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I have become a believer in Astragalus, a supplement that is quite cheap. Since I started taking it in Jan 2012, I have not had a fever, tummy ache, or stuffed up nose. Remarkable for me. I saw Dr. Oz recommend it and tried it. We have a supplements forum so if you want to discuss it, please post there.
I've been living on cough drops for years and using saline nasal sprays, but the cough became increasingly worse about 10 months ago. Some days I can't finish my shower because I'm gagging too much and I don't want to vomit. If I still have shampoo or conditioner in my hair, I use a cup and keep my head down. I used to think it was the smell of the water in Bonita that made me gag in the shower, but I haven't lived there in over 3 years.
...
Of course I will have to see a doctor if I don't get any relief soon, but I am trying to rule out as much as possible first.
By "soon," what do you mean? You've been suffering from symptoms since you were a kid, and it's been bad for the past 10 months. I'm thinking "soon" has already come and gone. See a doctor.
By "soon," what do you mean? You've been suffering from symptoms since you were a kid, and it's been bad for the past 10 months. I'm thinking "soon" has already come and gone. See a doctor.
I have had these horrible symptoms intermittently for the past seven years. I have seen many doctors, and the treatment has always been the same - an antibiotic (Z-max or another) and a cough medicine with codeine. When the course of treatment is over, I am a symptomatic for a month or two.
Then it returns. OTC meds that work are Mucinex and Dayquil. When it is really bad I resort to Delsym.
I have had chest X-Rays. Negative. I do not and never have smoked.
The mucus is so copious that I can go through several boxes of tissues in one day. I drink LOTS of water, (7-8 8oz. glasses per day)
Certain foods seem to aggravate the mucus and coughing - coffee, dairy, (I've eliminated it) come to mind.
It is bad in the Spring, but it can strike anytime of year.
When I awaken I feel as though I am drowning in my own mucus.
I know this is so disgusting! It is to me and to my teenaged kids. I feel like a one woman TB ward. (yes I have been tested fro that also)
No doctor has an answer for me other than "post nasal drip" or "sinusitis"
At this time of year "seasonal allergies" is a big one.
I am looking for a cause. This does not seem normal to me, and it is no way to live.
Sometimes I cough so much that I stimulate the gag reflex and throw up.
Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
I've suffered this horrible post nasal drip too for 4 years giving me sleepless nights or if lucky to get some it's broken sleep cos of the drip pestering me causing me eye bags like a sack of potato. And I go through a whole box of tissues in one day like you. Some days I have swollen red and watery eyes. Doctors can't do anything except put me on antibiotics which would only be effective for a week then am back to square one again. My specialist just told me that I will have to live with it. Then my doctor moved interstate so I had to change doctor, a Bangladesh guy. In one of my visits to his clinic I mentioned about my post nasal drip that is really giving me trouble sleeping. He advised me to gargle (tip your head backwards and gargle) with warm salt water which I did the day I got back from his clinic. I do it morning, afternoon and night and my sinus drip has stopped but only cough out this thick mucus in the morning soon as I wake up. Perhaps you can try this and best of luck
Here's a possible cause - fungus and immune response.....
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mayo Clinic Proceedings September 1999
Mayo Clinic researchers say they have found the cause of most chronic sinus infections -- an immune system response to fungus. They say this discovery opens the door to the first effective treatment for this problem, the most common Moderator cut: too long a quote. 1-2 sentences and link
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/02/fungus-cause-of-sinusitis.aspx
------------------
I found some interesting info, possible options, at this site -
"Cure a sinus infection questions" (and it mentions fungus as well) Cure a Sinus Infection Questions
I've had chronic mild congestion for years as well, though it ebbs, and it's not usually too disruptive to daily life. (I'm grateful for that and realize after reading your posts that it could easily be much worse!) It's a hacky (productive) cough - I just cough a bit, several times throughout the day - every day.
I believe I have a low-grade inflammation throughout my system. For example (when I started 'doing the math') I have always had troubled skin, I've had gum infections, etc, and this low-grade, chronic congestion. I admit I have a generally poor diet (that I'm working on - I'm not overweight, but I eat 'what I want' - high protein, not many fruits, veggies). However, I'm a pretty big supplement taker, and when I've focused on, for example, my pH levels, or taken 'bug killer' type stuff (iodine, hydrogen peroxide, major minerals, etc) it seems to subside. (I 'never' get sick and I don't take flu shots - so I think my immune system is 'holding its own' somehow.) But I think my poor diet 'challenges' my system pretty quickly back into this low-grade inflammation state (or keeps it there) none the less.
