Odd symptom

Sorry about the long post in advance

about two weeks ago I noticed I have an odd symptom that happens to me on occasion. Sometimes when I eat I get a feeling of some mucus in my throat. It isn't a lot and I can usually clear it up with either a very mild cough or a little clearing of the throat. It isn't like a lump that I hear people talking about - it clearly feeling like a very small amount of mucus. When I do have it, it starts about as soon as I start eating and is gone within 10 minutes after I stop. I don't have a hard cough or even a lot of coughing when this happens as I have read others having - just a mild single cough or a couple of throat clearing episodes and it is gone. I can also feel the mucus going down my throat when I clear it up. I also have nasal congestion and at times a runny nose when this happens. I have noticed it is worse if I eat something warm or hot.

Since this started I have asked folks who are eating with me if they experience the same thing and most of them say they experience it too, (Here in the south nasal congestion is a way of life so most everyone around here has sniffles and post nasal drip so don't knwo if that means anything or not.) I also have starting to pay more attention to folks around me when I am eating and find a lot of folks coughing a little after they eat so I wonder if this is somewhat normal that I just haven't noticed until now. I did read somewhere on the net that this could be considered normal to clear throat while eating or talking??? I also wonder if it is a reaction of my nasal congestion being broken up by the temperature of the food or if it is acid reflux. I don't experience it any other time though - all the other times I feel great. I am also a constant worrier so once I get a symptom in my mind that is all I focus on so needless to say, I sit there and think about getting the mucus and sure enough it comes - the downside of being a worrier.

BTW, this all started about the same time that I started getting a lot of congestion and runny nose from the change in weather. Don't know if it is related or totally separate from that. I use Mucinex during the winter seasons to help with the congestion.

Is this acid reflux or just simple congestion being broken up by eating (I read somewhere that when you eat it starts a lot of saliva to flow and cause the nasal cavities to open up but not sure that is what it is) .

I don't know much about acid reflux - just started reading about it recently. I saw where on poster talked about having this with rhinitis but not sure what that is

Thanks

Ferrell

Post Edited (Mythbuster) : 12/25/2010 1:47:30 PM (GMT-7)

Well I have had post nasal drip for the past 20 years due to sinus problems that are worse in the winter so may be that.

I have been reading up on silent reflux since posting the OP and from what I have been reading, the symptoms of silent reflux are fairly constant?? I had never heard of silent reflux until recently but after reading about it I don't think it is that since I don't have any of the classic symptoms such as sore throat, voice changes, chronic coughing or chronic clearing of throat on a fairly constant basis. My symptoms are not constant nor are they every time I eat. I tend to think this is post nasal drip unrelated to acid reflux. I eat a lot of the foods that they say can cause acid reflux and none of them cause me any problems. My mucus issue seems to be related to the temperature of the food more than just eating in general. For example I can eat chocolate and drink a caffeinated drink (two things that are bad for acid reflux)and not get the mucus but I can eat something that is good for acid reflux but it be hot and it will bring it on. So it seems that it is related to the temperature of the food instead of the food itself.

Most of my family was here today for dinner and I asked several of them if they experienced this sensation as well. My sister, both my father and mother in law as well as my step mother said they had that sensation as well. They are like me in that they also have sinus issues - fairly common here in Alabama. Maybe we all have silent reflux but I wouldn't think that would be the case.

If they get worse I will go to a ENT but right now my symptoms seem to be more related to regular sinus problems than acid reflux. My guess is that when the weather warms up that this will resolve itself. OTOH I might get some kind of OTC PPI to see if that helps.

Thanks

Ferrell

Post Edited (Mythbuster) : 12/25/2010 4:40:13 PM (GMT-7)

My PCP has me on a regular decongestant and antihistamine for the sinusitis. I have been on them off and on for 20 years - always gets worse in the winter and basically non existent the summer months.

As far as the mucus build up - it isn't bad. If I get my mind on something else I don't even notice it. It isn't like I cough my head off or have to clear my throat until it is sore. The mucus build up is very small. Don't know much about silent reflux but from what I have read, it is fairly invasive with folks and not something you can get out of your mind or ignore. But then again, I don't know.

May go back to my PCP after the new year and talk to him about it.

I had heartburn about 5 years ago. My PCP put me on Nexium for a while and then lowered the dosage and then finally took me off . I haven't had any heartburn since. From what I have read about reflux, if you have the silent type you won't get heartburn.

So what are the major symptoms of silent reflux that most folks experience, assuming they experience some? How would you know it was a problem is you have no symptoms? I read that a chronic cough or clearing of throat and hoarseness were major symptoms but that is just a website listing them. What are the more common symptoms?

OK, thanks

I found a website that listed these as symptoms - you mentioned some of these.

Hoarseness/voice changes; constant coughing; constant throat clearing; persistent globus (I think that means sensation of something in throat); excess amounts of mucus; post nasal drip (seems that is the same as the mucus but.....); persistent sore throat; and sometimes difficulty swallowing. The website also said these were pretty constant. If I am reading this correctly, the regular GERD affects primarily the esophogus and the silent type affects primarily the throat area (which makes sense that you would experience the throat problems since the acid makes it way up to the throat. Having had heartburn before I can only imagine the pain that someone would experience if the acid made it;s way up to the throat.

It is amazing the information I can find on this subject as I search. I know what I am experiencing isn't typical GERD but might be the silent type but it appears I would experience some throat pain if that was the case but my throat is fine.

When I search my symptom I get four different possibilities with one being silent reflux and another being vasomotor rhinitis. Apparently this is a fancy name for nasal congestion Asthma and something else is listed but I don't have any other symptoms of those.

Post Edited (Mythbuster) : 12/25/2010 5:59:20 PM (GMT-7)

I had silent reflux, but never had the sore throat part.
I did cough a lot, though.

I had the Nissen fundoplication surgery. They take the floppy part of your stomach and wrap it around your esophagus to strengthen the LES.

I had the chronic coughing mostly. Sometimes burning but rarely. I'd get a feeling of food getting stuck in my chest and start to pass out. Once and awhile I'd get painful spasms, but it was so rare.