Update, although I have had a nasal drip and some phlegm , since then I have been better. No inflamed lungs to report. It may be bc of masks when I’m out. I also haven’t been working directly with students.
Well, I'm going to go completely contrary to the above on this. You have a problem without a diagnosis. I'm baffled as to why you're being given antibiotics when you don't state having been diagnosed with anything antibiotics would be helpful to treat. If you take them, they kill off a major part of a healthy immune system, the beneficial organisms that die off along with the bacteria you're trying to kill, and if you take them often they can cause chronic problems such as yeast infections, digestive problems, and, well, allergies. The CDC has long been warning against the use of antibiotics for this reason unless they are absolutely necessary, and they are not necessary if you haven't been tested and found to test positive for something they can actually treat. They don't treat allergies, and post-nasal drip is a classic allergy problem. One common cause of it is second-hand smoke exposure. Another are seasonal allergies, which you are probably suffering from as spring is here. Others are pollutants and foods you are either allergic to or intolerant to, the most common of these being wheat and dairy. A constant array of meds that don't treat what y0u have but treat what you might have may be making this get worse and worse. I don't know, of course, but am suggesting that you have a common problem that has been made a lot worse by doctors, which is extremely common in our drug first ask questions later medical system. Again, I don't know what you have or have had, only suggesting you haven't said after seeing doctors what it is you might have that would actually respond to the meds you're continually taking. Perhaps it's time to focus on balancing your immune system, which has been stressed to the point you're constantly getting sick and have chronic allergies. It's not an easy problem to fix, as it requires dietary and lifestyle changed and takes time, but maybe it's time to ease up on yourself rather than keep going hard on killing stuff off. That hasn't seemed to have worked. I'd focus on prebiotics and probiotics, eating well, losing that weight, exercising, you know, the usual, and maybe some natural anti-histamines such as quercitin and bromelain and vitamin c combinations and many other things that may or may not help but won't make the problem worse. This is just a thought, not a diagnosis, again, I don't know, but I've had post-nasal drip in my life. It was worst when I was young and lived with my parents who both smoked. It hasn't been a chronic problem since, but allergies have been. They are really uncomfortable, but are a lot less of a problem than the medications used to suppress them quite often. Just a thought. Also, how do you know you're getting colds? Are they caused by allergies? They can be, and when they are, really, only an immune system that isn't working too hard, which is why we have allergies, will calm them down, though probably won't entirely get rid of them. So either you have got something that can be treated or you don't and are being treated anyway, making it worse. You need to find out which it is. Peace.
Diana, the following also occurs to me: azithromycin (as in Z-pack) is being talked about as a possible med against coronavirus induced lung problems. It's well known as an antibiotic, but also has antiviral activity and also is anti-inflammatory. Maybe a doc can write that so you can have some on hand if you get suddenly worse. Just a thought.
Otherwise, if in fact your problem originates in the lungs and yet antihistamines haven't helped much: have you tried an anti-leukotriene like montelukast?
"the drip in the back of my throat is always a lot."
Hi, I literally just happened to come across this vid from an ENT, and remembered your post:
"Causes of Constant Phlegmy Throat or Throat Mucus"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk5saygEvA8
It's about going for years and trying all standard meds, with no help.
There's an associated web page that seems better than the vid, which suggests sleeping with the head of the bed elevated. You can try that tonight, as a shot in the dark.
https://www.fauquierent.net/phlegmymucusthroat.htm
At least that vid and page gives you an overview from an ENT's perspective.
Hello, well, a whole week has passed. I"m sorry no one answered you. How are you feeling now??