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[punchnpie]

This has been a weird season for me. I've had an almost continual stuffy nose, more sinus headaches than usual (but thankfully, not as intense as I used to have them), with some sneezing, but not much, and some coughing. For at least two weeks, I've had a sore throat and raspy voice. I can't sing more than a verse without my voice going. The sore throat isn't so bad that it stops me from eating (no such luck), but it hurts when I swallow saliva. I've had to use a throat spray.

I think I have more of a sinus problem than an allergy one, but I could be wrong. I've never had such dripping down the back of the throat before. What I want to know is can this cause a sore throat and should I be worried? I don't drink or smoke, so it shouldn't be irritated from anything I'm doing. Does this sound like an allergy or throat cancer?

[lohai0]

It sounds like allergies and/or a low grade sinus infection, except for the throat. Lymphatic massage can sometimes help. I would go see a doctor about the throat, but I get sick if someone says the words 'strep throat' near me.

[merinoblue]

Allergies, babe. You are having classic allergy symptoms.  As in, allergic rhinitis. Constant inflammation.  This sounds like me from August to December.  I can't talk during these four months without coughing or sounding raspy and hoarse. 

Post nasal drip can cause a sore throat and stomach upset.  If you're having sinus problems, you should be taking an antihistamine, a daily sinus steroid spray, and using a saline rinse.  That will keep the symptoms down, and clear viruses from your nasal passages so they don't infiltrate.  Your goal should be to control the symptoms so that they you don't lay the groundwork for sinus or ear infections (or bronchitis and pneumonia).

When was the last time you saw an allergist?

[citrine]

Allergies, babe. You are having classic allergy symptoms.  As in, allergic rhinitis. Constant inflammation.  This sounds like me from August to December.  I can't talk during these four months without coughing or sounding raspy and hoarse. 

Post nasal drip can cause a sore throat and stomach upset.  If you're having sinus problems, you should be taking an antihistamine, a daily sinus steroid spray, and using a saline rinse.  That will keep the symptoms down, and clear viruses from your nasal passages so they don't infiltrate.  Your goal should be to control the symptoms so that they you don't lay the groundwork for sinus or ear infections (or bronchitis and pneumonia).

When was the last time you saw an allergist?

What merinoblue said. Also, if it doesn't get better with allergy management, see an ENT! I waited way too long to get that referral because I thought all of my symptoms were allergy-related and I just needed to find the right combination of antihistamine/nasal steroid/rinse to make them stop.  It turns out my sinus issues aren't completely allergy-related; I also have some actual problems with the structure of my sinuses and nose and fixing those will hopefully help with my PND and sore throat as well. 

[merinoblue]

There ya go.

Allergies will wear you down.  I've struggled with mine for 40 years.  They've made me ill too much of my life.  Overactive immune system.  It reacts to everything and produces constant inflammation. Then when a real threat comes along in the form of a virus, you're worn out and can't fight it off properly. That's the real threat of allergies: you're so run down, your body can't fight off the routine infections efficiently, and so the colds and flus drag on (and friends say, "You're sick again?").  It's something to take seriously.

I'm preaching because only about 7 years ago did someone (an American doctor) hand me the key: I was getting sick all the time, and being hoarse, and coughing, because I wasn't controlling my allergies.  The changes I've made based on his assessment have improved my quality of life so much.

ENT or allergist.  Go.

[punchnpie]

Well, I never thought I had allergies, but I guess you can develop them at any time. I am going to see my endo early next month; I feel well enough to wait until then.

When I was really stuffy, it dawned on me to take the generic Claritin (I was using a spray and thought a pill was overkill). I felt better, but wonder if it is OK to take it every day, or several days a week? I was used to taking Claritin and some headache relief to deal with sinus headaches, not with allergies.

Yes, the endo isn't an allergist, but he should know something and can look at my throat. If I feel better with the Claritin and if I can take it as often as necessary (1 pill a day seems fine), is there any reason to see an allergist?

[merinoblue]

Yup.  Allergists know their meds and procedures. An endocrinologist won't.  Ask your endo for a referral to a good allergist.

You can develop allergies at any time.  I don't know Claritin, but because it's OTC,  I assume it's safe to take routinely.  Have a conversation with your pharmacist. They're the best source of drug info, better than doctors.

[citrine]

As far as I know you can take antihistamines every day without much risk -- I took claratin for a while and am now taking zyrtec (well, the generic form, since I can get a giant bottle for $15 at the warehouse store). Obviously you would want to check with your doctor to make sure it wouldn't be a problem for you personally.

