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[HorsesHorses]

Hi all
Does anyone have any tips for reducing phlegm in the throat please? I'm constantly clearing my throat these days and it's driving me mad. Never seem to produce enough to actually bring up but I do need to constantly try and cough it off. I don't have a cold or sore throat. Only developed this since all meno stuff began and I've heard it's common to get with fluctuating hormones but don't know how to get rid of it.
Any suggestions welcomed.
Thanks

[BrightLight]

Hi, I've had problems with this, a post nasal drip type situation along with sinuses feeling a bit tender. The things that helped were making sure I was drinking enough water and doing a nasal salt rinse. You can do this by boiling water and adding salt to make a saline solution. Let it cool. Tip your head to one side, closing one nostril and pouring the water into the other and do the other side (instructions via google/youtube might help). If that's not convenient you can buy a saline nasal spray designed for children with congestion, I used that too.

Other thing I did was when putting moisturiser on at night I did se quick lymphatic drainage massage. Using both fingers starting at the bridge of the nose sweep across the cheekbones (sinus area) over the back of the ears and down the sides of the neck, ending on the collarbone. I repeated the move about ten times, it helps drainage.

If that's all too much, just try the increase in water to try to rehydrate.

I hated the constant phlegm, it has calmed down for now.

[Millykin]

HorsesHorses
I get that too, really annoying ! I thought it was an allergy as upper airways seemed irritated last April took Antihystamines till Sep did help, then tried Oemprazole as GP thought reflux, helped s bit. Stopped them but now I feel it again with the better weather coming in so I'm just putting mine down to mild allergy or hormones!

[Rowan]

Estrogen causes histamine release, its the drop in progesterone leading up to menopause that causes allergies and histamine response to increase, progesterone in its role of dampening the immune system helps with allergies, I found my allergies worsened leading up  menopause and afterwards and not helped by being on estrogen.

"Hormones - including stress hormones
 Rising estrogen levels have been associated with elevated histamine, and women might notice increased sensitivity and symptoms of histamine intolerance at different times in their monthly cycle. Periods of high estrogen link to sinus sensitivity to histamine. Environmental estrogens such as pesticides, agricultural growth hormones, and PVC in plastics may also activate histamine release. Conversely, histamine appears to stimulate estrogen levels as well and exacerbate symptoms. Diamine oxidase levels are much higher in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, theoretically reducing the risk of excess histamine during that phase.

 The "stress" hormone cortisol appears to increase histamine in stomach and intestines in lab studies. Reducing stress can lower the amount of stimulating hormones that activate mast cells which release histamine and other factors of inflammation"

from http://www.rlcure.com/histamine.html

After seeing Allergy Specialist (NHS) he spent quite a times explaining about my rise in mast cells and what can cause it.

[Rowan]

I get the post nasal drip and tender sinuses too and it drives me mad at times , not during the day just at night time when I lie down, it can even cause throat tightening which tends to scare me silly.

I make sure I don't eat before bed time, and sometimes guaifenesin and levomenthol Liquid helps. I try not to eat too many mucous forming foods like too much dairy and as BrightLight says drinking plenty of water.

Chewing gum, Menthol and eucalyptus, is another tool in my arsenal too. 

It does seem to come and go thank goodness.

[BrightLight]

Estrogen causes histamine release, its the drop in progesterone leading up to menopause that causes allergies and histamine response to increase, progesterone in its role of dampening the immune system helps with allergies, I found my allergies worsened leading up  menopause and afterwards and not helped by being on estrogen.

"Hormones - including stress hormones
 Rising estrogen levels have been associated with elevated histamine, and women might notice increased sensitivity and symptoms of histamine intolerance at different times in their monthly cycle. Periods of high estrogen link to sinus sensitivity to histamine. Environmental estrogens such as pesticides, agricultural growth hormones, and PVC in plastics may also activate histamine release. Conversely, histamine appears to stimulate estrogen levels as well and exacerbate symptoms. Diamine oxidase levels are much higher in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, theoretically reducing the risk of excess histamine during that phase.

