Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Post Nasal Drip And Pressure On Face
Question: I have various ENT symptoms that my current doctors keep saying is another specialty's area and am sent back and forth. Here are my major symptoms:
1. Post nasal drip resulting in chronic throat clearing. The phlegm often seems to get trapped at the vocal cords and I have to force it out, feeling like it comes from the upper airway and that is always thick yellow.
2. Hoarse, wet sounding voice, like bubbles when talking.
3. Chronic pressure on face under eyes and nose.
4. Head CT showed "normal with small amount of fluid on right side but no sign of of infection."
5. Chronic worsening Tinnitus.
6. Hard time distinguishing what people say, even though I hear them speak. Hearing test considered normal.
7. Headaches/migraines.
8. My job is taking health histories on the phone prior to patient procedures and I am always having to clear
my throat or stop and force out the thick, yellow mucous, but very small amounts.
9. Treated with Claritin, Azelastine and Rhinocort nasal sprays for mold allergies, and Protonix for GERD.
9. Diminished ability to taste.
10. Very dry mouth.
11. Was recently on short course of Amoxicillin for a tooth abscess, and phlegm incidentally went away too,
but pcp does not think its a sinusitis so won't treat with stronger, or any actually, antibiotics.
12. React with thick clear mucous and runny nose to some dairy like milk, yogurt, sour cream. Allergist says did not test positive to milk allergy. I also get bloating from milk.
It is becoming harder to do my job and my office mates are becoming annoyed by my constant clearing my throat or having to cough up the phlegm to clear throat. I drink a lot of water. GI says it is post nasal drip, allergist says it is from the sinuses producing more mucous to respond to GERD. What else can I do or what is my next step?
1. Post nasal drip resulting in chronic throat clearing. The phlegm often seems to get trapped at the vocal cords and I have to force it out, feeling like it comes from the upper airway and that is always thick yellow.
2. Hoarse, wet sounding voice, like bubbles when talking.
3. Chronic pressure on face under eyes and nose.
4. Head CT showed "normal with small amount of fluid on right side but no sign of of infection."
5. Chronic worsening Tinnitus.
6. Hard time distinguishing what people say, even though I hear them speak. Hearing test considered normal.
7. Headaches/migraines.
8. My job is taking health histories on the phone prior to patient procedures and I am always having to clear
my throat or stop and force out the thick, yellow mucous, but very small amounts.
9. Treated with Claritin, Azelastine and Rhinocort nasal sprays for mold allergies, and Protonix for GERD.
9. Diminished ability to taste.
10. Very dry mouth.
11. Was recently on short course of Amoxicillin for a tooth abscess, and phlegm incidentally went away too,
but pcp does not think its a sinusitis so won't treat with stronger, or any actually, antibiotics.
12. React with thick clear mucous and runny nose to some dairy like milk, yogurt, sour cream. Allergist says did not test positive to milk allergy. I also get bloating from milk.
It is becoming harder to do my job and my office mates are becoming annoyed by my constant clearing my throat or having to cough up the phlegm to clear throat. I drink a lot of water. GI says it is post nasal drip, allergist says it is from the sinuses producing more mucous to respond to GERD. What else can I do or what is my next step?
Brief Answer:
You need to take steam inhalation twice or thrice a day regularly.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. It so happens that our skull has air pockets called sinuses. These are lined by mucus membrane which is poor in blood supply. The outlet of sinuses are often narrow, thus trapping fluid and infection in them. The cough and cold that we commonly suffer from, are caused due to certain viral infections and they have some allergic reactions associated. Such infections as well as allergic reactions like post-nasal drip, affect the sinuses leading to the problems that you are facing. The bacteria residing there had been cleared when you received antibiotics, thus clearing the sinuses and thereby providing relief. However, that does not mean that giving antibiotics would always help you. In fact, the antibiotics often cannot reach the sinuses due to their poor blood supply. But steam inahaltion can provide relief. Water in the form of vapour can reach deep into the sinuses and helps in diluting the mucus.
There is a tube connecting the inner throat to our middle ear cavity. The thick mucus may cause blockage of this tube thereby causing pressue differences which may cause hearing problems, vertigo, tinnitus and headache. The allergic reactions there are responsible for your hoarseness. Gurgle with lukewarm water should provide relief. Also, get a audiometry done to evaluate your hearing status.
Our taste is associated with an important component of smell. The thick mucus is blunting your smell and hence interfering with your taste.
GERD is perhaps unrelated. My suggestions would be:
* Avoid long gaps between meals. Take small but frequent meals.
* Avoid chilli and spicy foods. They trigger excess gastric acid secretion and may also mess up with digestion.
* Regular morning walk and exercise is essential to maintain proper bowel movements.
* You need to take plenty of green leafy vegetables in your diet. It will provide adequate roughage and will lessen your problems.
* You need to avoid stress. Stress is a leading cause of hyperacidity.
* PPIs like omeprazole are very safe and you can take it once a day before breakfast daily. Take 20 mg once a day and not more. You need to take it for one and a half months. You need not worry about side effects.
Hope that helps.
