I have had what the doctor calls sinusitus for about six weeks now. Swelling under the eyes, headache, mucus, and hurt all over. I get so bad some days I can not go to work and other days peope at work wish I had stayed home because of my appearance and my coughing. Think the cough comes from me trying to cough up the mucus that sticks in my throat. Some days when this hits, I have to take a hot shower to break loose the mucus. Then I cough up a large blob of mucus that is kind of crusty. At times this gets caugt in my sinus area between the throad and where ever and I feel like I am not going to make it. This is a bit scary. This does not happen all the time, this seems to just hit me in the am or late in the pm. I feel like I am over it and then it comes back.
I am 47 and weigh in at 250 pounds, retired Army currently working for DOD as an investigator.
Keep smiling and have fun, these are the good old days.
Reply: --------------------------
Accumulation of tenacious secretions in the back of the throat above the palate or lower in the throat around the vocal cords is a common symptom. It may be related to inflammatory process involving the nasal passages, sinuses, or throat such as allergy or infection. It may also occur with reflux of stomach secretions into the lower throat. It can occur as a result of medication side effects, dietary sensitivities, or as a reaction to environmental irritants or pollutants - just to name a few possible etiologies. As an isolated symptom it can often be successfully managed simply by increasing one's hydration by pushing fluids, using dilute salt water (saline) to irrigate the nasal passages, humidifying the local environment, avoiding environmental irritants and pollutants, cutting back on dairy products, avoiding excessive clearing of the throat (which traumatizes the lining of the throat and vocal cords further adding to the problem) amongst other similar measures. Chronic problems with tenacious mucous secretions which fail to respond to such measures warrants an evaluation by an otolaryngologist.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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