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What Causes Clogged Sinuses, Post-nasal Drip And Frequent Vomiting?
Question: My sinus are clogged, I have post nasal drip and frequently vomit, a slight temperature 99.5, no appetite and food comes up with the drainage.
Brief Answer:
May have cold or sinus infection.
Detailed Answer:
Sorry you are feeling poorly. Sounds like you have an infection if you have an elevated temperature and these other symptoms.
Likely it is a virus (cold, flu) or possibly a bacterial infection if your sinuses have been clogged for a couple of weeks.
I am not clear on if the vomiting is due to nausea from drainage down your throat or if you are vomiting frequently regardless.
Could you please tell me:
1. How long have you had sinus congestion and post nasal drainage?
2. How many times have you vomited in the past 24 hours?
3. Do you have abdominal pain?
4. Do you have diarrhea?
5. Is the sinus drainage yellow/discolored such as when you blow your nose or clear your throat? (Note: discolored drainage when your first get up in morning is not significant.)
6. What decongestant are you taking?
7. Do you have any ongoing medical conditions?
Thanks for clarifying. I can provide more information to you once I get a better picture of what's going on.
May have cold or sinus infection.
Detailed Answer:
Sorry you are feeling poorly. Sounds like you have an infection if you have an elevated temperature and these other symptoms.
Likely it is a virus (cold, flu) or possibly a bacterial infection if your sinuses have been clogged for a couple of weeks.
I am not clear on if the vomiting is due to nausea from drainage down your throat or if you are vomiting frequently regardless.
Could you please tell me:
1. How long have you had sinus congestion and post nasal drainage?
2. How many times have you vomited in the past 24 hours?
3. Do you have abdominal pain?
4. Do you have diarrhea?
5. Is the sinus drainage yellow/discolored such as when you blow your nose or clear your throat? (Note: discolored drainage when your first get up in morning is not significant.)
6. What decongestant are you taking?
7. Do you have any ongoing medical conditions?
Thanks for clarifying. I can provide more information to you once I get a better picture of what's going on.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
This episode of sinus infection and post nasal drip has been going on for four days, although I tend to have ongoing sinus problems for which I take a 24 hour allergy pill once daily. I have vomited over 10 times in the past 24 hours. Diaphragm pain from the vomiting. No diarrhea. Clear of white drainage. Over the counter decongestant day and night time not to exceed 1000 mg as I have liver disease.
Brief Answer:
Flonase, nettipot, rehydration fluids, see a doc!
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the information.
For the sinus symptoms and post nasal drainage you can try nasal saline irrigation (nettipot). You can get the salt packets (they are buffered so that it doesn't sting) at a pharmacy or drug store such as Wallgreens. NeilMed is one company that make these packets. And a nettipot - porcelain is best if you can get one, as you can run boiling water thru it to clean it. But plastic is ok. There will be directions on how to use it and you can do this 2 times a day or more. It is used as needed but I would recommend at least once a day.
I would also suggest a nasal corticosteroid spray such as flonase. This will decrease the swelling in your nose and sinuses and may stop the post nasal drip. It takes a few days of use to work well and needs to be used consistently. Don't use this around the time of the nettipot. For example you might wait an hour after using the nettipot to use the flonase so that the flonase doesn't end up just dripping down your throat or out your nose.
About the vomiting - that is a lot of vomiting! I would consider going in to an urgent care promptly for this. (Or seeing your own doctor if you can get in within the next day.) You may be getting dehydrated and need an antiemetic (something to help you stop throwing up) which would be by prescription. Try to stay hydrated with frequent sips of water or ginger ale or 7up/Sprite. You may need to get an oral rehydration solution from a pharmacy (comes in packets to mix with water, or ready made oral rehydration solution). I can't assess how dehydrated you may be getting, so you should see a doctor promptly, especially if your mouth is feeling dry or you are starting to feel weak or light headed. And it is possible that you need more rehydration than this - sometimes a liter of IV fluid (which they can give at most urgent care clinics) will make you feel a whole lot better if you are dehydrated.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can help with further information.
And I hope you feel better soon!
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Flonase, nettipot, rehydration fluids, see a doc!
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the information.
For the sinus symptoms and post nasal drainage you can try nasal saline irrigation (nettipot). You can get the salt packets (they are buffered so that it doesn't sting) at a pharmacy or drug store such as Wallgreens. NeilMed is one company that make these packets. And a nettipot - porcelain is best if you can get one, as you can run boiling water thru it to clean it. But plastic is ok. There will be directions on how to use it and you can do this 2 times a day or more. It is used as needed but I would recommend at least once a day.
I would also suggest a nasal corticosteroid spray such as flonase. This will decrease the swelling in your nose and sinuses and may stop the post nasal drip. It takes a few days of use to work well and needs to be used consistently. Don't use this around the time of the nettipot. For example you might wait an hour after using the nettipot to use the flonase so that the flonase doesn't end up just dripping down your throat or out your nose.
About the vomiting - that is a lot of vomiting! I would consider going in to an urgent care promptly for this. (Or seeing your own doctor if you can get in within the next day.) You may be getting dehydrated and need an antiemetic (something to help you stop throwing up) which would be by prescription. Try to stay hydrated with frequent sips of water or ginger ale or 7up/Sprite. You may need to get an oral rehydration solution from a pharmacy (comes in packets to mix with water, or ready made oral rehydration solution). I can't assess how dehydrated you may be getting, so you should see a doctor promptly, especially if your mouth is feeling dry or you are starting to feel weak or light headed. And it is possible that you need more rehydration than this - sometimes a liter of IV fluid (which they can give at most urgent care clinics) will make you feel a whole lot better if you are dehydrated.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can help with further information.
And I hope you feel better soon!
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
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. Raju A.T
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