Post nasal drip...trouble swallowing, anyone suffering the same
Posted , 22 users are following.
Hi everyone,
I’m here desperately searching for some experiences and help...
27, female, I’ve been having an on-and-off chronic rhinitis for a couple of years till now(my family doctor saying it’s caused by allergy but I personally never noticed that I’m allergic to something). I don’t seem to have symptoms such as running nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing...etc, but seems that I have the post nasal drip sensation most of the time, it’s like a lump or a mucus around my throat that I can neither swallow down nor cough out, sometimes good sometimes bad. These are my background.
Since 4 days ago, right before my period started(don’t know if they are relevent tho) all of a sudden the symptom became very severe. The “mucus thing” seems to be stuck at a very uncomfortable location(right in between of my nasal cavity and my throat) it’s like too much discomfort and you can hardly ignore it...I swallow all the time but it never really go down and even if it does it comes back right after...and my mouth and throat became extremely dry with no saliva at all. This is ruining my life and I haven’t had a proper meal for 4 days...because everytime I tried to swallow I feel the food stuck in between my back throat and my nasal cavity, along with the mucus, and it doesn’t go down smoothly, I even have a feeling that food partially went up to my nose instead of going down. I know this can’t happen and it’s against your body design, but whenever I had this feeling I couldn’t swallow anymore food even like congee. I feel I could choke or something if something stuck in there. I went to my family doc today and he just thinks it’s caused by allergy and he sees irritation in my back throat. He gave me antibiotics and saline nasal spray. I told him I have some trouble swallowing and he ended up giving me Sandoz Ondansetron ODT which is for controlling the nausea and vomiting feeling, but I don’t have those symptoms so really don’t know if that’s gonna do anything......I will go see an ENT for further test maybe using a endoscope to see what’s going on.
By the way, I used Apo-mometasone and Fluticasone furoate nasal sprays in the past month and stopped using them 2 days ago.
It is seriously ruining my life...I loved eating and now I feel so nervous and stressful with eating. I’m hungry but just can’t eat for 3 days. I used to love all those outdoor activities but now I’m just totally in the dark and rather go sleeping because only when I’m asleep I don’t feel anything...what’s going on? Can post nasal drip cause those feelings at all? Please if anyone ever suffering from similar problem like I do...share it with me if you have any way to get better.
Thank you so much for reading.
0 likes, 34 replies
jose26322 raven0801
Posted
I have all the symptoms you described. My constant rhinitis+ ETD problems started over a year ago and my swallowing problems started about a couple of months ago. ENTs have also told me all these problems are due to allergies and same as you, i have never had allergy symptoms before my rhinitis/post nasal drip started. I also used these over the counter nasal sprays for over a year but recently stopped and replaced them with a natural eucalyptus spray which is much healthier, I recommend you start using this as well instead.
I recently went to see a physical therapist because I have always had some sort of tension on the back of my head, to of my neck and constantly felt the need to pop/crack my neck . My posture has also always been really terrible, I used to purposely elevate my chin too much when i was younger because I looked tougher and that habit stucked. The physical therapist told me my neck and jaw were REALLY stiff and tight. To be honest with you though her treatment was not really useful and I saw no actual improvement for neither the swallowing or rhinitis.
However after looking at online forums on this swallowing problem which is just so annoying, this vietnamese guy found that acupuncture, chinese cupping and gua sha treatment on the back of his neck solved his food up nasal cavity issue when swallowing. I read about this about a couple of months ago and have went to see several acupuncturists. Even though have seen little improvement lmao, I am not loosing hope. (I have seen mostly European acupuncturists maybe that is why) Acupuncture and chinese cupping help blood circulation and considering the fact that I have always had tension and even pain on the back of my neck and used to pop it really often, it seems to me that the problem originates from a nerve, muscle weakness or misplacement in the the back of the neck. I really recommend you go see a acupuncturists and explain the situation we share to them. Acupunture is known for helping alleviate dysphagia, swallowing problems as well.
It is crazy though how I have exactly thesame issues you described... Please tell me if you also have bad posture, neck issues etc. Because that would mean there is an even higher chance that is the cause of all these problems. I am a very sedentary person i am trying to change that thought and used to suffer from really bad anxiety until a couple of months only.
