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Suggest Treatment For Sore Throat, Persistent Cough And Watery Eyes
Question: It seems my sinsus drain down my throat not through my nose. I am constantly coughing up mucus. I can't swallow it and have difficulty coughing it up and when I try to lay down I immediately starting coughing and actually feel the (sorry) snot literally oozing down the back of my throat. I try sleeping sitting up and end up slumping over so cant sleep. I am desperate for relief. I can breathe through my nose. I have a sore throat and watery eyes. In the morning I have to drink Hot liquids just to loosen the gunk enough to cough it up. Am on heart meds. Should I go to ER?
Brief Answer:
Some thoughts which might help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Well this sounds miserable.
One thing you can try is guaifenesin (Mucinex) with a lot of water. Guaifenesin works to thin mucus (it's a mucolytic) and so you might be able to clear the mucus out more easily.
If the mucus from your throat is discolored, and not just in the morning, then you might have a bacterial infection which might respond to an antibiotic. Especially if you are running fevers too.
If it is mostly clear and seems to correlate with certain allergens, and if the Zyrtec or Benadryl helped (although I realize you felt too dry), then it may be due to allergy, and a different antihistamine such as Claritin might help.
Another thing that might help with the excessive mucus production is a good decongestant, in particular pseudoephedrine. You have to ask your pharmacist for this as it is kept behind the counter. Start with 30 mg until you see how you respond to it. And only take it if your blood pressure is well controlled.
Also consider saline nasal spray or nettipot saline irrigation to help wash away some of the mucus.
And a steroid nasal spray may help stabilize your sinus membranes so that they don't produce such excessive amounts of mucus. You can buy Flonase at the drugstore. It might take a few days to work. Don't use it within an hour of saline irrigation as the saline rinse will cause the steroid spray to drip down to your stomach, instead of staying in your sinuses.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Some thoughts which might help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Well this sounds miserable.
One thing you can try is guaifenesin (Mucinex) with a lot of water. Guaifenesin works to thin mucus (it's a mucolytic) and so you might be able to clear the mucus out more easily.
If the mucus from your throat is discolored, and not just in the morning, then you might have a bacterial infection which might respond to an antibiotic. Especially if you are running fevers too.
If it is mostly clear and seems to correlate with certain allergens, and if the Zyrtec or Benadryl helped (although I realize you felt too dry), then it may be due to allergy, and a different antihistamine such as Claritin might help.
Another thing that might help with the excessive mucus production is a good decongestant, in particular pseudoephedrine. You have to ask your pharmacist for this as it is kept behind the counter. Start with 30 mg until you see how you respond to it. And only take it if your blood pressure is well controlled.
Also consider saline nasal spray or nettipot saline irrigation to help wash away some of the mucus.
And a steroid nasal spray may help stabilize your sinus membranes so that they don't produce such excessive amounts of mucus. You can buy Flonase at the drugstore. It might take a few days to work. Don't use it within an hour of saline irrigation as the saline rinse will cause the steroid spray to drip down to your stomach, instead of staying in your sinuses.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
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
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