OUT OF OPTIONS-CAN ANYONE HELP???

[mmkof5]

Hello all,

At the end of my rope...I am turning to the knowledgeable and experienced members of the forum to see if ANYONE has suffered this "affliction".

For the past 3 months I have been plagued with excessive mucus running down my throat. Nothing I have tried has any effect on this situation...In June I had an upper molar that was abscessed resulting in a terrible sinus infection. I had the molar extracted. I suffered with the sinus infection and finally in August I went to my GP who prescribed 2 rounds of Ceftin to clear the infection. Gunk stopped running from my nose...however, that is when the excessive mucus starting running down my throat. This mucus is clear with the consistency of what I would describe as "jelly".

I went to an ENT associated with a very prestigious clinic in my area. He did the "TV camera" up my nose and determined that I was having a discharge in my throat. Did a CT scan and he said that there was no sign of infection in my sinuses. I was subjected to a basic allergy test. It was determined that I have a "mild" allergy to dogs and some type of mold. After the results were in the ENT stated that my throat showed signs of irritation (you think???) so he wasn't sure if the allergies were causing the drainage or I was suffering from "silent reflux". So I was prescribed a medication for the allergy and the acid reflux. Both names escape me at this point. Came home and got rid of all my house plants (tech told me that they harbor mold), did the clorox deal on bathroom as suggested. Took the meds faithfully for 30 days. No change in the mucus at all. Also, I have tried all of the following to get some relief...

Used Nasonex and Omaris. Gargled with peroxide/water mixture. Gargled with salt/water mixture. Saline sprays. Saline nasal washes. Increased humidity on my machine to the max. Took decongestants. Even have went so far as to drink a mixture of apple cider vinegar/honey. Drank tons of water...NOTHING has made any change in the mucus flow!!!

This is driving me crazy!!! AHI is not normal for me. Was running easily below 5 - now I am running 8 and higher. When I wake up in the mornings, it is so bad I feel like I'm going to choke! I rinse and spit, rinse and spit, rinse and spit...

It is making it difficult to breathe...

Is there ANYBODY on this forum who has/is suffering from the same??? Do any of you have any suggestions to try other than what I've already tried??? I AM DESPERATE AT THIS POINT!!!

[Goofproof]

Every night I dose up with OTC drugs for congestion, even though I am suppose to not use them (Heart) We dall do what we have to to get by. Jim

[Muse-Inc]

If I were you, I'd do these:

• Buy the Grossan nasal irrigator (sorta like a WaterPik for the nose, sounds gross but actually feels pretty good once you get the right angle) -- it helps the cilia in the nasal passageways heal and restore the proper wave-like motion. The Grossan saline solution contains Xylitol which pathogens can't survive on. This might help kill off whatever is causing the excessive mucous flow. Check out his site. I have one of these and when I'm fed up with drainage, congestion, or have a cold, this is my go-to fix.
• I'd also start taking a probiotic that has billions of CFU (colony forming units) with multiple stains of bacteria to help undo the bacteria killed by the antiobiotics.
• Buy the Spry Xylitol nasal stray (I buy mine from a healthfood store). For me, 1 spray in each nostril in the morning does an excellent job of keeping my 30+ yrs of sinusitis, respiratory allergies, vasomotor rhinitis, gustatory rhinitis (from grains, wheat being the worst) under control.

Good luck!

[Guest]

Gee, did no one tell you to use Sudafed? You are going through all these useless motions, when popping two small pills would take care of it for you.

[mars]

Gee, did no one tell you to use Sudafed? You are going through all these useless motions, when popping two small pills would take care of it for you.

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Sudaf ... =firefox-a

cheers

Mars

[Julie]

I would be careful with those - they've been known to cause some really bizarre side effects and there are other sinus meds (such as Actifed) on the market...

Good luck.

[mars]

I would be careful with those - they've been known to cause some really bizarre side effects and there are other sinus meds (such as Actifed) on the market...

Good luck.

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=actif ... =firefox-a

cheers

Mars

[yeti]

Yes, I suffer this too. went so far as to do surgery-turbinates and septum repair. Sudafed does not work. so far nothing has worked. Hope you find an answer

[Guest]

I would be careful with those - they've been known to cause some really bizarre side effects and there are other sinus meds (such as Actifed) on the market...

