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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
constant throat clearing
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constant throat clearing
by tamncam, Jan 05, 2006 12:00AM
I have constant mucus in my throat, mostly white or clear ( sometimes in the morning a little brown and dry). I feel like the mucus is coming from my sinuses, because i have to suck from my nose and spit from my mouth, i also have a dry non-productive cough, well more like a cough then clearing my throat for about 11 months, also some wheezing when i take a deep breath in, and also when i breath in real deep, theres pain in my upper back ( i think that might be a pinched nerve,it happened about 8 weeks ago, and has not been a symptom for long). in feb 05 went to dr. dx'd me with bronchitis, gave me augmenten, prednisone, got somewhat better, but still trying to cough and clear throat and drainage. ( drainage all day ) . went back in May same symptons, got chest xray, it was normal, dr. gave me clyndimycin, nasal steroid and nasal saline spray, took all , still symptoms exist. in oct. 05 saw an ENT sent me for a BA swallow, it was normal, said he thinks it's my allergies, NO HELP. In nov. went to urg. care w/ pulled muscle, and pain in upper back, dr. said pulled muscle and plurisy, another chest x ray, said it looked good, gave me flexeril and decadron shot for plurisy, felt a lot better as far as back goes, but still have other symptoms, and upper back still has pain. dec. made appt. w/ a new dr., still drainage, wheezing, coughing to clear throat, dr. gave me TB test ( came back good),chest x ray again normal,gave me levaquin,zyrtec,flonase,and advair inhaler, i feel little better, but still have symptoms. What shoule I do? Never any MEDICAL PROBLEMS, want to be better!!!
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Jan 13, 2006 12:00AM
, Jan 13, 2006 12:00AM
Your nose and sinuses are the most likely cause of the constant drainage. An antihistamine, like Zyrtec® (cetirizine), can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant can thin the postnasal drip. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Check with your doctor to see if Zyrtec-D® (cetirizine/pseudoephedrine), a combination antihistamine-decongestant, would help you more. Often a prescription 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.
Your sinuses may well be the source of the infections. The best way to identify a sinus infection is with a sinus CT scan. I would recommend that you seek a second opinion from a different ENT and that you try nasal washes. While the nasal saline spray that you are using will loosen, a nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip. Please read our nasal wash treatment information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/treatments/alt-ther/nasal-wash.aspx to learn more about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
A prescription nasal steroid spray can decrease mucus production by decreasing the inflammation in the nose and sinuses. 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 take several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering you.
It is doubtful that the cause of your symptoms will be evident on a chest x-ray. However spirometry may be helpful. This is a simple breathing test that measures how your lungs are working. It will show if there is obstruction in your airways that could be the cause of your wheezing when you take a deep breath and your dry cough.
Your upper back pain is probably unrelated to your drainage. You should also have x-rays, of your upper back and neck areas, or maybe even magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Your sinuses may well be the source of the infections. The best way to identify a sinus infection is with a sinus CT scan. I would recommend that you seek a second opinion from a different ENT and that you try nasal washes. While the nasal saline spray that you are using will loosen, a nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip. Please read our nasal wash treatment information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/treatments/alt-ther/nasal-wash.aspx to learn more about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
A prescription nasal steroid spray can decrease mucus production by decreasing the inflammation in the nose and sinuses. 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 take several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering you.
It is doubtful that the cause of your symptoms will be evident on a chest x-ray. However spirometry may be helpful. This is a simple breathing test that measures how your lungs are working. It will show if there is obstruction in your airways that could be the cause of your wheezing when you take a deep breath and your dry cough.
Your upper back pain is probably unrelated to your drainage. You should also have x-rays, of your upper back and neck areas, or maybe even magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
On December 8,2005 I was doing a show in Virgina and saw a local doctor there. She gave me Tussionex and within the hour of the first dosage the drainage stopped. The next week was wonderful as I was even able to cough up stuff for the first time in a long time.
I have tried the 8 mg dosage of Chlorpheniramine but it doesn't work. I have taken hydrocodone before with dental problems and I know that after taking it I get the itch in the nose for about five minutes.
I am convinced that this is a cure and that the Chlorpheniramine somehow bonds to the hydrocodone to be most affective. Problem is ofcourse that it is a narcotic and no doctor will give that on a daily bases for the rest of my life.
Are there any other drugs that could possibly bond with the Chlorpheniramine and take it right to the nasal area?
I have done all the alergy testing three times. Head xray, Barium swallow, and all the prescription sprays, decongestants and antihistamines. Nothing has ever worked but this.
Steve
I have an appt with an allergist that my husband has seen and I'm going to prompt him for the levaquin. He currently has my husband on it just in order to clear out his sinuses enough so that the ENT can go in & do