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Suggest Treatment For Nasal Congestion, Severe Cough And Irritation In The Throat
Question: For a month I have not been able to breathe through my nose. I can breathe through my mouth and take deep breathes with no trouble at all. My throat has phlegm and a hacking cough from the phlegm. My throat sometimes feels like dust is in it. My doctor said my nose was swollen inside, my throat was red and fluid behind my ears. A couple of nights my throat has felt like there was something beside it, making it feel difficult to swallow. When that happens there is a weird pop feeling in my throat when I swallow. I was given a steroid nose spray, which helped a little. I resorted to AllegraD, which opened me up pretty good. With it sticking around for a month, should I be concerned?
Brief Answer:
Allergies:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
All of your symptoms can be due to allergies. They can also be due to a viral infection that has hung on, or a sinus infection. If the mucus is clear most of the day (it is ok if it is discolored when you get up) and if you don't have a fever, then it is less likely to be a sinus infection and more likely to be allergies.
Common indoor allergies are molds (from moisture), dust mites, animal dander. Dust mites are lower at this time of year but the other 2 can still go on. If you can, try to make your bedroom as allergen free as possible and don't sleep with the window open now, and don't hang your clothes outside to dry now. If you have a pet, try to make your bedroom pet free and pet dander free. Wash bedding in hot water.
Common outdoor allergens are tree pollen, grass pollen, ragweed and other weed pollen, and molds in the air.
At this time of year the predominant outdoor allergens are grass pollen and molds. The grass pollen has been up for the last month and will be decreasing in the next couple of weeks while molds will be rising, especially if it is humid.
So what to do:
It is ok to use the Allegra-D on a continuous basis if you tolerate it well.
If the steroid nasal spray helped a little, you can use it twice a day. This is commonly recommended by allergists when once a day is not enough.
Are you still getting the popping and ear symptoms, even on the Allegra-D? Or has that taken care of it?
Allergies:
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
All of your symptoms can be due to allergies. They can also be due to a viral infection that has hung on, or a sinus infection. If the mucus is clear most of the day (it is ok if it is discolored when you get up) and if you don't have a fever, then it is less likely to be a sinus infection and more likely to be allergies.
Common indoor allergies are molds (from moisture), dust mites, animal dander. Dust mites are lower at this time of year but the other 2 can still go on. If you can, try to make your bedroom as allergen free as possible and don't sleep with the window open now, and don't hang your clothes outside to dry now. If you have a pet, try to make your bedroom pet free and pet dander free. Wash bedding in hot water.
Common outdoor allergens are tree pollen, grass pollen, ragweed and other weed pollen, and molds in the air.
At this time of year the predominant outdoor allergens are grass pollen and molds. The grass pollen has been up for the last month and will be decreasing in the next couple of weeks while molds will be rising, especially if it is humid.
So what to do:
It is ok to use the Allegra-D on a continuous basis if you tolerate it well.
If the steroid nasal spray helped a little, you can use it twice a day. This is commonly recommended by allergists when once a day is not enough.
Are you still getting the popping and ear symptoms, even on the Allegra-D? Or has that taken care of it?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I had ear fluid, but the popping was in my throat, when i swallowed. It has occured a few nights, about a week apart. It almost felt like there was something pressing on the right side of my throat and when i swallowed it made a popping feel. It was wierd.
Brief Answer:
Eustachian tube dysfunction from throat drainage.
Detailed Answer:
This is most likely eustachian tube dysfunction caused by the drainage down your throat which creates a vacuum like effect in your ear, and changes the pressure in your eustachian tube. The eustachian tube connects the middle part of the ear (ear drum) with the throat.
If you are still getting ear symptoms, doubling the steroid nasal spray will likely help by stabilizing the nasal/sinus lining which is reacting to allergens.
If the secretions get thick or feel like you can't clear them out, guaifenesin (Mucinex) can help thin them out. This is a very safe medication. But it only works well if you drink a lot of water with it as it helps draw water to the secretions to thin them. I usually recommend drinking 2 glasses of water when taking it.
Some people find that supplemental Vitamin C with bioflavonoids helps them with their allergies.
I hope this helps and you get some relief soon.
Eustachian tube dysfunction from throat drainage.
Detailed Answer:
This is most likely eustachian tube dysfunction caused by the drainage down your throat which creates a vacuum like effect in your ear, and changes the pressure in your eustachian tube. The eustachian tube connects the middle part of the ear (ear drum) with the throat.
If you are still getting ear symptoms, doubling the steroid nasal spray will likely help by stabilizing the nasal/sinus lining which is reacting to allergens.
If the secretions get thick or feel like you can't clear them out, guaifenesin (Mucinex) can help thin them out. This is a very safe medication. But it only works well if you drink a lot of water with it as it helps draw water to the secretions to thin them. I usually recommend drinking 2 glasses of water when taking it.
Some people find that supplemental Vitamin C with bioflavonoids helps them with their allergies.
I hope this helps and you get some relief soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. It has been very helpful. Ive never dealt with seasonal allergies. So after a month, i was getting concerned. Have a blessed evening .
Brief Answer:
Your welcome!
Detailed Answer:
Usually people who have seasonal allergies aren't allergic to everything, so if there is no change in your symptoms, you might want to see an allergist for testing.
I am glad to help when I can. Have a good evening too.
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Your welcome!
Detailed Answer:
Usually people who have seasonal allergies aren't allergic to everything, so if there is no change in your symptoms, you might want to see an allergist for testing.
I am glad to help when I can. Have a good evening too.
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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