I know how it feels to have food up stuck in that nasal cavity area, it is so annoying and it sucks that traditional western medecine seem to offer no solution to it... But we need to be optimistic and I am sure that there is a right acupuncture treatment that can solve at least this swallowing problem.
raven0801 jose26322
Posted
I tried everything, I have a Chinese background so I know how those things work. I tried acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, so far didn’t help too much.
My GP said it’s just anxiety but this is too much and I can’t be convinced...I’m still waiting for another ENT appointment.
Questions:
- may I ask your age and gender? (If you don’t mind)
- do you also feel gluey mucus/phelgm stuck between the back of nose/soft palate and the back of throat? (Like post nasal drip)
- do you have a blocking feeling when you swallow your saliva or drink liquid?
- do you also feel your throat is dry?
jose26322 raven0801
Posted
I am 19 year old guy, yes I have a lot of post nasal drip and my saliva is really thick and gluey in the back of my throat/soft palate area. I get a dry throat really easily whenever I exercise and I feel my voice has changed since the beginning of this swallowing problem. I do not feel a blocking feeling when I drink liquids though.
My ENT also tells me it is just anxiety and stress, she first thought it was silent reflux but i also got a gastroscopy done and nothing was wrong.
Have you seen a chiropractor? Also to add on what you just said i also read on a forum concerning this swallowing issue that this might be due to a misplacement of the c4 vertebra in the neck. I will probably go see a chiropractor so he can check my c4 vertebra, which is probably what I was f*****g up when I kept popping my neck all the time.
It would be so nice of you if you keep me updated on the x ray and on any treatment you find or rule out.. I will make sure to do the same.
raven0801 jose26322
Posted
No I haven’t seen a chiropractor. My neck is painful when I tilt my head backwards, and also it makes popping sound. From what i’ve read, yes C3/C4 vertebras minor misplacement can cause swallowing issue or a lump in throat sensation. However mine is not around my Adam’s apple but it’s way upper, and it feels more like gluey mucus rather than a lump. I guess it’s the place where the mucus is located gives us a sensation of food sticking at the back of nasal cavity. Eating became the most stressful thing to me now and my appetite went completely away, which resulted in me dropping weight so rapidly. I’m very nervous when I’m eating and paying too much attention in my swallowing, which makes it worse...man my life is totally f***ed up ever since, withdrawn from so many activities. But I’m not giving up on this until I find an answer and get some relief.
My nostril is very dry and I never have runny nose...I wash always wondering how come the post nasal drip happens even though I don’t have excessive nasal mucus. But maybe just because my nostril is too dry, so the mucus became more sticky and cannot come out of my nose, and as a result, it builds up at the back instead...I really don’t know.
Do you also have dry nose?
I’m going to pick up the neck X-ray now and will update you later!
raven0801
Posted
So I really don’t know what to do next and what else can be tested...I’ll be waiting for a different ENT appointment for another visit. The only thing I haven’t done yet is the CT scan for my sinus, which I really don’t know if really gonna show anything different, since I already did an endoscopy weeks ago and found nothing...I believe you have done that with your ENT doc as well? And you also did the gastroscopy that shows nothing wrong with your esophagus.
If all possibilities have been ruled out, maybe time to focus on anxiety/nerve issue.
jose26322 raven0801
Edited
The post nasal drip happens because the mucous/phlegm builds up in the eustachian tube, you clearly have a Eustachian tube dysfunction as i do as well. Do you feel that some of parts of your body are kind of numb and do you have some minor balance problems? That is caused by liquid build up in the eustachian tubes that also causes post nasal drip and causes a whole ton of other things... I really recommend you get a eucalyptus nasal spray, thanks to it my nose is not so dry anymore and my post nasal drip is kind of getting better.
raven0801 jose26322
Posted
And what you mentioned might be a good point. ). Hmmm I never have thought that eustachian tube problem can cause post nasal drip sensation. Maybe that’s the reason why that the mucus is stuck at the upper area instead of down in the throat? I would definitely bring this idea to the ENT doctor for my next visit.
