gives better relief than any medication I have tried. It clears the sinuses of all the gunk, but it doesn't help me clear the glob that always seems to be stuck in my throat, especially after I eat ("gustatory rhinitis"wink. I live in the desert and I am used to drinking large quantities of water, so I feel I am already well-hydrated.

    • derekjp
      derekjp jay93764

      Posted

      I would expect that 95% of the people who have complained about the thick mucus in the nasal passages, have already tried this. I've been doing it for 4 years. I had a break from it for about a week and had to resort back. So yes, it definitely helps somewhat, but only for about 10-15 minutes unless the sensation and mucus all comes back (for me anyway).

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