Good luck.

Oh, for pete's sake. EVERY medication, INCLUDING Actifed, should be investigated first for possible side effects. That goes without saying. (It is telling that you don't call for caution with Actifed.) Millions of people find great relief from Sudafed.

The original poster should be wary of any medication, but it is clear that Sudafed is what her symptoms call for. Whether she can take it without causing other undesirable side effects is a different question.

Caveat emptor, always! I would have said that but I thought everyone knew that.


mmkof5, just FYI, the old version of Actifed contained the same ingredient (pseudoephedrine) that is in Sudafed, plus an antihistamine. The new formula contains a less effective ingredient than pseudoephedrine, though it may work for you. Again, caveat emptor.

[Guest]

Yes, I suffer this too. went so far as to do surgery-turbinates and septum repair. Sudafed does not work. so far nothing has worked. Hope you find an answer

I'm sure you meant to say, "Sudafed did not work for me." How could you possibly know whether it would work for anyone else?



Don't ever take Sudafed, anyone. It doesn't work, and it causes bizarre side effects.

[Mary Z]

Sudafed works fine for me in this kind of situation without any side effects. I buy the actual pseudoephedrine Hcl

[M.D.Hosehead]

mmkof5,

If your problem is allergies, nasal steroid sprays like Nasonex should help, provided you use them correctly. Blow your nose first, then point the spray toward your eye on the same side as the nostril you are spraying. They don't work immediately, you have to persist for a few days. And you may need a higher dose, for example 2 sprays twice a day) for a few days until inflammation subsides.

If steroid sprays don't work, the problem could still be allergic, only not to something you inhale; you might consider consulting an allergist.

[snuginarug]

Have you gone back to the ENT and reported no success? Frequently doctors give standard care orders, and don't really investigate further unless the standard stuff doesn't work. If you have not been back, I'd suggest trying another appointment. He may have a few more tricks up his sleeve. If he doesn't have anything new to suggest and/or doesn't seem interested... well you can get a second opinion or try an alternative health care practitioner. This is, of course, assuming you are rolling in dough and have the luxury of full investigation. For OTC remedies, don't forget you can ask your pharmacist questions too. He or she can have a wealth of information, especially if you are concerned about interactions.

All this really sounds miserable. I hope you can find relief soon!

[LoQ]

I have to agree with the Sudafed recommendation, too, although like Mary Z, I buy the generic, which is far cheaper. It does have some side effects for me, including insomnia if I take it too close to bedtime. I usually take it first thing in the morning and again maybe just after lunch. Sometimes I only take it once a day. It's enough to clear out the gunk so I can sleep. I've also had luck taking it immediately before I go to bed. Seems like if I can get to sleep right away, there is no insomnia from it.

The other side effect I have noticed is that if I take it too many days in a row, I start to have cotton mouth. When that happens, I lay off for a day or two, then take it again. No biggie. The cotton mouth effect is one reason I frequently limit myself to once a day. It occasionally makes me a tad jittery.

If you have heart rhythm problems, it may be wise to remember that pseudoephedrine is a stimulant, and you may want to check with your doctor before taking it. If you have to avoid caffeine, for example, you probably should not take pseudoephedrine. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, check with your doctor before taking it. Et cetera. Read the package for other common side effects and contraindications.

I hope you find something that works. I know the misery of which you speak, and it is definitely a downer. Ugh.

[DoriC]

mmkof5,

If your problem is allergies, nasal steroid sprays like Nasonex should help, provided you use them correctly. Blow your nose first, then point the spray toward your eye on the same side as the nostril you are spraying. They don't work immediately, you have to persist for a few days. And you may need a higher dose, for example 2 sprays twice a day) for a few days until inflammation subsides.

If steroid sprays don't work, the problem could still be allergic, only not to something you inhale; you might consider consulting an allergist.

M.D., I'm trying to visualize what you mean by "toward your eye", do you mean aim towards the outer or inner corner of the eye of the nostril you're spraying?