My right ear sometimes makes strange noise like “bang bang bang”(not pulsatile tinnitus), especially after I belch or burp. I didn’t notice if I had any numb or body balance issue. But when i drive on the highway, like when I speed up, I always feel that my ears are blocked, and no matter how much I swallow my saliva it doesn’t help(didn’t used to be that bad). And sometimes after I yawn, I just can’t hear the sound of me swallowing my saliva anymore, and it goes back to normal after like 10 sec. Are those symptoms sound related to Eustachian tube dysfunction?
My mucus is in white clear colour. So your ENT doctor told you that the mucus/phlegm was built up in the Eustachian tube instead of the sinus? How do you test if you have Eustachian tube dysfunction?
jose26322 raven0801
Posted
Hi raven,
I just started my chiropractic treatment today and my chiropractor said she will try to help me and she will talk with her collegues about our condition to see if she can further help me. She said my cervical spine is really tense and that i will need several session for that to change. I have not done an x ray or anything yet however. i really recommend you try going to a chiropractor as well. She explained to me that bad posture anxiety etc can damage the nervous system with the spine, and this can lead to increased health issues.
I am not sure if what you have is ETD (eustachain tube dysfunction) or just the food creating pressure in your nasal passages. I would really recommend you go see an ENT to see if you have ETD my ENT used an optic fibre see put up my nasal passages to diagnose it.
I am really hoping the chiropractor helps.. also by guessing you live in the US or canada i really recommend you visit an "upper cervical" chiropractor. Here in europe we don't have them sadly.. but apparently they are of great help for the swallowing and ETD issue.
Sorry for the late reply by the way i've been pretty busy. What specialists have you seen recently?
jose26322
Posted
jose26322 raven0801
Posted
Yes I have done the CT scan with my ENT and nothing wrong appeard...
As for the doctor saying that vertebra issues can't cause these problems I would'nt trust GPs and ENTs so much since all these problems, ENT etc are really recent and didn't occur really often in the past since before people were less sedentary and nowadays with technology and office jobs it much more common for people to have bad posture, anxiety etc. All of this is really new to the field of medecine, so there is not much research on the connections between all these things. Personally, I have found that ENTs are of absolutely no help at all, and by reading online most people have found the same but i do not really blame them again since these problems are new to the field of medecine.
The post nasal drip(which causes the phlegm), the swallowing problems etc, I am conviced these issues are due to muscle, nerve weaknesses caused by both bad posture and anxiety combined. Now the thing is I dont know how it is possible to diagnose/find the specific weak nerves or muscles. It might be probably useful to visit a cranial osteopath but there seems to be none in my city...
I will be visiting a chiropractor just in case and will tell you what he thinks on our issues.
magdalena32247 raven0801
Posted
magdalena32247
Posted
jose26322 raven0801
Posted
Hi raven,
I think i have found the solution to our swallowing problem, a speech pathologist specialized in swallowing/ ENT issues. Luckily there is one here in my city. I have had one appointment with her and she diagnosed me and is going to start giving me exercises to reeducate my tongue and enable me to swallow properly. I have relatives in Toronto Canada and apparently there is a really good ENT- speech pathology clinic there called "the voice clinic" that are experts in all these swallowing issues, which would probably be the ideal place to solve our swallowing issue. Have you found any other relief or solution to this swallowing issue? I hope this information helps you, wish you the best.
dena64643 raven0801
Posted
Evening Primrose Oil Captsuls.
cece66455 raven0801
Posted
Hey there is HOPE! New Treatment! Clarifix.
I've had this for over 3 years. been ruining my life. been tested for everything. I too thought I can't do it anymore.
my new ENT said I have Chronic Non Allergic Rhinitis or Vasomotor rhinitis The FDA just approved a treatment for it. http:// clarifix. com. take out spaces.
Basically the nerves in my nose are too sensitive and act like it is an allergy or infection.
this new treatment basically kills the nerve that sends the message to keep producing the mucus. I am so happy, after another CT scan she is going to give me the Treatment. Clarifix, out patient, they numb your nose and basically freeze the nerve. she said it will give me horrible brain freeze nut only for a few minutes. the whole thing only takes an hour.
I am so hopeful. so many of us suffering, I have not been able to work, go to the movies, sleep well. basically no life at all.
I have PTSD and take anxiety and antidepressants and have hypothyroidism. all of these could have caused the problems no one will no for sure. but once that nerve goes nuts it doesn't matter.
