Phlegm in my throat and post nasal drip after Covid

I've been suffering from this since 2021, and nothing has helped. I was just advised to use budesonide as a nasal rinse, so I will start that tonight before bed. Have you tried budesonide as a nasal rinse?

My congestion, drainage, runny nose, etc. are greatly reduced since taking a 1 week course of antibiotics. Took last pill Friday. I’m not sure how long it will lasts. This is amazing. I guess I keep my appointment with allergist nonetheless. My voice is finally sounding normal again.

has anyone had a chest xray showing "mucus plugging", i suspect this is from long covid, i too have the same symptoms as all of you

I too saw ENT early on when my symptoms started but I didn’t get any help from her. Pulmonary diagnosed Covid induced asthma and rx’d albuterol and symbicort. Symbicort was too much. I use albuterol infrequently but it does help especially in cold weather and seasonally. Allergy/immunology was a huge help discovering allergies that I’d never had before and since I already knew I had bad reflux that ppi’s made worse (ended up being allergic to them too), she RX’s cromolyn sodium (CS) and said that covid can trigger an immune response that activates mast cells. Mast cells in the stomach trigger acid production. CS is used for MCAS MCAD and it has helped a lot.

I ended up going back to s different ENT after almost 2 years. They did a CT of the sinuses and found multiple problems.

My symptoms:
-thick phlegm in throat initially that was impossible to clear.
-chest pain
-cough
- hoarseness
- anxiety
Over time once my stomach issue started calming down (over two years in) I was left with extreme dryness, thick phlegm that did not drain into my throat but was caught up in between sinuses and throat that required snorting and hacking to try to get rid of it.

New ENT ended up rx’ing azithromycin. He said it was based on a study out of Australia. It’s a low-dose long-term treatment. I take 250 mg. 3x/wk, MWF for 3 months then see him for a FU. I’m in wk.3 snd I do think it’s working. I’m not suffering from hoarseness as much. I’m still dry but not as bad. And I’m hopeful which after 2 1/2 years is a good thing.

The issue he said stems from overactive mast cells (again!) from a continued effort to battle the virus. It has destroyed the cilia in the nasal passages (maybe sinus too.?, not certain). Anyway he said it’s created a sort of dermatitis and that patients have responded really well to the long term azithromycin treatment.

Celia, I did two rounds of antibiotics and experienced relief too. Until during the week after going off of them it all came back. See my response that I just entere here about the low-dose long-term treatment that I’m now on.

Wow, that’s amazing. I will check it out. Since stopping the antibiotic, my symptoms have returned and the bitter taste has resumed with no improvement. Sigh. I’m really disappointed, as I had hoped I was on the road to recovery with that,

Yes!! I had very early Covid (Jan 2020) and tried convincing myself for years my persistent cough was allergies or construction dust seeping into my apt from outside.
My doc finally put me on Flonase and that hasn’t done much.
The Long Covid Center wasn’t helpful - now they’re defunded.

After Covid knocked out my immune system I developed both ET which is a chronic leukemia and POTS - all from long Covid.

I’m in Philly and will soon see a pulmonologist - it takes 7 months for a new patient to see a pulmonologist at UPenn. If you’re thinking of arranging a consult make an appt asap because it’s a long wait. It’s discouraging but I try to remain hopeful.

If you have a persistent cough you probably have other symptoms, too.
Recently I developed more trouble with balance - I use compression knee socks and drink water with extra hydration packets (Liquid IV or TipTop). A cane didn’t help and I’m not emotionally ready for a Walker so I use my little shopping cart for balance.

A suggestion…. When you visit your doc bring a list of all your symptoms.
I never imagined so many seemingly unrelated symptoms were connected.
Good luck and don’t give up!

I get it. I remember seeing you on here as long as I’ve been, like two years! It’s definitely a long haul.

To recap for you:
What it boils down to in my years of visits with multiple doctors/specialist is an inflammatory response from overactive mast cells. This is directly from Allergy/ Immunology (A/I) and ENT but applies to my respiratory and GI issues as well) Like they went into high gear when confronted by the virus but they didn’t stop. This was only after doctors treated me as some kind of crazy freak and denied a Covid connection.

My best treatments:
*Cromolyn Sodium liquid/ H2 blockers-Famotodine - (I had a dozen ulcers in stomach and esophagus/ these worked) from Allergy/Immunology (GI rx’d PPIs
* Albuterol (fr. Pulmonary: I have normal PFTs but due to symptoms they diagnosed Covid induced asthma) and Montelukast (first from Pulmonary/ again from A/I but I have multiple drug allergies/sensitivities, Montelukast is one/cant do it regularly but I’ve gone back and forth and know it helps)
*Azithromycin - from ENT; I discussed above low dose/long term. (Short durations of amoxicillin and Amoxi-Clav worked only while on them)

Good luck with your Pulmonary visit. Have you seen Allergy/Immunology?

No, I’ve seen my cardiologist for pots and oncologist for chronic leukemia.
I’ll try your suggestion - thanks!