*****Mucus After Eating --PLEASE HELP!!!!!******

[ikea]

Every time I eat ANYTHING I get excessive mucus in my nose and throat.  I usually cough during a meal and always after.  I have been tested for food allergies and I have none.  I have no airorne allergies either.  I am a 27 yr old male in good shape.  
I have had blood work done and all they can tell me is that I'm in excellent health.  Antihistamines don't help either.  I have tried all of them.  I can eat practically anything,  hot, spicy, acidic,  you name it and I can eat it.  I notice no difference in symptoms depending on the food ingested.  I even get mucus after drinking water.  Whatever I put in my stomach seems to somehow manifest itself back up in my sinuses.  Would a tear in the stomach lining or GI tract spill out into the bloodstream and cause the immune system to attack the food particles like a foreign substance?  I have been reading about CANDIDA and "Leaky Gut" syndrome,  and think this may be the problem.  I have no pain, and can eat all kinds of different foods.  I am so frustrated I don't know what to do.  I don't eat as much as I used to because this is such a problem.  I am working with a Gastroenterologist (sp?) but he thinks it's an allergy problem since the problem is in my head.  If anyone can help,  I would be forever greatful and would reward with cash money.  I don't know what do do anymore.  Please help.  Thanks.

[National Jewish]

This is definitely not an allergic problem, but may have to do with the mucus glands.  You should work with your gastroenterologist.

[bactitech]

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/fadindex.html

Please note that Quackwatch has "leaky gut" and "yeast allergy" listed on its "Not Scientifically Defined or Recognized" list with the following notation:

"These alleged conditions differ greatly from those of medically recognized diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and coronary heart disease, each of which is associated with a clear-cut history, physical findings, and laboratory tests. With these, however, the range of symptoms is virtually endless and typically does not correlate with physical findings or science-based laboratory tests."

In other words, buyer beware of health practitioners willing to sell you something for a disease entity that does not really exist.

[bactitech]

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/fad.html

Check out this page also!

[xrayshell]

I was told by my allergist that excessive mucus & coughing can be caused by Hiatal Hernia which I am on Nexium (purple pill) for, even though I do have Allergies and take medication for them.

[ikea]

First of all I would like to thank you all for replying to my posts.  It means a lot.  Thank you.

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BACTITECH,  I have read that about Candida also.  I am just to the point where I'm ready to try anything, ya know?  It's no fun living like this.  Especially when most doctors think it's just allergy..  but it gets better...  read on.
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NJC,  you are right on the money.  Thursday, I went to my family doctor and he said I should see a gastroenterologist.  I spoke with the gastroenterologist, and he said to try Nexium (The purple pill).  He gave me a month's supply, (40mg once daily) and told me to come back in a month.  I took one Thursday,  and another on Friday morning.  When I ate lunch at noon on Friday,  I HAD NO SYMPTOMS!!!!    I ALMOST CRIED!!!   No stuffy nose,  no mucus, no congestion,  no tiredness,  no cough, no clearing my throat, no plugged up head!!!!  THE STUFF WORKS!!  I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!!  I'm going to go back to him and have him put a scope down my throat and have a look-see to see if there's damage.  
Hopefully I don't need surgery.  I'm kind of worried about what he'll see... doh!
I also forgot to mention in my first post that I am a VERY heavy COFFEE and POP drinker.  We're talking years... After reading about GERD,  I found out that is one of the triggers.  So I'm staying away from the coffee 100% and weaning myself off the pop slowly.  But you were right,  my GI has the key..  
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XRAYSHELL,  did you ever get a scope down your throat?  Did they find anything?  How long have you been on Nexium and did your doctor tell you that you could stop using it someday?  Thanks!

[fungicord]

Just for the benefit of anyone who is reading this thread, Nexium is just one of several available prescription PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) available.  Others include Aciphex, Prevacid, and Protonix.  The makers of Nexium also have an over-the-counter PPI called Prilosec OTC (comes in a purple box).  The generic name for Prilosec is omeprazole.  There is some indication that other generic omeprazole exists, but I have only seen it so far from non-USA sources.

