Continued Post-Nasal Drip and Constant Mucus in Throat

Posted by adominic @adominic, Mar 22, 2022

I was sick the last week or January/first week of February. Home Test-negative, rapid PCR-negative. All COVID symptoms and known prolonged exposure to infected individuals make me believe it was COVID. Since then, I have had a tremendously hard time dealing with post-nasal drip and mucus collecting in my throat. It is clear, sticky and almost impossible to remove from throat by coughing or clearing my throat. Flonase does nothing, allergy pills do nothing. Had anyone else had an issue like this post COVID? How long did it last? What did you do to cope? Small problem in comparison to others that post here, I realize.

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@linh

I had problematic post-nasal drip with mucus collecting in my throat & my COVID-19 tests were negative too. The only thing that worked for me was regular nasal rinses plus gargling with warm salt water. I took me a year to get up the courage to do nasal rinsing. I did it out of desperation and lo and behold it worked. Once I became proficient at it, it was no big deal after all.

A sibling recommended adding lemon juice to the daily water I drunk. A dental specialist had recommended adding lemon juice to her following a dental procedure, to cut down bacteria. I followed this advice too. This sibling uses a infrared sauna mounted in her closet to keep her sinus passages open. I have heard these should not be used with cardiac issues however.

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First contracted Covid 19 in January 2020 from students returning to Canadian classrooms from China and Filipines. Continued congestion with recurrent Covid infection and after receiving the mandatory covid vaccines. Since the first infection until now, 3 years later, I have been plagued with a sticky clear phlegm. Initially it was much thicker and seemed to have properties of super glue, almost adhering my fingers together, and being very difficult to expell. Taking over the counter mucus relief pill 2 times daily relieves coughing but mucus continues to be with me now whereas prior to Covid infections and vaccines characteristics of my mucus were much different, even during 3 separate bouts of pnuemonia. When students use stink bombs at school, I notice odors of suphur are trapped within this mucus in my sinuses, leaving me exposed to chronic odors with associative discomfortfor days. This was never expereinced prior to Covid 19.

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@cedarbreeze

First contracted Covid 19 in January 2020 from students returning to Canadian classrooms from China and Filipines. Continued congestion with recurrent Covid infection and after receiving the mandatory covid vaccines. Since the first infection until now, 3 years later, I have been plagued with a sticky clear phlegm. Initially it was much thicker and seemed to have properties of super glue, almost adhering my fingers together, and being very difficult to expell. Taking over the counter mucus relief pill 2 times daily relieves coughing but mucus continues to be with me now whereas prior to Covid infections and vaccines characteristics of my mucus were much different, even during 3 separate bouts of pnuemonia. When students use stink bombs at school, I notice odors of suphur are trapped within this mucus in my sinuses, leaving me exposed to chronic odors with associative discomfortfor days. This was never expereinced prior to Covid 19.

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A Respiratory Therapist once recommended to me putting lemon and local honey in water for throat irritations. If I remember right this was added to a warm water gargle. As what you have sounds like it originated from overseas, I don't know that local honey would do the trick. My leaning and what I have done in the past for symptoms unrelieved by conventional medicine is to turn to acupuncture. I have had some success with it, just avoid a training school, seek the experienced hand should you feel inclined to give it a try as well.

I noticed on the online Mayo Clinic Store sells an interesting product called Soothing Scents. The product they display online currently relieves nausea, but I Googled Soothing Scents and they have a website that shows their whole product line. This might help you with the trapped odor you had mentioned. I need to order one of their scents myself as I just had a re-roof and my house smells like tar. Good luck with finding solutions that relieve your discomfort.

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@budreaur

I’ve been having the issue for about 17 months. Give or take. So bad I considered ending my life. It’s that bad. I can’t have chocolate or ice cream or milk they make it ten times worse. I’ve been to Five ENTs a specialist at OSU Wexner, Medical Center, ear, nose, and throat. I had a CT scan done of my face I’ve gone for allergy testing and swallow testing. I’ve spent $1000 or more on sprays and pills and testing. I thought it was we medication I was taking so I quit taking the medication because the medication exacerbates the problem. After grossing out my family and friends and living with a spit bottle by my side every where I go. I came to the harsh realization o have to live like this. Because even the most prominent ENT specialists and Rhynologist in Michigan and Ohio can’t find the issue. The last specialist put my on Zoloft thinking it was mental and like a “tick”. NOTHING HAS HELPED. Today a buddy said “it’s probably from the Covid vaccines” and sent me this link. Sure as s#%t it all started when I got my first vaccine. I also go two boosters.

