Post Nasal Drip driving me mad!!

[caico]

Since Christmas I have had the flu, a stomach bug and have just got over a bad cold. Unfortunately, since then I have had constant post nasal drip down the back of my throat. The nights are the worse as want to sleep but need to stay propped up otherwise I am coughing/constantly swallowing from the mucus that pools at the back of my throat. This does not help the fibro as my neck/sides ache more because of the propped up position. My poor husband has also been sleeping in the spare bed for the last two weeks just to get some decent shut eye. Also, the last few days I have partially lost my voice as the vocal chords have been irritated by the mucus. No infection as my temperature is ok.

Where I live there are many silver birch/fir trees which greatly affect my tree pollen allergy which kicks in about this time. So not sure if its my tree allergy or after affects from the various viruses. I am taking antihistamines, massaging my sinus areas on my face, drinking plenty of fluids (not alcohol/caffeine/tea, plus I do not smoke) and gargling with salty water. The only medication I take these days is nightly paracetamol.

Of course, I cannot get to see a GP for another 10 days - yay! I think I will make an appointment to see my acupuncturist as he normally eases the pollen allergy.

PLEASE, has anyone on the forum any thoughts or ideas - or just some reassurance that they are in the same boat(:

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hi there, you certaintly have been going threw the Mill as the saying goes, where I live im near a big wooded area and lots of trees in the area so like you I do think allergies are playing a part . Central heating does not help

so cannot wait for that too go off and windows open. I do get headaches so I’m am leaning more too allergies are causing me problems, I was told take spray Beconase morning and evening by the doc. You like me are drinking lots of fluids, I do massage my Sinuses I do think that helps and I use a headache balm from a company I’ve used a fair while called Herbs on the hill online as I’m in Suffolk and they have a shop in Somerset . Sometimes I ring the surgery as they get a cancellation and I’ve got in on the day, not helpful having too wait 10 days , take care xx

[caico in reply to Yassytina]

Thank you for your kind reply. Take care as well

[CheetieCat]

I have the opposite, mine is so dry + nippy. Have you tried a sinus wash? NeilMed is the one I use, it's basically just a saline wash in one nostril and out the other. They do nasal sprays too. Sudafed, Sinutab tablets for sinus issues are good. Hot drinks like a hot lemonade, fruity teas etc.. you're doing all that already. Prop the mattress up from underneath with pillows or cushions then you won't have to prop yourself up as much when you lie down & hopefully it'll take some of the pressure off your back & sides. Hope you feel better soon x

[Tommygurl in reply to CheetieCat]

My daughter bought me the sinus wash , I felt like it wasn't going away, am glad she did it cleared it up x

[caico]

I hadn't thought about propping up my mattress - thank you for that and your kind reply. Take care

[Loobielu]

Mad as it sounds, a hot water bottle on my face helps me! Apart from that it sounds like you and everyone else has it covered. Problems with sinuses is bloody awful. My hayfever season starts soon and I'm absolutely dreading it 😬. Take care, all the best x

[caico in reply to Loobielu]

That is what I think it is as the dreaded tree pollen kicks in around now for spring and I live in an area of a lot of trees. It's either my eyes or nose which gets affected but this year it has started up a nasal drip. The lack of sleep just gets to me! Thank you for your message and take care - good luck with your hayfever

[Silverstorm]

I was told steam helps with this and was advised to get a facial steamer (although a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head works just as well!)

[caico in reply to Silverstorm]

I have a shower every day at the moment to create a facial steamer which really helps. Getting through the day is ok but lack of sleep at night being propped up really irks me. Thank you for your message and take care

[bourne]

Have you tried 111 explaining you need a sooner appointment as it effects other conditions it's worth a go they can phone your gp on your behalf good luck

[caico in reply to bourne]

I have got an earlier appointment thank you. Thank you and take care

[Elizahl]

Hi I had this issue for 2 years until I finally went on antihistamine daily and a nasal spraybtwice daily it helps a lot. If it is particularly bad I will take a 2nd antihistamine but only shirt term on gp advice. A warm compress helps relieve some of the pressure to and nasal rinse the odd time. Hope this helps it is very hard to live with good luck

[caico in reply to Elizahl]

Thank you for your kind message. I am taking a nasal spray and antihistamine daily now as feel its my tree pollen spring allergy kicking into life and unfortunately, compounding the post nasal drip from my last virus. At least my voice has mainly come back. If I can get through the nights being propped up then the days are not so bad. Take care

[Nipper11]

Bless you, I too have had the flu for 5 weeks and still coughing plus all the symptoms you had. The only thing that is helping me is a humidifier, which I brought of amazon, which is doing the tick less coughing and less mucus and using in the bedroom at night and my living room . Has definitely improved my symptoms and cleans the air of all sorts . I also took honey and lemon to cut down the mucus, which was making me sick. I brought a bottle of Cavonia cough medicine for mucus cough, and that has also helped me get rid of the mucus nightmare. It's working for me. Hope you're better very soon . Give these tips a go as my mucus was very bad to the point of making me sick . Good luck, big hugs.

[caico in reply to Nipper11]

Thank you for your message. I hope you are feeling much better. It is bad enough having fibro without all the extra baggage that comes with crummy viruses. Fortunately, I have not yet been sick with the mucus as found nights are the worse for me. The cough has finally gone away - just need to get rid of the nightly dripping. Take care

[AlphaWolf5195]

Hi

I suffer from post nasal drip as well, I have had it for several years, which does cause me to cough sometimes and can feel like I have always got something stuck in my throat.

I don’t know what sets it off and sometimes it is worse than others. I also suffer from an itchy roof of the mouth, I don’t know whether the 2 things are related or not. I have found that using a wedge pillow to sleep on has helped a bit with the post nasal drip, it doesn’t cure it but it doesn’t seem quite as bad since I have been using it. I also take Fexofenadine (allergy meds) daily and use Sterimar Breathe Easy Nasal spray several times a day, this is a 100% Natural Sea Water based nasal spray, my GP prescribes this for me but you can buy it (I had bad side effects with the medicated nasal sprays my GP prescribed).

I hope you find the root of your problem and can get some relief as I know how bad it can be.

[caico in reply to AlphaWolf5195]

Oh dear poor you. I have only had the drip for two/three weeks and the lack of sleep at night because I am propped up has really got to me. I shall have a look on Amazon for the nasal spray you suggested otherwise I can pop into my local chemist. Thank you for your kind message and take care

[KimiJay]

I think there has been some sort of cold virus going around. My hubs and I have both had runny noses and sore throats. Could just be that. He catches things when he goes out and brings them home to me. Neighbours have had things like that that have hung on for ages. That's our experience too. It all just takes ages to go. Wretched innit! Sounds like you have been doing all the right things to get through it though.

One suggestion perhaps is to try using some 'local' honey as that evidently can help with pollen allergies. There are some trees beginning to flower right now and other plants even if no bees.

Other than that it has been cold and wet and we have all been unnerved by covid. Lets hope for some good weather soon. Hope it all resolves soon for you.

[caico in reply to KimiJay]

Many thanks for your honey suggestion. Take care

[saj01]

Hi, It sounds a bit like sinusitis so you might need some antibiotics for it. The other thing which might help is getting a neti pot , if you haven't got one already and rinse out your nasal cavities with salt water.....

I've got mometasone nasal spray but I think it's not available over the counter.??

Take care x

[caico]

I have brought some nasal salt water spray and also gargling with salt water as my throat is still sore. Thank you for your suggestions and take care