Nasal decongestant sprays can cause what's called "rebound congestion" -- that's why the label usually says to only use for a few days. A doctor can prescribe a nasal steroid spray that will help with the inflammation and won't cause that to happen.

Have there been any changes in your life recently that could spark an allergy? For instance, have you moved to a new place (with different pollen)? Could there be mold growing anywhere in the house from a water leak, especially in your bedroom? Any environmental issues at work? (They found killer mold at one building I worked in in grad school after a lot of people suddenly started developing allergies.) Adopted a pet? Started working or volunteering outdoors or in barns?

A lot of allergies can be managed by trying to remove the triggers from your environment as much as possible -- obviously that's not possible with things like pollen allergies, but there are things you can do to minimize exposure to allergens you can't avoid. What an allergist can do is testing that will determine exactly what you're allergic to, so that you can help to either minimize exposure to those things or get desensitization shots.

[merinoblue]

I want to add: I'm the poster child for taking antihistamines 365 days a year (Reactine, which is cetirizine).  I started in March 2003 when that doctor gave me a piece of his mind, and have never looked back.  On the negative side, I experience serious morning dehydration. On the plus side, it has a slightly sedative effect, which helps me to fall asleep, as I'm a light sleeper with occasional sleep onset insomnia.  No doctor has ever balked at me taking it continuously.

[chaosbydesign]

I take antihistamines all the time because I am (mildly) allergic to cats, and I have two of them.

[punchnpie]

Started working or volunteering outdoors or in barns?

Ha! Not bloody likely.

Seriously, no changes in my routine that I can tell. We've had the rabbit for a few years now, so I don't think she's the cause of this season's issues (and even if she is, we're not getting rid of the baby). I know about the rebound thing with sprays, and have been afraid to use them too much, but I will ask for a script for a steroid spray. Thanks for that info.

The only thing that I think is different is the terrible heat we had this summer; maybe there was more dry stuff floating around than normal. After some reflection, I realize this has been going on for a lot longer than two weeks, it's just that the last two have been kind of miserable.

[lohai0]

Started working or volunteering outdoors or in barns?

Ha! Not bloody likely.

Seriously, no changes in my routine that I can tell. We've had the rabbit for a few years now, so I don't think she's the cause of this season's issues (and even if she is, we're not getting rid of the baby). I know about the rebound thing with sprays, and have been afraid to use them too much, but I will ask for a script for a steroid spray. Thanks for that info.

The only thing that I think is different is the terrible heat we had this summer; maybe there was more dry stuff floating around than normal. After some reflection, I realize this has been going on for a lot longer than two weeks, it's just that the last two have been kind of miserable.

Have you tried a netipot? It won't work if you are totally plugged, but it usually helps with my nasal allergies.

[mended_drum]

I'll note that drugs like claritan and zyrtec (both of which I've taken) can, over time, become ineffective or worse yet begin to cause mild symptoms.  I had to stop zyrtec because I kept getting bronchitis on it; reverting to benedryl broke that pattern.  Of course, it has its own problems, but they're mild.

Repeated bouts of bronchitis can lead to COPD even in people who've never smoked, so it really is important to gain control of allergies.

[2clueless]

I've taken allegra daily for close to 7-8 years now. My doctor did not mention any long-term side effects, although I'll ask next time based on what PPs have said. I highly recommend the netipot; I was hesitant for a while, but it's made an enormous difference. It can take a few days to notice the change; doctor said that the junk currently in sinuses needs to be loosened up, but once it's gone, it's more of an immediate effect. Since I started using one, at least five years ago, I've gone without using it for anywhere between 3-10 days on several occasions and noticed increasing problems with post-nasal drip and increased susceptibility to colds. (I'll occasionally skip a day here and there and it doesn't seem to make a difference, as long as I'm using it regularly otherwise.)

One other thought: acid reflux in the larynx area can mimic sinus problems without causing traditional acid reflux/heartburn symptoms. After a particularly bad bronchitis/cold episode that did not resolve for a month, I was sent to an ENT, scoped, and put on medication to prevent acid reflux. It's made a serious difference.

[msparticularity]

All of the members of our household--including the four-footeds--have had a serious escalation in allergies this fall, Punch, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case for you as well. A lot of us had atypical weather for much of the spring and summer right into the fall, so the pollens have apparently been worse than usual throughout much of the central U.S.