I have no zero affiliation with this company I've been searching for over 3 years. I hope to have mine done in April 2019 May at the latest. don't give up.
best wishes to us all. tell the other message boards, this is a new treatment
DavidInEurope cece66455
Posted
Hi there, any follow-up on Clarifix? Did it help you? I am considering it.
Thanks
David
leslieaugust DavidInEurope
Posted
i had it last year. no relief at all for me,
lychee81819 leslieaugust
Posted
Hi leslieaugust, I included my reply also to you just in case you don't get notified on the other post. I hope you are doing better. I came across this post last summer and it helped so much to know I wasn't alone. At that time the CT scan showed nothing wrong with my sinus, SwalIow test showed small food residue. I also have a stiff neck, had a blocked right ear, and dizzy spells (stress stress and EKG all ok). All my problems are on the right side from the eye to below the ear to the nose and the right side of my neck is like one big hard knot. My sinus gets irritated when the Barometric Pressure dips. Possible culprits to what we have is Catarrh or Biofilm in the sinus. Here is what has helped me, and I am about at 90% at this time.
ENT after antibiotic and steroid to deal with sinus infection in 2021 - drink water - 3 liters a day and use Flonase forever (also to help also the blocked Eustachian tube), no more using Sudafed nor Benadryl since they dry out the sinus. Dehydration has always been a problem I have because I don't drink water and drink too much coffee. Dr Erick Berg has a good video on dehydration and the need to also take electrolytes.
Swallow therapy (July 2022) started the process of breaking down mucus and the therapy included an electric therapy on each cheek and that also helped. All the letter sound exercises started to break up the mucus in the back of the throat. Since all the tests came that I don't have any issues and ENT also couldn't find anything in the sinus even though I sounded congested I started to make sounds and do snorting sounds to try to get the mucus going.
In September I found a video from Dr Erick Berg DC (a friend of mine recommended him) he recommends using Fenugreek which I started to use (Nature'sWay ) I recommend only one pill in the morning. The mucus will start to drain and taste like Molasses Syrup. I still take one pill in the morning. When I have a cold I stop the Fenugreek and take Mucinex (expectorant only).
Then looking to address my for Eustachian tube issue, I came across Dr Adam Fields DC. He has videos to help drain the Eustachian tubes, also swallowing, sinus and neck exercises. His videos have helped a lot, especially the massaging of all the neck muscles he shows in the swallow video. When I massaged the Mylohyoid muscle I felt something release and the swallowing got a lot better. I do them every morning 2 videos for about 6 weeks. My neck has improved a lot. My ear also finally fully drained, I always felt there was water in my middle ear for at least two years. (He also talks about endocranial adjustment, and I am not ready for that. I am not one to have the bones adjusted) (I do the neck videos at my pace, and I still have a hard time with day three of the neck video)
I found help to sooth the tickle in the throat and added a teaspoon of Turmeric in a cup of hot milk to replace my second cup of coffee and take a teaspoon of raw honey.
In March 2023 I started dry salt therapy and then added red-light therapy. Last week I did the red-light therapy and then the dry salt therapy and it really was getting into the last mucus that is stuck. I had bought the Navage Nasal Hyhiene Nose Cleaner. I used it and it helped some but for the trouble it didn't seem to really do much. I like the dry salt therapy much better.
Also now adding Manuka Honey, eating a teaspoon after eating to sooth the throat and will look for a nasal spray since Manuka breaks down the Biofilm in the sinus.
It has been a very long journey and I remind myself to not do too much at one time but to stay consistent. When I push too hard, I would feel overwhelmed and dizzy. I will continue with the exercises every morning and now look into dealing with the Barometric Pressure issue. I might give these earplugs a try from WeatherX. My last sinus pressure was last week and coincided perfectly to a barometric pressure change. I downloaded app WeatherX and it provides barometric pressure data.
I think I covered all I have done to tackle my sinus issues. I did stop the Flonase 2 months ago because my nose kept bleeding. So far so good. I would take it again when I have sinus pressure and keep my ear from getting blocked. the hard part is that we continue to break done whatever mucus has been stuck and deal with any new sinus pressure that comes along due to a cold or other.