 The "stress" hormone cortisol appears to increase histamine in stomach and intestines in lab studies. Reducing stress can lower the amount of stimulating hormones that activate mast cells which release histamine and other factors of inflammation"

from http://www.rlcure.com/histamine.html

After seeing Allergy Specialist (NHS) he spent quite a times explaining about my rise in mast cells and what can cause it.

Thank you!  This puts together all my 'guesswork' as to what was happening.  Appreciate your input

[HorsesHorses]

Thanks so much. Very helpful as always.
I'm so convinced ive got a hiatus hernia or something similar but then i do self diagnose a lot and am often wrong haha.
Sparkle, what's PPI? Sorry, I'm not totally au fait with all the abbreviations and med terms i see on the forum yet.
 

[rosebud57]

I always seem to get this problem during the winter and am convinced it's due to the central heating.  I think it dries out the nasal passages and causes irritation.  You could try a humidifier.

[HorsesHorses]

Thanks Sparkle. Ive finished my lansoprazole now and it didnt seem to make any difference to my burping unfort but I defo felt more bloated and uncomfortable while I was on it. Same throat clearing and feeling as if something there. Just want this endoscopy now but called today and still got at least a 4 week wait maybe more. Ho hum  Guess I have 4 weeks to work on taming my anxiety haha.

[sammy]

wow - thanks for this!  maybe this is why I have had sinus/post nasal drip/rough voice/phlegm, especially when I tried HRT.  It would come worst when I took the progesterone part of the HRT.

Been to a lot of doctors and they don't know.  My thyroid is ok. 

I went off HRT.  So far I have not had the phlegm and the post nasal drip.  Praying it does not come back.  Never had this when I was pre-meno - all new symptoms since six months back.

[HorsesHorses]

Me again! The last few days im convinced there's something sitting in my throat. Been drinking and swallowing lots and now not needing to clear or cough quite so much but just feel as if there's something stuck there. It's horrible and im imagining all sorts of horrors of growths and tumours growing there. I did have a particularly enthusiastic throat clearing session the other day when i was fed up of the phlegm and i wonder if i did some damage but weirdly there's no pain at all, just the feeling of something stuck. Did anyone else get this sensation as an acid reflux symptom? I cannot wait for my endoscopy!!!   

[BrightLight]

Horses - sorry you are experiencing this.  I have had the sensation of something in my throat and as if I can't swallow properly.  It definately co-incided with phlegm at the back of my throat, I also have quite a bit of neck and should tension from clenching my teeth (it all seemed to happen at the same time).  Mostly it has all gone away but I did get quite stressed when it felt like my throat wasn't clear.

I think the main thing is to try not to get worried, easy to say.  If you have an endoscopy booked then hopefully that will put your mind at rest. 

[HorsesHorses]

Thanks ladies. Reassuring to hear it could just be meno then and not necessarily a nasty growing lump or something. I really hope the endoscopy does check the throat otherwise I'll be a bit miffed if i have to wait all over again for a different test. MIght check with gp just in case. Ive noticed i keep clenching my teeth too without realising straight away and also suffer from sore neck and shoulders. Hadnt clocked the connection before but that does make sense now.
I know what you mean by vicious circles. It's symptom, worry, test, new symptom, worry, test, new symptom and so on. 
Thanks for the comments. Does help so much.
HH  :)x

[HorsesHorses]

Did anyone have a slight change of voice (croaky) or trouble singing (voice cracking or vibrating on certain notes) along with your throat clearing and phlegm symptoms. I've got 3 weeks to go till my test and this last week I've really noticed an increase in throat clearing and my voice not quite sounding right. No colds or illnesses recently to make it like that though. What a surprise...another new symptom to worry about tut! 

[HorsesHorses]

I think we are the same person Sparkle haha! We do indeed sound very similar with our symptoms. Am so cheesed off with this throat thing. You just can't get away from it can you because talking, swallowing, eating and drinking are 'all day long' things. DH's always remarking (in a nice way) at my long list of symptoms and says I need a new body. Well, the other day, I read him the article about possible head transplants in the near future but even that wouldn't help as you keep the same throat and voice haha. Stuffed!
Thanks for your reply. I was beginning to panic again thinking, as you do, that it was only me and the voice change thing was only a symptom of the really serious illnesses. Deep breaths HorsesHorses, deep breaths!

HH x