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Sleep Apnea and Post Nasal Drip

Hello:

Could someone suffering from post nasal drip lead to obstructive sleep apnea at nights along with it's associated symptoms (fatigue, daytime sleepiness, etc.)?

I wonder if the phlegm that is caught in the throat due to the post nasal drip could block the upper airway and lead to sleep apnea/hypopneas during sleep.

If this is possible, can the Nasal Wash Treatment that is explained in your website help with this situation, or what treatment would be the most appropiate for this scenarion (CPAP, BiPAP, nasal CPAP, etc.)

I know that the polysomnography is the gold standard to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, but I wonder if someone with no risks for this syndrome (neck circumference too wide, obesity, age, etc.), but with post nasal drip and symptoms of OSA (fatigue, daytime sleepiness, etc.) can benefit, for example, from a CPAP machine.

Would this be the best way to open the airways that could be blocked by the phlegm secondary to the post nasal drip?

Thanks for your help.
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, post nasal drip and sleep apnea too was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Post nasal drip and sleep apnea too!!! was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have suffered from a cough and shortness of breath ever since I visited my ENT doctor at the Sleep Apnea Study place I was told to be checked for. After having two nights of study (one with just being wired up and one night wired up and using CPAP)
about a month ago, then the ENT doctor wanted to check to see if I had any blockages to make sure that it was just the need for me to be on the CPAP (which I hated, I thought I was being smothered)...so during the blockage test with the ENT doctor, he used a swab to numb my nose so he could use the "long light" to put up my nose and down the back of my throat...then the same day
I was fitted up for the "pillow CPAP"...and when coming home I thought my nose felt "stuffy" and did not use the Pillow CPAP that night...the next night I hooked up to the Pillow CPAP with the warm water that was used with it, but could only use it for
1 1/2 hrs. cause I could not sleep...in the morning, I started coughing and coughing and have been coughing for 3 wks...using
Musinex and then finally also using a antihistime and nothing seemed to help, and the one thing I could not continue was the cough, cause about a year or so ago, I ended up with a hernia from the bad coughing, so I remembered reading about someone in your comments stating that Medral Dose Pak - 6 days - 21 pills
was the ONLY thing that worked, so I did get it and truly, it
WORKED...I am now on the fourth day and the cough is very minimal and when I do cough, mucus does come up and of course I am drinking a gallon of water a day...what had me really worried before I started Medral Dose Pak was my throat also had gotten so sore and also my glands that I knew I could not let it go..and also I was feeling feverish and even the first day of taking the Medral, already I felt the relief...I was also concerned if Medral would interfere with other meds, but, the only med I was taking was my cholestrol med Pravachol, and it did not interfere with it. I really appreciate your comments from so many friends...check with your doctor, but Medral Dose Pak works! Note: I am 68 yrs old, with only arthritis in my knees otherwise in good health...and it did help my knees also...not sure how long the relief will last...just thot' I'd
let you know! My family doctor had told me a year ago, that I had Asthma and put me on an inhaler Combivent, but, that was not helping my cough...and I have not had to use it since using the
Medral Dose Pak.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
nose and throat all go together allergy smallergy if it is drainging down the back of your throat then let it drain that means it is leaving your body it just takes time to do that i would have someone look at my nose to see if your tubines are enlarged and also why it is having a hard time leaving your body..
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Avatar universal
Hi, Im sorry your arent feeling well.

You wrote: "For the past 3 months am suffering severe throat prickling sensation with a dry cough and lot of thick mucus."

Where is the prickling sensation comming from in your throat.
Whick location in your throat, Is the prickling sensation in  your throat, or your neck?

You wrote: "I nearly went to 6 ENT specialists and out of them only one ENT specialist said that since my nasal septum is in "S" shape, surgery is required. So I took second surgical opinion and the doctor said that surgery is not needed and he also prescribed some medications. Still am not relieved from this pain."

It sounds like that doctor wanted to do a septoplasty to straighten out the cartlidge in your nose, only the one out of six said it was S shaped, dont you find that kind of odd?

Do you have any other symptoms?
Have you considered having your THYROID checked?
Somtimes thyroid problmes can mascarade as other things such as sinus, and post nasal drip and pain and inflmation in the face jaw and throat, and neck.
I mention this because I also had a prickly sensation in my neck and was due to thyroiditis. I had also been to many ENT's one wanted to do surgery too, even tho my septum and CT scans were stellar.

Christina




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Avatar universal
Hi,
   This is Vivek here. I want to discuss a peculiar problem with you. Hope anyone helps. For the past 3 months am suffering severe throat prickling sensation with a dry cough and lot of thick mucus. I nearly went to 6 ENT specialists and out of them only one ENT specialist said that since my nasal septum is in "S" shape, surgery is required. So I took second surgical opinion and the doctor said that surgery is not needed and he also prescribed some medications. Still am not relieved from this pain. Sometimes, I feel breathing problem also. For nearly 3 months, am on daily medsm Can anyone help me on this issue. Thanks...............
Helpful - 0
251132 tn?1198078822
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Here are some suggestions to help with the phlegm due to postnasal drip:  
Helpful - 0

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