Post Nasal Drip/bad breath throat issue

[Slygirl1980]

For years I've been suffering with bad breath as a result of post nasal drip, sinus infections etc. My oral hygiene is brilliant and brush sometimes up to 5 times daily due to bad breath. I've seen the dentist on regular visits and have even had teeth removed as I thought they must be the source of my bad breath as I am meticulous when it comes to brushing. I have tried so many different products that claim to illiminate this problem to no avail. My breath smells like sulphuric acid and my mouth does taste the same. Chewing gum or mints make the condition worst and dry my mouth out. I can taste a metalic taste in my mouth most times and have even tried cleaning my mouth out with vinegar. Sad to same my tongue is not happy about that and the problem persist. I've been to the ENT docs who kept saying nothing is wrong just dose your nose with bicarbonate soda. Worst recommendation as anything goes up my nose drips down my throat and builds up bacteria. Worst I have a netipot which gives me brain freeze at times and block my ears which is painful and feel like I'm dying. I've had a weeks antibiotics but this was not enough as the bacteria is still there, need a longer course I guess. I know I can 't live off antibiotics one mth to the next. I can smell the bad taste in my mucus each I swallow at the back of my throat. I feel like doctors don't hear when I speak as they dont have that problem. I've become an introvert, and find it difficult to speak to ones or form relationships as a result of this. My job requires me to speak and be near people on a daily basis..bad breath is killing me. I feel like gargling my throat with bleach to kill the damn germs but no this would kill me instead. Help!! Need help to find out what can be done about my nasal cavity and bad breath in throat for good as not even prescription nasal sprays work. My doc has written another letter to ENT docs but no doubt I'll be treated like a bothersome child on my next visit..so fed up.

[Ppriest]

Your OP is, to the letter, how my life has been, for since middle school. It robbed me of everything. But the worst part is doctors telling me they don't smell anything. Let me know if you run into a miracle cure and not a snake oil.

Damn it, I can't even date.

[Slygirl1980]

Thanks Dr Anitha. I received my appointment letter for the ENT Hospital for the 23 April. I use steroid nasal sprays but they too drain down the back of my throat and I guess settles and build up on any other bacteria down there as when I check my breath after it smells weird. I discovered a cheese like thing on one of my tonsils recently, a small amount which smelled like Sulphuric acid and disgusting. I've since removed it but my breath stills smell funny and my mouth seems to dry out a lot. I wake up most mornings with a headache at the front on my face and look puffy as if I've got a cold.

I'm worried that the same ENT doc I saw last is the one I'll be seeing again and he dismiss me with Bicarbonate Soda as remedy to resolve my issues which only made it worst. I'm not sure if it's that my body can't handle the different chemical compounds and so react with pungent chemical reactions with some times a zinc taste. Sometimes when I clean my nose out before I go bed there is a little blood mixed with mucus on the tissue and smells foul  as usual.

You recommend a Neti pot, I have one and as I mentioned everything goes down and settles in the back of my throat even when I don't intend to and I sometimes get a built up of pressure when the liquid hits nerves or something I get a weird brain freeze and ear ache.


Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and understand your anxiety. Your symptoms of bad foul smell in the nose and mouth could be due to sinus infections. They are due to stasis and infection of the sinus cavities, and the resultant drainage into the nose and mouth causes the bad smell. If you do have a chronic sinus infection, typical antibiotic treatment is for 4-6 weeks.  A nasal steroid spray is also beneficial as well as oral steroids.  Nasal saline irrigations over the counter like NeilMed or Neti pot are very effective, but worsen Eustachian tube dysfunction (water in the ears or feeling of fullness in the ears).  The best diagnosis for this problem is a CT of the sinuses. Surgery is recommended to patients that fail maximal medical treatment. Please discuss this with your doctor am sure he will provide further assistance. Regards.