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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Desperately need some relief
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
Desperately need some relief
by Mammykins, May 15, 2004 12:00AM
For the past 4/5 weeks I have had this terrible sensation in my throat. It starts out with a itchy, scratchy throat which gags and chokes me. I get a blob of mucus which I then cough to try to relieve the choking sensation. My eyes then start watering and I absolutely cannot talk because I am so choked up. I get so little sleep that I hardly function thru the day. --- I have been to the doctor many times. Everytime I go I get another prescription for different medication. I use an inhaler as well as a nasal spray. I am not experiencing any change from using all these different medications. Any ideas as to what I may do to relieve the situation I find myself in. I am at my wits end. Thank you so much. Mammykins
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, May 18, 2004 12:00AM
, May 18, 2004 12:00AM
The situation that you have described sounds like it could be postnasal drip. This is drainage from the nose and sinuses dripping down the back of the throat. There could be several reasons for this drainage. One reason is an allergy. A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold. A third reason is chronic sinusitis. Postnasal drip can cause an itchy, scratchy throat as a result of irritation of the throat. You may experience the postnasal drip as a feeling of a blob of mucus in your throat that gags and chokes you. Typically this is worse at night when you lay down so you may get very little sleep. Generally this irritation feels the worst when you wake up and gets better as the day goes on.
The fat content in dairy products can thicken mucus. Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful. Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the mucus so that it moves more easily. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily. Coughing can irritate your throat and make it sore. When you feel the mucus try to sip some water to clear the mucus.
An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and decrease the swelling so it drains easier. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Often an antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad. It may be more helpful to take the antihistamine and decongestant on a regular basis.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and lessen coughing. When the postnasal drip is thin and watery Atrovent® Nasal Spray (ipratropium bromide) may help to dry this up. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent the postnasal drip and coughing. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the Atrovent® Nasal Spray (ipratropium bromide), and the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering you. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
The fat content in dairy products can thicken mucus. Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful. Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the mucus so that it moves more easily. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily. Coughing can irritate your throat and make it sore. When you feel the mucus try to sip some water to clear the mucus.
An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and decrease the swelling so it drains easier. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Often an antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad. It may be more helpful to take the antihistamine and decongestant on a regular basis.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and lessen coughing. When the postnasal drip is thin and watery Atrovent® Nasal Spray (ipratropium bromide) may help to dry this up. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent the postnasal drip and coughing. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the Atrovent® Nasal Spray (ipratropium bromide), and the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering you. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
