Sjogren's with burning nose, thick mucus and headache symptoms

Limiting some dairy products, especially Greek yoghurt, and using NAC supplements 500mg 2X daily helps keep my mucus under control. And my nose isn't as stuffed during night 🙃

I have taken guaifenisen for years and it has helped. 400 mg. It has gotten harder to find. I prefer the plain without additives but. . . . There are plenty time release. My ENT's have said it can't hurt me. It is also the fibromyalgia protocol drug so it can help that, too. Costco used to sell big bottles of it. Now Walmart has little bottles of it. Not as good I don't think but. . . it works. It's a decongestant.

This is an interesting topic for me because in the past year it's been a big problem, or I should say another chronic problem to cope with. I've lived with Sjogrens for 30 years. Over the years I have more not less symptoms. I had Covid for the first time October 2024. Ever since that time I've had this thick mucus, even changes my ability to speak clearly. Sinus congestion too. I had come to think it was from Covid, some kind of long Covid problem. But when I read your post, I wonder if it could be Sjogren's. @lindatucson mentions guafenisen and I buy a generic and thought I was out of my mind when it helped! I mean, I thought that was just for colds and flu. Whatever is causing it, it always helps to get ideas about how to COPE!

How funny, I'm Linda in Tucson who has had Sjogrens since 1991, LOL. Guaif, has been my salvation because I also, have lupus, I think we all do here and it is a cellular disease so he have to clean the cells which I believe the guaif does. It's just a constant process. It keeps the swelling down in my joints and hands though. Hence why they call it the Fibromyalgia Protocal I think they still do on their page. It was a heavy protocal like 400 mg times a day. my ENT's all said it wouldn't hurt me and I took if for years. It was amazing how much better I felt. Pure quaif. No additives. Costco used to sell it but now they don't and it's gotten hard to find.

@lindatucson
That IS too funny! because 1991 is the exact year I started having Sjogrens symptoms. Even though this began before any RA symptoms, I ended up with a "Secondary Sjogrens" diagnosis. When you say "pure guaif." do you mean without decongestant medication? I am only able to get it without additives during cold and flu season. Because a few weeks ago I found it on the shelf for the first time since last Spring. What a relief! Thanks for your reply, very helpful.

@lindatucson try amazon

@jw I've recently found it in small bottles at Walmart.

Thank you for all of your responses, what a relief. I was feeling ignored and am so happy to find others with this. And it's unanimous!

I've been taking plan Mucinex 1200 for over a year and it hasn't cleared the thick mucus in my sinuses. The only active ingredient is Guaifenesin but there are lots of inactive ingredients.

I will buy the pure version of Guaif and stop taking the Mucinex. Is it a liquid? What dose did you start with?

Makes me wonder if my chronic post nasal drip was the onset of Sjogren's problems after a nasty bout of scarlet fever when I was 15. I find guafenesin extended release helpful also a Neti pot. I was not as badly affected as you. But I have had a lifetime of a blocked stuffy nose. I use the generic and find it works as well as th eproperietary but this may not be the case for others.

Just something to be aware of along with this information is to be sure you're septum is straight. A deviated septum is not unusual and can contribute to sinus problems. I just learned mine has been fairly significantly deviated on one side at 72 years of age and I have had ear and sinus issues since I was a child. I also have Sjogren's.