Why am I always so phlegmy?

[Mismatchedshoes]

For years and years I have always suffered from a runny nose (especially after eating and laughing) and/or a blocked nostril.

I also have to frequently clear my throat and have a feeling as though mucus is stuck in my throat. My throat often feels raspy and my tongue is frequently sore. My eyes are stingy too. I often have a tickly cough as well. Throw in tinnitus, functional dyspepsia, IBS and endometriosis. I feel as though I have issues from head to butt!!

If this throat/nose thing is from a food allergy then I genuinely have no idea what from as I keep a food diary due to my gut issues and can not see a connection. I am dairy and gluten free and I also avoid other known triggers for my gut issues.

Oh, and the joys of perimenopause seems to be exacerbating everything.

Dust mites? Any pets? My husband is like this and it's a low level dog allergy.

Following. I constantly have a blocked nose/ swallowing phlegm/tight throat.

Even one glass of alcohol makes it 10000% times worse. Cheese also makes it worse (I dont eat enough other dairy to notice a difference).

Sounds like a dust mite allergy to me (or pets?)

Cows milk. Trust me.

I started taking an anti histamine all year round just one of those hayfever ones cheap from the supermarket. It’s made so much difference, I snore less, generally less congested and when I do get a cold now a lot less snot. I guess I have an allergy to something but in my 50s it’s made a big difference, my dad has also been taking them daily for 30yrs for the same thing. Need to try it for a min month daily see if it helps.

Have you considered one of those allergy tests you can do at home to check for different triggers? It’s definitely an inflammatory response, as is the IBS and possibly dyspepsia I suspect.

Silent reflux? (LPR) maybe not because of the eyes but I have everything else and that is what I have been diagnosed with.

Can you take them long term?
I've never used them.

Sterimar sinus rinse. Just wash all the muck out although it might take a few goes and you need to keep at it. I've also found some yoga positions help too.

I have been wondering vaguely if mine is made worse by our cat. I dont think she is the complete cause but last week I stayed in a hotel and had complete new clothing that had been nowhere near her and I could breath and hear! It was miraculous! Then I came home and in a day or so I was back to normal.

Obviously it's tough if it is her. I just need to deal with it.

Thanks everyone.

I don't think it can be a milk issue StrawberryJangle as I've been dairy free for 20 years.

I do have a dog but have lived with cats and dogs constantly since birth and have only suffered with this for around ten years or so unless of course I've developed some kind of allergy in later life?

I will try an antihistamine this weekend to see if there is any improvement.

Hermionestrousers I've just googled LPR and do seem to have most of the symptoms. Do you take anything to help? I've tried PPIs in the past but they really upset my IBS.

I did one of those allergy blood tests a few weeks ago but it just picked up the foods I already leave out of my diet.

I second looking into to LPR. I have a lot of the same symptoms and it's from reflux irritating my nose/throat/eustachian tubes.

I was told to take Gaviscon advance and PPI’s but I never really noticed much difference. I’ve had this for a looooong time now so I’m just used to it I guess.

Have you found much that helps? All the stuff we are meant to avoid is like 99% of the joy in my life