Hi, anyone have a runny nose ,( like a streaming cold ) with the cough when eating, it lasts only for a short time?

[quince]

[margie1]

i get a runny nose with a cough, but it's not a streaming cold. It only happens when i'm eating

i would like to know why we get this.

Hope you get it sorted soon

Marg

[sallym]

I also get a runny nose, lasts about 10 mins and stops. Not associated with anything like coughing.

It comes it goes and is thought to be caused by damage to the nerves during the operation.

My scar goes down the side of my neck not around the chest. I have known other people with the same problem. sally

[quince in reply to sallym]

Many thanks it would appear to all part of the process

[liz_crisp]

I also get a runny nose for about 10 mins and then it stops, no coughing. I know quite a few with this but it does seem to improve with time. We put it down to the Chemo as we had had different cancers.

[quince in reply to liz_crisp]

Thank you . Yes I remember the runny nose with chemo.

From the replies it would appear to all part of the process

[shamrock]

I always cough when starting to eat and end up sneezing only lasts a minute or so.

I am 26 months after op. Best of luck

Tim

[quince in reply to shamrock]

Many thanks

[abreynolds]

Hi Quince, I does happen to me sometimes, but never know when as it goes as quick as it comes, It must be one of the side effects with this op, Its been 6 years since my treatment, and as time goes by most of these side effects get less, Tony.

[quince]

Thank you, that the great thing about this site the information that comes from others who have been there..

[spanner16]

Hi, I'm five months post op and get a runny nose and sneeze after eating too - I'm glad to see that others experience this too!! I initially thought that maybe the op had made me intolerant to certain foods and my nurse even suggested an antihistemine (which didn't work by the way) so I'm glad to see I'm not unusual in this!

I now cope with this by permanently having a pocket pack of tissues in my bag.

[quince in reply to spanner16]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply, I have only just started to use this site and like you pleased to hear that others have the same problems.

[gutlesswonder]

These symptoms seem to be experienced by most of us .As is so often the case in medicine it is when things go wrong that it becomes possible to derive a theory by assessing what changed from the previous state.

Thus in my case I had these symptoms mildly for 17 years post-op and the Left Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve was thought to be implicated.The LRLN loops down from the neck into the chest ,passes around the Aorta and goes back up the neck to the Larynx .[ As an example of plumbing design it is crazy and is often cited as proof that Darwin and not so called 'intelligent

design' had the right answer ] Unfortunately this nerve is one of the most vulnerable when our surgeons removed as many as possible Lymph Nodes for examination for secondary spread.

Now three years ago I had to have my right Lung removed. As a result my left Lung has expanded ,pushed my Heart across towards the empty space on the right and in so doing seriously stretched the LRLN .My sneezing/coughing/wheezing has probably tripled in frequency and intensity.

So maybe the theory is correct -- one for the textbooks !

But it does go to show that we are all walking,talking experimental laboratories.Which is another reason why this site is so important for collecting,collating and disseminating information.

[quince in reply to gutlesswonder]

Thank you , 14months on I am getting there this site helps a lot .

[OPA_LarryR]

The reason that this is so common is that the vagus nerve is cut during an oesophagectomy and this impairs its many functions one of which is control and production of mucus.

I'm not totally conversant with the physiology but apparently it is pressure on the nerve that can cause this which is induced by eating/digestion.

[quince in reply to OPA_LarryR]

Thank you that helps

[Voodle]

Hi Quince, so how does it go? Still have the same symptoms when eating? I have the same stuff right now, and thinking it might be tied into my diet. Yesterday I made a lovely tuna pie with a dairy free cheese, eggs, tuna, and lots of fatty bacon. Throughout the eating of this pie, I experienced the same symptoms. Then this morning I had curried quinoa with kale and sweet potatoes, leftover meatloaf, and a big scoop of beef tallow. I have a dry palate so need a lot of moisture in my foods so it is easier for me to swallow. I hope it's not the fat. I've read that certain foods like saturated fat, dairy, eggs, and banana can contribute to excess mucus in one's system, which may cause post-nasal drip which could lead to our coughing. As for the runny nose, I am more likely to experience this when I eat the same foods repeatedly. I am seriously thinking of adopting a rotation diet for a short period to identify any suspect foods.

[quince in reply to Voodle]

Hi Voodle

Eating is good for me, have got into a good routine with what works for me - most things are fine as long as I don't eat too much at a time. Recently tried a small fillet steak which I had not had for along time, was fine with a salad. Eating out sometimes can be tempted to order to much, portions in resturants can be an issue. Two starters work well rather than a starter and main. Still get the running nose if I eat to much and occasional will bring up a foam but no food. 20 months post op my wright is stable having health snacks in between smallish meals.