Severe post nasal drip

Hi Victor.  Hang in there.  I certainly understand what you are going through.  I'm in my forties and have experienced a lot of what you have said all of my life.  I have even had sinus surgery.

What has really worked for me (and yes there can be hope) is I take a combination of Mucinex D and Muxinex DM.  I make sure each one is only 600 mg of Guaifensin.  DO NOT get the 1200 of each. And also DO NOT take these with any Claritin, Zyrtec, etc. This was my doctor's advice to me about 2 years ago and it has made a huge difference.  Also, little things like chewing gum, drinking ginger ale have helped with the nautiousness (sp?)...

Also, you can also try to get a prescription for a nasal spray to take at the same time.  This has helped greatly too. 

These are my thoughts.  Wishing you the best and some relief.

Cass

 

Have you tried to see if it's acid reflux getting into your sinuses?
Ask for a barium swallow. The best one is up close in the throat and sinus region.

Hi again.  In regards to Mucinex...i mean I take specifically 2 pills: 1 of each.  Taking one kind alone did not work but together they do.  This was my doctors advice and it has worked.  I am not a doctor, but please feel free to question yours.

Cass

Hi Victor,

My post nasal drip also started when I was 18/19, I am 30 now and still suffer with it, sorry to say that to you I wish I could give good news of a cure or something like that, maybe you will be luckier than I am in finding one?

Mine is also quite severe like yours, spitting every few minutes, more severe in morning as it has accumulated overnight and needs clearing off chest making me vomit etc!

I do however manage to lead a fairly normal life and I have a good job, wife, child and as much of a social life as marriage and kids allows

I have tried a lot of things over the years... nasal irrigation, stomach surgery to correct acid reflux, deviated septum surgery, removal of silver (mercury) fillings and mercury detox, anithistamines and nasal steroid sprays, candida elimination dies and supplements, vitamins, NAC etc.. the list goes on!

The very basic things that I do to manage my condition and live a normal life are as follows:

1. Drink lots of water to help thin mucus and flush throat
2. Have a constant supply of tissue to hand and spit all mucus into tissue, letting it accumulate causes gagging, coughing and vomiting reflexes and having to run to nearest bathroom! Keep clearing it up dont ever swallow it back if you can avoid it.
3. The cough sweet that I can't live without... "Lockets"... you may or may not know of them depending on where you are from, but they are cough sweets here in UK, I've tried other cough sweets and none work like these... the extra strong ones are the best, they basically thin down and cut through the mucus in my throat reducing the thickness and severity of it, they also clear sinuses a little bit with the menthol in them, they are not a cure by any stretch of the imagination but they make a big difference to me in symptom reduction! Especially helpful in mornings when its at its worst.

My experience of post nasal drip is about symptom management and reduction, preparation is key, before going out have a supply of tissues for spitting into, its a bit embarrassing sometimes but people who know you wont care and people who dont you can disguise it like you are blowing your nose, it becomes a skill in discretion! And have a pack of "lockets" in your pocket always. Recognise the signs of mucus accumulation and head to a toilet and cough it up early, have a bottle of still mineral water to hand and the combination of those 3 things have made my life much easier. I can do the things most others can do, it just takes a bit more effort and like I say, preparation is key!!!

I hope you find a way to manage the illness like I have, its not pleasant, but you do get used to it and can live a normal life. Keep eating well, lots of fresh fruit and veg, look after yourself, and stay positive!

Dom

Have you seen an ENT to find the cause of your drip? Mine comes on with sinus infections which I get over again a couple of weeks after treating the previous one. The problem with antibiotics is they don't get to where they are needed because the sinuses are poorly prefused with blood vessels.

I use a prescription steroid in my sinus wash, but it doesn't do much. Plain salt water with baking soda twice a day keeps the headaches to a minimum. Some of the steroid nasal sprays help briefly. Mucinex long acting helps keep the sinuses from drying up and getting infected worse. Antihistamines only dry things up and then I get a worse infection.

I've had head CT, brain MRI, x-rays, cultures .... they always show infections. Sinus surgery only made things worse. I'll keep reading your responses for more suggestions.

Chronic fungal sinus infections can cause this. A nasal antifungal spray may help.

I find for my own post nasal drip and sinus congestion, that taking a daily dose of fenugreek and thyme helps a lot. The Thyme is antifungal, and the fenugreek thins the mucus.

Also, consider dietary issues as a possible contributor to your post nasal drip. The poster above mentioned a lot of possibilities, but any food allergy may lead to sinus problems.

Case in point, my brother gets sinus congestion from potatoes, tomatoes, and other nightshades.

Might consider working with an Environmental Medicine specialist or Naturopathic Physician, as these doctors usually have more experience with this sort of chronic issue.

Dear xWaRpeDx,

I am also having severe post nasal drip which has destroyed my life. I am thinking of getting a shot of kenalog. My questions from you is, does it completely stop your post nasal drip for a few months? also do you have severe post nasal drip?

Hey KieranM,
Did you see an immunotherapist? has your pnd improved?

Hi all!

Shoshol, After waiting weeks for an ENT appt. I finally saw a Specialist on Monday. I was told by the Specialist that there is no other treatment for Allergic Rhinitis other than nasal sprays. I absolutely am avoiding any sprays as they definitely make my sinuses worse and do not help one bit. The Specialist was pretty arrogant and I might as well have been talking to the wall. He came up with a load of BS about the environment in which I live in (North West England) saying that it is highly polluted and humid. Obviously this was an attempt to fob me off like every other doctor has tried to thus far. Where I live is not humid at all, completely the opposite infact. I did mention that my rhinitis is a lot better when I'm outside and only really flares up when I'm inside. I'd say the worst times are in the evening and mornings when I am constantly clearing my throat, coughing and sneezing. The Specialist arranged for an immunology blood test straight away and I went down to have them done. He did say though that it is unlikely I will find out what I'm allergic to because the skin prick allergy test came back negative. Still, I'd rather know for sure. If the results do come back negative again I am looking into going private, seeing an allergist having further tests. If I find out what the allergy is then I can try to avoid it or possibly have immunotherapy. There is not a chance I am putting up with rhinitis because it seriously affects my lifestyle. I won't give up until it is solved!

Welcome to the forum, Joelle.

Thanks for the great post. It's a new idea here, that asthma and allergy symptoms can be from sulfites and dairy.

Unfortunately you put this on a really old thread. It would help everyone if you would start your own thread with your own title. Don't use the exact same post as it's against forum rules, and make paragraphs because a lot of people here have trouble tracking.

Did you happen to find out if the dairy problem was just lactose or the protein parts too?

Looking forward to your own thread!

cassandralee-why cant you take musinex with zyrtec? i really would like to know

A possible cure: bubble gum, surprisingly. This is applicable for a case when mucus activity coincides with the sympathetic mode of the nervous system. Here is an example: the parasympathetic mode is ON when you are asleep and when you eat; the sympathetic mode is ON at other times (just a rough rule). So if you don't experience mucus drip with these occasions, you can try bubble gum. Namely bubble gum simulates the process of eating and you in fact cheat the nervous system with it. I have got great relief from bubble gum.