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I’m experiencing the same thing and I know how difficult this is to manage. All that extra drainage has probably affected your taste as well-it’s done that for me as well. I’m finding it impossible to wear my dentures for the last 2 years because of the constant need to remove them and clear my throat and mouth. I don’t even try to wear them anymore because it’s a waste of time. I suffer from dry mouth and my dentist has ordered me a rx mouthwash that I use sparingly because it dries my mouth out so much it feels like a desert in there. I’m wondering if this approach would help control your excessive secretions. Also tea can be very effective in drying up secretions. I’m sorry you’re suffering with this side effect.

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@mindalina

I tested positive on June 29 of this year. I had the same symptoms after I had COVID. The symptoms lasted for about a week after I finally tested negative. Now, after about three weeks post COVID I began having pain in my upper back and sides when inhaling. I had to go to an urgent care clinic. The doctor believes it is due to inflammation caused by COVID. The chest X-ray was normal. I was prescribed Naproxen and Prednisone. I've been on the medications for two days and I'm still having pain upon inhaling, although it's a little better.

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I had covid Jan 2022 on my 40th birthday. Not bad at all, but had to stay home for 5 days. I have had super thick, rubber-like mucus in my sinuses and throat, but I can never clear my throat. My chest and upper back hurt from constantly clearing my throat. The only thing I haven't had is a chest x-ray as my primary doesn't think I need one. This has literally taken over my day to day life. I pray that we find something to remedy this!

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@luca79

has anyone of us with post nasal drip, turbinates hypertrophy?

I was reading that turbinates hypertrophy may cause post nasal drip.
My ent told me I have a light turbinates hypertrophy, but he says this has nothing to do with pnd.
and you?

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I had a sinus infection March 2020, could've been covid but no fever or symptoms besides sinus trouble. I called the doctor and they order antibiotics over the phone. That didn't really help. Called back a couple weeks later and they ordered stronger antibiotics. These didn't really help. Since then, I have had tons of mucus and sinus pressure in my head and I am constantly clearing my throat but nothing comes up. My friends say I sound like an outboard motor. My primary care sent me to an ENT and he immediately ordered my to have my nasal turbinates reduced even though they were only slightly swollen. Fast forward to April 2021, I received the Pfizer vaccine (two shots two weeks apart) which I regret. I don't recall having throat clearing before I had the vaccine.
Anywho, I am so lost for options that I am uncertain if the turbinate reduction procedure is actually causing the constant PND and throat clearing.
My family and I also moved into another house in April 2020. The house was 4 years old one owner home. They had cats and I have had allergy testing done by two separate allergists, both blood and skin. I have never had allergies. I was prescribed Azelastine twice but it did not help. I went to a second ENT Feb 2022 after having a CT Scan of my sinuses done. He said that my sinuses were "Not Perfect", and recommended changing my lifestyle (no caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods etc) along with saline rinses twice daily. NONE OF THIS HAS HELPED. I have used FloNase and every allergy medicine available.

There is much much more to add, but I will do that in a separate post. Very frustrating, but I try to remain hopeful.

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@luca79

thanks, my ent doctor gave me that too... but no results... I still think we may need a surgery to reduce the turbinate...

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Turbinate reduction did not help me at all. I just can never clear my throat and constant PND.

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@ehc713

Have you found any relief yet??I caught Covid in July, and one of my symptoms was extreme amounts of thick, postnasal drip, which I am still struggling to clear! I have tried Sudafed, Mucinex, different nasal sprays (Afrin, Flonase, Saline), oral antihistamines, the netipot, and zpack(in case there was a secondary bacterial infection) but nothing has worked! I even tried Pepcid as acid reflux can sometimes cause postnasal, but that didn’t work either. I just saw an ENT doc who diagnosed me with “rhinitis,” and recommended Sinus rinses (with the bottle, not the netipot), and Azelastine nasal spray (an antihistamine spray) twice a day for three weeks to see if that helps. If that does not work, he wants to send me to an allergist for allergy testing. However, I do not think this is due to allergies as this all started w Covid!