Regards
You need to take steam inhalation twice or thrice a day regularly.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. It so happens that our skull has air pockets called sinuses. These are lined by mucus membrane which is poor in blood supply. The outlet of sinuses are often narrow, thus trapping fluid and infection in them. The cough and cold that we commonly suffer from, are caused due to certain viral infections and they have some allergic reactions associated. Such infections as well as allergic reactions like post-nasal drip, affect the sinuses leading to the problems that you are facing. The bacteria residing there had been cleared when you received antibiotics, thus clearing the sinuses and thereby providing relief. However, that does not mean that giving antibiotics would always help you. In fact, the antibiotics often cannot reach the sinuses due to their poor blood supply. But steam inahaltion can provide relief. Water in the form of vapour can reach deep into the sinuses and helps in diluting the mucus.
There is a tube connecting the inner throat to our middle ear cavity. The thick mucus may cause blockage of this tube thereby causing pressue differences which may cause hearing problems, vertigo, tinnitus and headache. The allergic reactions there are responsible for your hoarseness. Gurgle with lukewarm water should provide relief. Also, get a audiometry done to evaluate your hearing status.
Our taste is associated with an important component of smell. The thick mucus is blunting your smell and hence interfering with your taste.
GERD is perhaps unrelated. My suggestions would be:
* Avoid long gaps between meals. Take small but frequent meals.
* Avoid chilli and spicy foods. They trigger excess gastric acid secretion and may also mess up with digestion.
* Regular morning walk and exercise is essential to maintain proper bowel movements.
* You need to take plenty of green leafy vegetables in your diet. It will provide adequate roughage and will lessen your problems.
* You need to avoid stress. Stress is a leading cause of hyperacidity.
* PPIs like omeprazole are very safe and you can take it once a day before breakfast daily. Take 20 mg once a day and not more. You need to take it for one and a half months. You need not worry about side effects.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr. Saha,
Thank you for your reply. I am on Protonix bid, as well as garling bid. As I mentioned, I am on Protonix bid as prescribed by my gastroenterologist. I eat a lost of vegetables and take a probiotic, bowel movements at least, are 2-3 per day. I gues I would like to know specifically what the doctor's statement that "fluid shows on the right side in sinus, on CAT scan, but said that was no sign of infection and considered normal. I also wonder why when I was on antibiotics for 10 days the symptoms went way but returned within 4-5 days. I also would like to know if Tinnitis itself interferes with the sound frequency we hear, thereby causing the inability to distinguish words even though I can hear the sounds. The general audiology test says normal but did not address the Tinnitis. Also, are you an MD. Or a PhD I something else? Your credentials do not mention any medical degree.
Thank you. XXXXXXX
Thank you for your reply. I am on Protonix bid, as well as garling bid. As I mentioned, I am on Protonix bid as prescribed by my gastroenterologist. I eat a lost of vegetables and take a probiotic, bowel movements at least, are 2-3 per day. I gues I would like to know specifically what the doctor's statement that "fluid shows on the right side in sinus, on CAT scan, but said that was no sign of infection and considered normal. I also wonder why when I was on antibiotics for 10 days the symptoms went way but returned within 4-5 days. I also would like to know if Tinnitis itself interferes with the sound frequency we hear, thereby causing the inability to distinguish words even though I can hear the sounds. The general audiology test says normal but did not address the Tinnitis. Also, are you an MD. Or a PhD I something else? Your credentials do not mention any medical degree.
Thank you. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Steam inhalation will clear the mucus blockages and will help your hearing
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Let me apologize for the delay. I had lost my internet connectivity.
My qualification is MBBS, MD, PhD apart from other certifications. MBBS is the basic medical graduation degree which MD is the post-graduation degree.
About the fluid level in your sinuses, let me mention that there are two parameters involved - infection and inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the area gets irritated and reacts to something. This something could be due to infection or due to something else. The collection of fluid is a sign of inflammation apart from the blockages that obstruct drainage. There are bacteria that are present in our nose as well as our gastrointestinal tract. When the fluid trapping occurs, the bacteria grow on it and may exaggerate the problem. Hence you might benefit from the antibiotics. But these are bacteria that are always present and do not really count as infection. I hope you now understand.
About the tinnitus, the audiometry does not directly comment on it but the other parameters correlate. It would be appreciable if you could upload the audiometry report using the facility on the upper right of this page. In your case, I have already explained the probable cause of tinnitus and hearing problem earlier in this thread.
I would await the report.
Regards
Steam inhalation will clear the mucus blockages and will help your hearing
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Let me apologize for the delay. I had lost my internet connectivity.
My qualification is MBBS, MD, PhD apart from other certifications. MBBS is the basic medical graduation degree which MD is the post-graduation degree.
About the fluid level in your sinuses, let me mention that there are two parameters involved - infection and inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the area gets irritated and reacts to something. This something could be due to infection or due to something else. The collection of fluid is a sign of inflammation apart from the blockages that obstruct drainage. There are bacteria that are present in our nose as well as our gastrointestinal tract. When the fluid trapping occurs, the bacteria grow on it and may exaggerate the problem. Hence you might benefit from the antibiotics. But these are bacteria that are always present and do not really count as infection. I hope you now understand.
About the tinnitus, the audiometry does not directly comment on it but the other parameters correlate. It would be appreciable if you could upload the audiometry report using the facility on the upper right of this page. In your case, I have already explained the probable cause of tinnitus and hearing problem earlier in this thread.
I would await the report.
Regards
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
