So for the last three years, I’ve had horrible postnasal drip. It started when I was 16 years old in October 2022. I had a sinus infection and it made me not feel so great. I was more tired than usual, and overall, just not myself.
Since that time, I’ve been getting a lot of sore throats that usually end up turning into a cold. From the colds, I’ve had a lot of thick, yellow green mucus, and lots of nausea. I’m assuming the nausea from the remaining mucus that’s dripped down the back of my throat that I couldn’t get out. I’ve had a poor immune system since I was a kid. I don’t know if it’s because I was born premature, but I’ve always got really sick when I’ve had a cold. As a kid, I would always throw up and as a result, lose weight. I developed emetophobia when I was about eight years old, and as a result, haven’t thrown up in about 10 years. I still get pretty nauseous and lose my appetite whenever I have a cold. Since the whole postnasal drip thing started, I’ve had several colds, I don’t remember how many but if I had to take a guess I’d say between two and three per year. Yesterday, I came down with my first cold in about six months, But the mucus is stuck and won’t come out of my throat, so I’ve had to swallow it. Normally, I just take the DayQuil and NyQuil and it comes right out, but this time it’s being stubborn. I don’t know if it’s related to my deviated septum or not.
I’ve taken every allergy medication over-the-counter and tried every at home remedy I could think of. I’ve seen multiple doctors and taken several antihistamines to try and stop it. Nothing has worked. In May of this year, I decided to see a different ENT now that I am an adult. She noticed I had a deviated septum, but she also noticed that my esophagus was looking pretty rough. She referred me to a G.I. doctor, Since I have been having stomach and esophagus issues prior to this. He did an endoscopy, but said that everything looked good. I went back to the ENT, and she suggested I do a CT scan before I make the decision to consider surgery. She kept trying to talk me out of it, Saying to really think about it because it’s a life changing surgery. I asked for her opinion, but she said it’s up to me. All my other doctors noticed the deviation and said that I might benefit from the surgery. I agree agree with them, however, they aren’t the ENT so I don’t know for sure. I’m scheduled for surgery later this year and I’m super nervous and the pain and anesthesia.
Does anybody have experience with post nasal drip or getting a septoplasty, and what did you do about it?
Thank you!