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I have used the Saline bottle, the Navage, NetiPot and the store bought saline mist cans. Nothing helps at all. I tired Azelastine twice. No improvement. Flonase and every type of nasal steroid. Oral steroids and antibiotics. I even installed UV lamps in my HVAC air handler. No relief.

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@sueh1959

I have never been diagnosed with Covid but received 2 doses of covid vaccine in April/May 21. Since that time it seems I have had this same chronic feeling of pflegm in the throat and constantly swallowing and never goes away. I am wondering if others that have had the vaccine and have also experienced this problem. Now 18 months later I am still struggling with these same symptoms.

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100% exact same scenario for me. NEVER had allergies. Always active and playing sports. I can't even play adult soccer now. I have been to the cardiologist due to rapid heart rate and palpitations. I has EKG and Echocaridiograms (ultra sound of the heart) and everything is normal except for tachycardia which is fast heart rate. I have been prescribed flecanide and it has really helped with the fast heart rate and palpitations.

However, I had never experienced this until after I had the vaccine (Pfizer, two shots). I wish I never did it but I thought I was helping protect others. I'm sure there is a different thread for this, but I am really struggling because I think the vaccine created a reaction where my body is producing a THICK, STICKY, SALTY mucus and phlegm that I can never get rid of. I hope that I can get some type of remedy for this issue and stop guessing and blaming things that may have nothing to do with it.

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@somebeach

I have used the Saline bottle, the Navage, NetiPot and the store bought saline mist cans. Nothing helps at all. I tired Azelastine twice. No improvement. Flonase and every type of nasal steroid. Oral steroids and antibiotics. I even installed UV lamps in my HVAC air handler. No relief.

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Azelastine helped minimize my postnasal on most days, but some days did not work at all. I ended up using a combination of Azelastine and Xclear Rescue for breakthrough postnasal between the Azelastine sprays. I am six months out from havin Covid, and my postnasal is much more manageable now. Minimal on most days. I have stopped Azelastine and now use Xlear Rescue as needed. I am not sure if it was just time, or the Xlear spray, or the numerous supplements I have been taking that has helped, or the change in seasons, but hoping this continues to improve. I have noticed eating sugar flares my symptoms, so am more careful about what I eat. Have also been using a gua sha and dry brushing to help with lymphatic drainage of the face and body. Let me know if you find anything that works for you.

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@pyt

Hi. I was diagnosed with Covid-19 in November of 2021. Every since the diagnosis I have been suffering from chronic throat mucus. It feels like I have a lump in my throat. I can't cough anything up and out. I am constantly clearing my throat and swallowing. Some days or worse than others depending on what I eat and drink. I have to limit or have no coffee, tea, orange juice, alcohol, dairy products, and certain foods due to the mucus build up. I have tried antibiotics thinking it was r/t to sinus infection early on as well as using a steroid pack and having a steroid injection. I've used otc medications such as mucinex, sudafed, benadryl, zyrtec, nasal sinus rinses, nasal sprays, all natural mucus clear from Amazon, eucalyptus oil in humidifier. I've also tried Nexium, Omeprazole and Protonix bc I was told it could be GERD or LPR which is Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. None of these meds have given me any alleviation of my symptoms which include belching, constant clearing my throat and swallowing, getting choked up and coughing, pnd, throat irritation from clearing/swallowing, sensation of having a lump in throat, food get stuck in my throat, nausea and headaches. These symptoms stem from the constant constant constant swallowing and clearing my throat. I've seem my regular physician and an ENT regarding my symptoms and the medications listed above or the meds I was recommended to try. I had to change my lifestyle/diet due to this problem. It's been going on for nearly a year and I still have it. If anyone have any advice to rid this I would greatly appreciated. Thank you for listening.

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I have been through all the exact things you mentioned and more. I had an Endoscopy done and I had slight inflammation of the esophagus. NONE of the meds they recommended helped at all. I had allergy testing done twice with separate specialists. I have ZERO allergies. I just started taking the plain Mucinex again yesterday and bought another new (my fourth) neilmed squeeze bottle sinus irrigation. I always feel like I have something in the back of my throat between my nose and throat. If I breathe in through my nose slowly, it sounds like I'm snoring but nothing comes up or down. I constantly clear my throat and the is not producing anything either. Every couple days I will blow white or clear rubber out of my nose. I have constant sinus pressure and dizziness. So frustrating and confusing. Staying positive though.

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