Constant cough, post nasal drip, and swollen sinuses and throat

[jimdc58]

I have, over the last approximately 15-20 years suffered from swelling of the back of the tongue and the throat, and of the sinus cavities, perpetual unproductive cough, continual sinus drainage down the back of the throat and sometimes to the front of the nose, and overall fatigue and depression as a result. It has gotten so bad that I have had to give up the running and sports in which I used to participate. It is a hindrance to my overall quality of life. I have had several courses of immunotherapy over my life, beginning as a child, and currently. I last suffered asthma when I was 12. I have since taken several spirometry tests and a methacholine challenge test which all proved negative. I have had a bronchoscopy taken which showed nothing, but also had a nasal endoscopy resulting in decision to perform septoplasty. This relieved the stuffy noses I was having, but drainage and cough have worsened. (NOTE: I question whether this is a cause of my increased coughing problems.) Other tests taken have been upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy (negative), thyroid function tests (showed normal), nasal endoscopy (showed no changes since septoplasty), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (showed normal), and laryngoscopy of vocal cords (showed normal; however it found thickened and boggy nasal turbinates), blood gas test (showed normal). Have found LARGE doses of prednisone help greatly (methylprednisolone, less so), but also cause side effects. Am currently taking Astelin and Rynatan as a steady regimen and Flonase semi-regularly. I am at my wit's end....any other ideas?

[yamisick]

Hello. Ok, I've finally found people willing to talk about these symptoms and the possibility that there is somthing going on here. I also have been to countless doctors who try to tell me that I have allergies, a sinus infection or a cold. The problem here is that it never goes away. I can relate to everything that you have all said here on this board. I also have noticed that other people around me catch this, including my boyfriend and co-workers. Has anyone else noticed that this is contagious? And then I think that what happens is that eveyone is so embarrased to talk about it and they just try to cover mask the symptoms. It all started for me with a severe flu like sickness. It was different than all other colds that I've ever had. This was about 6 years ago. The symptoms seem to just keep getting worse. I am hoping that the doctors on this panel decide to tackle this once and for all. If there is no cure, if this is some kind of  virus, I at least want to know what I am dealing with. I think that possibly the CDC even knows of this virus and information is being held from the public. I do believe that it is spreading, because I am running into more and more people every day who seem to be affected by the same strange never ending symptoms.

[Axeman]

I've had the same symptoms every autumn for the last 4 years and it typically lasts for about 3 months. The problems seem to start as soon as I catch a cold and began when I lived in Canada. I'm now living in Florida and I still get it.

Drystan tablet used to be the only thing that offered me any relief but it put me to sleep all the time (not good at the office). Finally, I tried using Mucinex DM and I can finally talk at work and sleep through the night. I've tried a less potent copy from Walgreen but it stops after 3 hours. The Mucinex lasts longer than 4 hours with no other side effects.

I realize it's not a cure but being able to sleep through the night has done a lot for my state of mind (and my marriage).

I hope this helps someone out there.

Sleeping in Florida.

[Scottynik]

I've been told to try 1 TBSP of apple cider vinegar per day.  I have anxiety attacks because of my sinus problems.  I'm too afraid to try this.  Can someone please try it and let me know if it's ok and works.

[sam22uk]

Finally... other people on the Internet with such similar symptoms as me.

I've had my respiratory problems since I was a baby - i'm now 22 and still I have not found a doctor who has been able to help me.

They keep putting me on useless hayfever tablets, nasal sprays which just do not work at all. The nasal sprays give me relief for about 5 minutes max. I'm now on a variety of inhalers which are also not working. I had a low lung capacity reading... but I know I do not have athsma. I can run for miles and not have difficulty breathing... it's just all the mucus getting in my way. The inhalers have not helped get rid of my chronic cough at all.

My main symptons are either constantly blocked up or runny nose which is also painful especially on the bridge of my nose. I have a lot of ear pain which is especially painful when I blow my nose. The glands in my throat are generally always swolen. I literally and contantly always blowing my nose. I have lungs which feel like they are constantly full of mucus / water - I'm coughing most of the time.

I find this embarrasing and it is also an inconvenience to me as well, especially when I used to be at school and now at work. I don't want to have to blow my nose in the office every two seconds so I often have to leave it blocked and then keep leaving the office to go blow my nose and cough up mucus in the loos (bathroom).

I also find that all the mucus in my lungs and nose affects the way I sound when I speak. Does this happen to anyone else? I sound like a little kid talking and have no real projection because I can't breathe through my nose. I really really hate this.

I have to breathe in really deeply to cough up the muck in my lungs and lately this has been causing me pain in my ribs and sometime when I breathe in deeply it hurts. It's not a terrible pain but it's noticeable - kind of hard to describe. I also get pains in my side.

All of this is very hard to describe to my doctor and am getting so impactient waiting for something that will work. I'm sick of all these silly diagnosis such as sinusitus, rhinitus etc... because what I have is so much more complicated than that.

I had allergies tests when younger. I cut out as much dairy as possible and this does reduced my problem but still does not get rid of it. I'm not meant to have sugar either... but trying to find foods that are completely sugar and dairy free is near impossible.

Can anyone please help with treatments thay have had or give me any opinions as to what I have written above please?

[man-man]

Does anyone know anything that I can use for Post-Nasal Bad Breath?

Does anyone know abot a laser treatment to remove Tonsilliths and Bad Breath?

[lelly]

Hi,

This is a question to Ingana mostly.  Do you use mostly powdered detergents?  I've found a lot of people are irritated by these.  Try washing clothes with a liquid detergent (like All Free & Clear).  I found out that I have a lot less sneezing & wheezing, problems, etc. now.

I don't have the problem with the dish washer - but this is because I use a brand that has crystals not powder.

Another thing that I'm going to try is raising the head of my bed by several inches with those bed raisers that different
stores have for sale.  Several folks have told me that once they got the raisers/risers this helped them extremely.

Later,
Lelly