Your posts have inspired me to continue to improve my diet (we are now doing 'salad is the main course' -- and having a dinner salad -- for dinner, with everything but the kitchen sink in it, almost daily - but we just started it. And, for me, it includes more veggies and greens than I've had in quite some time! And reading through these articles has inspired me to work more (and again) on my immune system (probiotics? vitamin C? iodine?) I don't know exactly what I'm going to delve into this time.... but I'll be looking for its effects on fungus!
But thank you, and best of luck to all with this issue!!
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Last edited by SouthernBelleInUtah; 01-12-2013 at 11:08 PM..
Hello again. It's January, the dead of winter and nothing has changed. My life is still pretty much ruled by coughing, mucus, post nasal drip, blowing my nose, expectorating, gagging and more coughing.
I spend a huge amount of money each week on supplies - 3-4 boxes of tissues a day, delsym, mucinex, cough drops, teas, and what ever else looks as though it might work.
Someone mentioned mold and I am originally from Long Island, NY. We lived only a mile from the beach and the basement of my house there flooded regularly. The soil is sandy and even a small amount of rain would cause it to flood. We had a drainage ditch to improve the problem, but we were told that there was black mold in the basement.
I have been living in PA for three years, and in February we are moving once again to Ohio.
The coughing-gagging-mucus issue preceded the house with the mold or the move to the mountains of PA. I know it will follow me to Ohio.
I have had animals all of my life and I was never allergic to them. One thing that I could not do would be to rid myself of my dogs and cats.
I am an ethical vegetarian/vegan. When I ate yogurt and cheese a few years ago I found that it aggravated the coughing, so I cut it out.
Besides dairy the following foods seem to trigger coughing events -
bread or any bread product
coffee
soda
club soda - in fact anything carbonated
beer
soy milk
I miss coffee which I used to enjoy in the morning. I have cut all of the other stuff out.
This winter has been horrible for me. If anyone has any further suggestions, please share them with me.
I have found that gargling with one table spoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of warm water draws the mucus plug out of my throat. But this gargling, spitting and gagging is a long process.
I am wondering where to go next - a naturopath, an allergist, an ENT?
For any other sufferers, where have you experienced the most relief? How are all of you doing?
I look forward to the day that my friends and family do not recognize me in Target or a supermarket by my cough.
I have had these horrible symptoms intermittently for the past seven years. I have seen many doctors, and the treatment has always been the same - an antibiotic (Z-max or another) and a cough medicine with codeine. When the course of treatment is over, I am a symptomatic for a month or two.
Then it returns. OTC meds that work are Mucinex and Dayquil. When it is really bad I resort to Delsym.
I have had chest X-Rays. Negative. I do not and never have smoked.
The mucus is so copious that I can go through several boxes of tissues in one day. I drink LOTS of water, (7-8 8oz. glasses per day)
Certain foods seem to aggravate the mucus and coughing - coffee, dairy, (I've eliminated it) come to mind.
It is bad in the Spring, but it can strike anytime of year.
When I awaken I feel as though I am drowning in my own mucus.
I know this is so disgusting! It is to me and to my teenaged kids. I feel like a one woman TB ward. (yes I have been tested fro that also)
No doctor has an answer for me other than "post nasal drip" or "sinusitis"
At this time of year "seasonal allergies" is a big one.
I am looking for a cause. This does not seem normal to me, and it is no way to live.
Sometimes I cough so much that I stimulate the gag reflex and throw up.
Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
Get a neti pot at walgreens $9 with instructions and salt packs it has worked wonders for me.
Hello again. It's January, the dead of winter and nothing has changed. My life is still pretty much ruled by coughing, mucus, post nasal drip, blowing my nose, expectorating, gagging and more coughing.
I spend a huge amount of money each week on supplies - 3-4 boxes of tissues a day, delsym, mucinex, cough drops, teas, and what ever else looks as though it might work.
