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Mucus in throat, PPIs didn’t work, need advice.
Hello
First time posting.
Been having really bad throat mucus,
and can’t get a resolution.
Apologies for the slightly long post, I want to make sure I put everything in.
My DR was still phone only so I couldn’t get any in person diagnosis.
Finally got a referral for an ENT appt,
he did a scope, said he saw “frothy mucus”, with no deviated septum, and put me on Pantaprozole and said to follow up in 2 months. At 2 months, no improvement, so I called back for a follow-up and the ENT office was closed and they never responded to my voice mails or messages. (!)
Turns out he just sent an email to my Dr suggesting an appt with a GERD specialist. My DR of almost 20 years had just left her practice and the new DR was going in, and was swamped due to taking over so it was months behind until l I was able to get an appt (phone only, still wasn’t doing in person).
Turns out the email was lost in the shuffle.
I also managed to get an allergist appt and everything came up clean, and he suggested non-allergenic rhinitis or GERD related.
So all that said and done, my GERD appt is not until January. Everyday I have what feels like a huge clog in my throat and it’s impacting my daily life. I bought a wedge pillow, gave up coffee, alcohol, gluten as well as dairy for 3 months and still no relief.
I hydrate all the time and drink chamomile tea just after dinner. It seems to get aggravated by anxiety (or other way around).
I’ve also tried a Neti pot, nasal rinses, and Flonase. The “head over boiling water with a towel over my head” seems to bring temporary relief though. I don’t have runny nose, watery eyes, coughing or sneezing, or chest congestion. I do have nasal congestion that seems to switch sides though. But the throat mucus is brutal, so I’m hoping I can get some advice on how to take it down a bit until at least my GERD appt in January. Cheers !
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Hello @canada2022 and welcome to Connect. As I read your post, I can understand why you are reaching out and looking for suggestions and support. While we are not medical professionals, but patients like yourself, we can share our experiences but not diagnose health issues.
With that said, I can see that you have had a difficult time getting appointments and the necessary evaluations. Is it possible to get an appointment at a multi-disciplinary health care center like a university medical school or a facility like Mayo Clinic?
You mentioned the problem of mucus and I'm wondering if you have any speech or swallowing problems?
Hi Theresa
Thx for replying.
No speech or swallowing problems, just the crazy throat mucus and bad nasal congestion. Here in Canada we don’t access to the private setups they do in the U.S.
We have free healthcare but the wait times can be long,
and you can only see specialists with a referral from your doctor. So until I have my GERD appt in January, I was hoping to see if anyone has the same issues I do and could offer and advice on how they deal with it. Cheers !
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1 ReactionYou can try to: stay hydrated and drink water often, stop spicy foods, and even before going to the gastroenterologist you can try to treat the GERD with a different medication, such as pepcid/famotidine, which is over the counter. Also, see that you took the medication in the proper manner.
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1 ReactionI have acid reflux as well as non allergic rhinitis. After visiting with my gastroenterologist about the mucus in my throat that causes me to cough, she suggested taking Mucinex when needed. Yes, I have been tested by my ENT. He suggested it was acid reflux.
Frustrating, yes! It like going in a circle.
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1 ReactionHello again, @canada2022
I'm glad to hear that you don't have speech/swallowing problems. I've had that as well and it is difficult to eat without problems.
I'm sure that you have probably read about GERD, but here is some additional information from Mayo Clinic's website, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940. You might find the information under "Diagnosis and Treatment" to be helpful.
You mentioned sleeping on a wedge pillow. Have you tried elevating the top of your bed using risers? Also, getting a bed that can be elevated is very helpful.
As I have had reflux (GERD) for a number of years as well as a paralyzed vocal cord I have seen numerous otolaryngologists and recently I was told about a natural product called Alginate. A group of doctors developed this non-prescription product called "Relux Gourmet." I have used it and it does work quite well for me as a barrier from GERD. Here is a website where you can read more about it, https://refluxgourmet.com/the-science-of-alginate-therapy/. The product can be ordered through Amazon.
Will you keep in touch and let me know if you have any other questions?
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4 ReactionsMy husband also has rhinitis and had choking mucus in his throat he could not move. Turns out he has a gluten allergy. When he stopped eating gluten, mucus went away. When he does eat mucus I can hear him clearing his throat again. We have been married 53 years and ever since I knew him he has bad gas in his stomach, literally passing gas 50+ times a day. Stopped eating gluten, gas went away too.
Hi since you have nasal congestion nd have mucus I would use a nasal spray. I use Nasonex. It's prescription. In the U S Flonase is over the counter. Try it if you can get. Good luck and feel better.
My husband has the same thing! Says it’s like paste in his throat and he’s constantly clearing his throat! It keeps him up at night! His nose will close up and he has to use Afrin durning the night to breathe! He did take a Kenolog shot durning allergy season and that helped the stuffy nose for about 3 months! He has tried PPI’s to see if it’s gerd but that didn’t work either! Saw on the long Covid site that a lot of those people have it after getting Covid but his started before! Maybe someone out there might have something that works! Must be an awful feeling☹️
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1 ReactionI'm having these exact symptoms! Would live to hear how it goes.
Your experience of offices letting you fall through the cracks is happening EVERYWHERE. Our system is failing us. Seems it's all they can do is keep up the computer work so they get paid. All the boxes they check are wrong. Patient denies this and that when patient hasn't denied any of it.
I have the same issue as you describe, no answers except the same PPI's. The old cookie cutter protocols are not working.
Wish I could be of some help to you other than saying you are not alone.