[xrayshell]

yes,i have had 4 scopes over the years. I have reflux, Hiatal Hernia and yrs ago a duodenal polyp which was removed during my scope (polyp genetic per my dr, he found my dads lst). My gastro Dr recommends for my dad & I to take 1 nexium a day from now on.  I have heard some Drs put their pts on them for several weeks but after asking my dr he says every day from now on in our case due to our gastro reflux. I've tried to go off and have terrable reflux after a week.  When I was sick in 2003,bronchitis & Pneumonia my allergist recommended 1 in am & 1 at bedtime, I had alot of coughing and Mucus , thats why I suggested to you it might be your problem. Glad to hear you are better!

[xrayshell]

PS my gastro dr also recommends no coffee reg or decaf and no carb. soft drinks. (I also love my coffee)

[bactitech]

Glad things are working out for you. My mother has longstanding GERD but her symptoms were somewhat different. She takes Nexium daily with no problems.

My husband had longstanding heartburn due to hiatal hernia, and has been on Nexium for quite awhile. It has helped tremendously. This is not a Nexium commercial by any means. This is just the only one he can get with his insurance, as they've made a deal, apparently, with whoever makes Nexium. Prevacid and Prilosec also work. His father took Prilosec when it first came on the market and swore it didn't do a thing for him. He died in 1992, however, and there have been lots of other drugs for this condition that have come out since then. He had an extremely bad hiatal hernia, which hemorrhaged at one point in time. He took 35 units of blood before they got it stopped. This is the reason to seek treatment! This was back in the mid-80's.

My mother did try Prilosec OTC for awhile, (after she had taken prescription Prilosec for years) but in her opinion it didn't work as well. My husband took Prevacid until the pharmacy made its formulary decision, and that worked well, also.

[ikea]

I still am having problems when it is late at night and the medicine has worn off.  I go back to the GI next month.  I hope there is something that they can do surgically because I am not going to live on pills the rest of my life.  It's not fair to me or the people who pay insurance premiums.  Medicine should only be a short-term fix.  Not long term solution.  Anyway,  I'll let you know what happens.  I go on 5/10/05.

[roxy1532]

Ikea, I am a 20 yr. old female and for 6 years now I have been coughing after meals. It tends to be when i eat larger meals, but sometimes it doesn't matter. When I cough, its like a gagging cough, lasts for 3 to 5 minutes and then I'm fine. Sometimes, however, it would be so bad that i would throw up and it would be mostly mucus. I went to numorous doctors throughout the past 6 years, and no one could figure it out. I had swallow tests, barium swallow, scopes...nothing. I've been on prevacid and nexium, but they didn't help. Does this sound like the same thing you've been going through? If so, its nice to know theres someone out there with the same problem as me. Lately I have been having a lot of trouble with the mucus in my throat and I was at the gym tonight and starting having the gagging cough that I have after I eat. It hit me..that this mucus might be the reason for my problem. So I'm eager to get to a doctor and discuss it with him or her. Let me know what you think.

[nasal man]

Also get the excessive mucous after eating for about 4 years now.  I hate going out to eat with others becuase of the need to blow my nose every five seconds...this sux

[hydrogen]

I am 44 and I have had problems for years I looked into Hydrogen Peroxide cures For Candidiasis, this is working for me.

[ikea]

Roxy,  I am sorry to hear you're struggling with this too.
It's wierd,  but always happens after I eat.  I see my GI on the 10th, and hopefully he'll find something..  Check back after the 10th.

[flapper]

All welcome to respond, but since ikea is having some good results with the gastroenterologist(sp?).....Were you experiencing heartburn or anything, or was the mucus problem related to clear mucus, having no taste or related heartburn-like symptoms.  Just trying to figure out if maybe I need to try the gastroenterology route.