Someone mentioned mold and I am originally from Long Island, NY. We lived only a mile from the beach and the basement of my house there flooded regularly. The soil is sandy and even a small amount of rain would cause it to flood. We had a drainage ditch to improve the problem, but we were told that there was black mold in the basement.
I have been living in PA for three years, and in February we are moving once again to Ohio.
The coughing-gagging-mucus issue preceded the house with the mold or the move to the mountains of PA. I know it will follow me to Ohio.
I have had animals all of my life and I was never allergic to them. One thing that I could not do would be to rid myself of my dogs and cats.
I am an ethical vegetarian/vegan. When I ate yogurt and cheese a few years ago I found that it aggravated the coughing, so I cut it out.
Besides dairy the following foods seem to trigger coughing events -
bread or any bread product
coffee
soda
club soda - in fact anything carbonated
beer
soy milk
I miss coffee which I used to enjoy in the morning. I have cut all of the other stuff out.
This winter has been horrible for me. If anyone has any further suggestions, please share them with me.
I have found that gargling with one table spoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of warm water draws the mucus plug out of my throat. But this gargling, spitting and gagging is a long process.
I am wondering where to go next - a naturopath, an allergist, an ENT?
For any other sufferers, where have you experienced the most relief? How are all of you doing?
I look forward to the day that my friends and family do not recognize me in Target or a supermarket by my cough.
my doctor prescribed Fluticasone Propionate nasal spray for me. It works well. When my cough,post nasal drip,etc bother me for too long I use Benadryl.
I have had these horrible symptoms intermittently for the past seven years. I have seen many doctors, and the treatment has always been the same - an antibiotic (Z-max or another) and a cough medicine with codeine. When the course of treatment is over, I am a symptomatic for a month or two.
Then it returns. OTC meds that work are Mucinex and Dayquil. When it is really bad I resort to Delsym.
I have had chest X-Rays. Negative. I do not and never have smoked.
The mucus is so copious that I can go through several boxes of tissues in one day. I drink LOTS of water, (7-8 8oz. glasses per day)
Certain foods seem to aggravate the mucus and coughing - coffee, dairy, (I've eliminated it) come to mind.
It is bad in the Spring, but it can strike anytime of year.
When I awaken I feel as though I am drowning in my own mucus.
I know this is so disgusting! It is to me and to my teenaged kids. I feel like a one woman TB ward. (yes I have been tested fro that also)
No doctor has an answer for me other than "post nasal drip" or "sinusitis"
At this time of year "seasonal allergies" is a big one.
I am looking for a cause. This does not seem normal to me, and it is no way to live.
Sometimes I cough so much that I stimulate the gag reflex and throw up.
Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
Sheena,
Its always dangerous to try and compare your condition with someone else's based on an internet post. That being said, I will say I've had something extremely similar for approximately 11-12 years. I'm 53 now.
My first question would be to ask if you have GERD (gastro esphogeal reflux disease). I have that and I've slowly learned that it has much to do with the sinus infections that I get and irritation in my sinuses. My first advice if you have it is rigidly control it. You may learn even if you are treating for it that your treatment isn't aggressive enough. I found that controlling GERD has reduced this problem remarkably for me. Example, you may need two acid blocking pills a day, instead of just one.
Secondly, you admit you have seasonal allergies. Consider allergy shots. If they eliminate your allergy problem, you're going to be secreting a lot less liquid and mucus as a result. I found these problems so pressing that I undertook allergy treatment simply to try and resolve these sinus issues. The allergies I could live with. The sinus infections were slowly destroying me.
Third, if you aren't doing it already go to your local pharmacy and buy a "Neil Sinus Rinse Kit". Use this kit to wash out your sinuses every day in the shower with the salt packets they give you to create a sinus rinse solution. This will get a lot of crud out of your sinuses and over the long haul will help you. Its not much of a short term solution, but it does keep your sinuses clean.
Fourth, see an allergist or ENT and consider having a CT scan of your sinuses. You may be a person with a sinus defect that needs surgical correction. If not, at least you can rule this out.
All I can say, is I've been there done that and it can make me miserably twice a year. Spring is usually the worst. I've spent 8-12 weeks battling this problem and its physically and mentally exhausting. Its difficult to explain to others just how rotten it can make you feel.
I'll wish you the best of luck.
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