Hi Val,

I've had post nasal drip constantly since the year 2000 due to chronic sinusitis. Chronic Sinusitis is common with CVID.

I wake up several times in the middle of the night choking, so I keep a water bottle by my bedside.

I recommend speaking with your Immunologist to check your nasal passages and maybe your lungs to be safe.

I hope it gets better, I know what a pain it is.

Denise

My pulmonary doc put me on Verimyst. He actually did it hoping that my Asthma would get better with out having some of the constant post nasal drip. Its sorta expensive so worth it if you have insurance. IT works really well. It did help my Asthma and it does work for allergys would work even in your case0 but also works to stop the drip. I use it more in the summer and I cut back a little in the winter. Might want to talk to Doc about it.. its good stuff.. Ohh a nose spray is what it is.

I too have chronic post nasal drip and was told by the ENT...it is part of the CVID package (and common with Selective A as well). I use a sea salt saline spray and colloidal silver nasal drops....and the have done wonders for me. I found the prescrip nasal sprays made my nasal passages very dry and I had nose bleeds, so the alternatives worked better for me!
Andrea

I too, use saline sprays, probably not as often as I should.

Andrea- great new tip on the colloidal silver nasal drops. I just googled it and will get it the next time I go to my Nutrition Store. Whenever, possible, I like to try homeopathic first..

I've tried several prescription sprays 14 yrs ago and not one of them work and will not do the over the counter nasal sprays.

In advice to myself:

Thanks all!

I have had numerous tests, and I have no allergies, asthma, sinus infections, or lung damage. While this is good news, the post-nasal drip has been perplexing.

Thanks for the discussion about Verimyst. I did take Flonase a while back because I thought I had allergies. That did seem to work somewhat. I tried a little bit that was left over last month (not expired), and it didn't work, but now it occurs that I need to take it longer before I give up on it. I will try again - I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I will ask. I looked up Flonase vs. Verimyst, and it looks like Verimyst is better for allergies and Flonase for non-allergic symptoms.

I tried over the counter saline spray, but all I get is a huge snootful of water that pours down my throat and is very unpleasant. What am i doing wrong?

I will look into the colloidal silver nasal drops.

Thanks again!!

Hi Val,
I take Dymista and it works well for post nasal drip. My insurance won't pay for it this year and it is expensive, so my doctor put me on two different nasal sprays that combined have the same ingredients. For both sprays, it will only be $5.07 a month. I'll be using Asetlin and Flonase in their generic forms. My doc definitely believes it is CVID related. I hope you feel better soon!

Hugs,
Ashlee

Hi, again--

So, I went to my immunologist at Johns Hopkins (Howard Lederman) yesterday for my bi-yearly assessment. He is one of the best in the country. (I say this not to brag but to explain more below.)

I will backtrack a moment.

My history is of recurrent cough, bronchitis, and pneumonia, escalating quickly during the winter of 2012 and spring of 2013, leading to diagnosis. (No allergies.)

Near the end, I started having wheezing and shortness of breath, which was treated with asthma medication. The immunologist who referred me to Dr. Lederman said he wasn't sure if I had asthma or not.

When I started treatment in May with Dr. Lederman, all infections and symptoms went away except a tiny cough in the summer, which got worse and worse as the fall and winter progressed.

I went to several docs and a nurse, who kept suggesting I had postnasal drip and telling me to take antihistamines, which did nothing. I even told one of them that I still had some wheezing if I breathed out as far as possible. She smugly said there was no wheezing.

The nurse last Thursday gave me Flonase and suggested an antihistamine, which again did nothing.

So, I went to Dr. Lederman yesterday, and he had me breathe out really far, and he said he heard wheezing!! He said I had "cough variant asthma" and prescribed Advair. He told me to keep taking the Flonase until the symptoms subsided and then stop the Flonase to see if I can go without it.

So, I look up "cough variant asthma," and it said that it was often hard to diagnose and was often thought to be postnasal drip! It also gets worse in cold weather, hence the increase in symptoms in the winter.

Also, he reminded me that, while I did my lung function test, I forgot to do the lung CT scan. I am a little worried that the wheezing may be due to lung damage, but I supposed I could get off the computer now and make an appointment!

The other thing Dr. Lederman said is my recurrent yeast infections are due to antibiotics rather than to CVID. My OB-GYN prescribed several refills of Diflucan, but Dr. Lederman said if that didn't work I should try the technique he uses with Diflucan, which is the following:

100 mg Diflucan (Fluconazole)

Take 1 tablet daily for 7 days, then twice weekly for 2 weeks, then weekly for six weeks

Anyway, I will keep you posted on my progress and let you know what I find out.

Valerie

Hi Valarie,

So glad you are getting to the bottom of it. I've had asthma for a few years but my immunologist is thinking of taking me off my medications. I have turned the option down at this point but I tend to have post nasal drip and it settles in my throat, then I get infections there and in my lungs over time. I had been on Advair for a while and only needed more and more. Now I am on Dulera and it has things in mostly good shape. I am also on Dymista, a new steroidal nasal spray. My immunologist thinks all this is cause by my lack of IgA and that once I get more impact from the piggies that it will be easier to manage. For now, I just deal with it which can be a bit tough since I lecture a lot and don't want to hack in front of crowds of people. Looking forward to the day that risk changes. I think I'l bring up this "cough variant asthma" just in case it might be helpful information.

Oh yeah, and having a good doctor is merits a little bragging I think. ;-)

Thanks - Zen

Everyone is different when it comes to drips - nose-wise... I am using Dymista (prescription). My immunologist says it has a preventative med and actually treats the drainage. I used and loved Veramyst for years. He says Veramyst is used more as a preventative measure. I also am on Asmanex for asthma. I use a cool mist humidifier too. Last but not least - throw in some Zyrtec D. I have a pretty dry nose now - nose-wise!

I use Otrivin Saline sea water and Aloe and Collodial Silver drops....I think it is very important to spray/drop while keeping you head forward while you breathe in, then keep gently sniffing you you get the best spread. I find I need to do this 3-4-5 times a day depending on my sinus condition, but since I started this on a regular basis my sinuses have improved! In addition I have fewer nosebleeds and dry nose related issues...but my nose is always dry due to antihistamines!!

Side Note: bacteria can travel between toothbrushes so CVID ers need to keep their toothbrushes far away from others!! In addition, soak and clean you toothbrush at least monthly with hydrogen peroxide.....even the ones with the head you throw out...bacteria lies below the brushes...it all needs to be cleaned!!
Cheers!