[loppo]

Ikea, I went through what you explained for years. I had many tests done, blood work, allergy testings, stomack tests, all came back normal. My doctor then treated me for gerd even though the test was normal and also treated me for postnasal drip. I took prilosec for about a month, got off of it then I tried the nasarel for postnasal drip even though I really don't suffer from the drip but I do feel it laying down or even some mornings. I have not stopped using the nasarel and I think it has helped me a great deal with the phlem feeling right after eating or even drinking. Why don't you try the nasarel nose spray and see if it will help you too. Just a thought I wished to share with you or others who suffer from this annoying phlem. Cuz mine took me to the hospital emergency rooms many times, and nothing they were able to do to help me. They kept saying it's my stomack acid reflux. My stomack was just fine. it was my postanasal drip.

Loppo.

[ikea]

I got my scope results back from my GI and he says I have GERD.
He told me to keep taking NEXIUM and/or Prilosec for a year.
He also said to change my diet.  Don't drink so much coffee and stay away from carbonated beverages.  He is hopeful that the phlegm will go away with time.  So far, it has helped.  But I still have problems if I don't take the Nexium.  I'm going to try it for a year.  This has helped more than anything else so far.

[Inanga]

hi i had exactly the same problems - down to getting mucous from drinking water!! I went through the GERD cycle and that did help my gut but NOT my mucous and post nasal drip. I recenlt discovered by accident that I was allergic to WHEAT, GLUTEN and SOY. i had a blood test for the wheat ages ago and it came back fine. HOWEVER since avoing these 3 things I can got completely free of the mucous problem. BUT If I eat a biscuit or anything containing wheat, glulten or soy it's BACK.
Gluten and SOY are in just about any processed food. They're used as thickeners and all sorts. Even ISNTANT COFFEE has gluten or soy (sorry can't remember which). if is SIP instant coffee I get an instant mucous episode. The trouble with identifying this is that these things are in just about everything. I started by new diet on rice and lots of vegetables and fruit. No cakes, biscuits, bread, toast, etc etc. I am now 100% convinced of my problem. SOY is definitely a problem. if I add soy sauce to me rice and vege stirfry I get trouble. I am reevaluating the wheat/gluten thing - lots of things that have wheat also have soy products. Anyway - I am effective cured as long as I'm carefut what I eat. The docot's steroids made me more sensitive to other things, and the anithistamine made it harder to breathe. I can now drink water without a problem. Maybe it losen up some mucous that food had caused... I dunno. best of luck. It's been an almost miraclous change for me! I never though I'd be normal again, and had tie off work etc etc.

[bserchuk]

Yes, I have this problem also. And after I eat the mucous and phlegm continues for hours afterwards. I just posted my story under "lapropharyngeal reflux help" but I would like to  say that I am being tested next week for the FEESTT test, which was developed at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York. Sounds very interesting. I have found that this phlegm is very debilitating and depresssing. yet, every time the doctors look at me they see no nasal drip. Go figure!

Barnett

[Inanga]

is FEEST the thing about studying facial movement etc - presumably looking for subconscious body language types of things. I'd expect them to see you swallow a lot and look a bit desperate or depressed after each mucous episode. I hope they can recognise that depression from long term illness is valid and they don't blame the physical symptoms on mental causes ('it's all it your mind!"). Give them a jar of mucous as evidence that it exists... good luck

[coughgirl]

Hello all,
I have similar symptoms and hope anyone can give me an answer.  My symptoms are that I cough for a good 20 minutes after eating.  I feel like my throat is closing and I force myself to cough, sometimes coughing up mucus.  I have been doing this for a good 10 years.  It has become worse and sometimes I can't speak during an episode.  There are times where it is worse than others.  I have had numerous allerygy tests with no results.  I have had that microscopic tube down my nose to my throat-no results.  I have had a barium swallow-no swallow problems.  I have had a feest test, which to answer a previous post is a test where they feed you bits of food and they watch you swallow it.  They put barrium in my roast beef sandwich (something i brought with me since it makes me cought so much.) and now i can't even eat one anymore since all i can remember is barrium!  feest test showed no results.  Anyhow, I have been diagnosed with acid reflux yrs ago and have tried prilosec with no results.  Does anyone have this problem with these symptoms and have found relief or some answers?  

[bronwynn]

A related discussion, mucous after eating was started.

[celticlinen]

A related discussion, Possibilities for phlegm! was started.