Post nasal drip/rhinitus solution that doesn't dehydrate or cause palpitations

[MTRJ75]

My Post-Nasal Drip/Chronic Rhinitis has gotten so bad that I can't eat without choking or running through half a box of tissues afterward. Of course, the worse the mucus parade gets, the worse the skipped beats become, to the point where my chest is really uncomfortable for quite a while afterwards (I'm wondering if this has to do with low blood volume or pooling, despite being heavy on the salt and water). 

Anyway, I've tried all the popular solutions (clairitin, mucinex). Nasal sprays do very little. Unfortunately, many anti-histamines or decongestants may dehydrate/dry you out or cause palpitations themselves. Are there any answers that do neither? 

The whole thing is more a nuisance than anything else aside from the cardiac issues it triggers. Issue are much worse then trying to move around (guessing the mucus jolts the cardiac nerves more that way?)

[Guest KiminOrlando]

I was put on an H1 (Xyzal) and a prescription H2. They decided it wasn't enough and I may have mast cell 'issues' but didn't call it MCAS or MCAD. They put me on Singulair (pills), Quercetin, and low does Naltrexone and my problem is gone. I'm breathing better too. I went to an Allergy and Immunologist for this. They did extensive allergy testing before they tried these drugs. Hope you are able to find help. I was having to eat with Kleenex shoved up my nose. I couldn't put makeup on because my nose was constantly running. Bending over was like turning on a faucet. I know it is miserable.

[Pistol]

@MTRJ75 - sounds like allergies. My husband swore up and down for years that he had catarrh due to his constantly either running or blocked up nose. When we moved to another house the problem went away. Years later he got tested for allergies and he is allergic to molds, dust mites and tons of other house related things. Have you seen an allergist? --- Most Antihistamines are vasoconstrictors and can trigger POTS symptoms. However - allergies themselves are vasodilating, which also can cause POTS symptoms. Personally I have outdoor allergies and do reasonably well with Claritin and Benadryl. I cannot tolerate anything with ephedrine in it, so I stay away from decongestants ( sounds like with a runny nose you don't need them anyway 😁 ).

[MTRJ75]

I've been allergy tested, probably around 7 years ago now, and then more specifically for mold issues more recently. Nothing actionable came up of course. You describe some of my issues with medications though @Pistol and Claritin has done nothing for me. I did take one of those Claritin red tabs that's supposed to act more quickly and had a tachycardia issue later that day. 

Basically, when I try to ask the doctors about this I get on the referral merry-go-round because it involves multiple systems. I'd love to be able to find someone to allow a trial of LDN. 

 

[Guest KiminOrlando]

It is worth going through the referral process. They will likely redo all allergy testing because they cannot believe it isn't allergies. Then they will test environmental allergens. Then chemical allergens, then the big allergy test. I have been scratched and/or stuck with about 300 items (maybe more) before I got to this point, but it was worth it. I breathe better when I sleep. I sleep better. I can't say enough about how much this helped me. Your's may really be allergies, but mine seems to be some kind of undefined mast cell issue. It will be interesting how he classifies it for insurance. I think it may be worth pursuing if the regular OTC stuff isn't working for you.

[MTRJ75]

But what I meant by Merry-Go-Round was Cardiologist refers me to Gastro. Gastro refers me to ENT. ENT refers me to Allergist, who refers me back to Cardiologist with all of them shrugging their shoulders. All of them trying the same standard medications that have failed before, looking at testing that has shown nothing. I just don't have the energy for that all over again without any results. 

I have a sneaky suspicion that if LDN balances the nervous system, that might correct this problem too, but the neurologist is not going to accept this as a nervous system issue. 

[Guest KiminOrlando]

Exactly! I started breaking out in a rash and my lips and tongue started swelling. This was the turning point for me. Each specialist said it was the other's responsibility. I went to a dermatologist and had the rash biopsied so that we would know if it was autoimmune or allergic. It was neither, which is how I got kicked back to the Immunologist. You are likely going to have to go through a lot of doctors. I know what you mean about not having the energy. I didn't get serious about mine until my lips and tongue started swelling. I wish you luck. 

[yogini]

On 2/13/2021 at 8:35 PM, MTRJ75 said:

I've been allergy tested, probably around 7 years ago now, and then more specifically for mold issues more recently. Nothing actionable came up of course. You describe some of my issues with medications though @Pistol and Claritin has done nothing for me. I did take one of those Claritin red tabs that's supposed to act more quickly and had a tachycardia issue later that day. 

Basically, when I try to ask the doctors about this I get on the referral merry-go-round because it involves multiple systems. I'd love to be able to find someone to allow a trial of LDN. 

 

It might feel to you like everything is connected. But unless a doctor has advised that these are related,  it might make sense to assume that the post nasal drip is not related to low blood volume or skipped heartbeats.   There are some co-conditions like mast cell that maybe could apply.   Otherwise I haven’t really heard of post nasal drip as a POTS related symptom.  You may just need a prescription med rather than an over the counter med like Claritin.  
 

If you are worried about low blood volume or skipped heartbeats, a cardiologist can help with those separately.  

[MTRJ75]

Actually, I think some of it is related to Sjogren's. Doctors rarely connect dots between bodily systems. In fact, they may not even be legally allowed to. That's usually left up to the patients unfortunately. Specialists will generally only treat specific symptoms as if they are isolated. If I waited for them to connect the dots I'd still be at square one and likely in even much worse shape. 

[marcella]

Hello I would like to respond to post about nasal drip problem. I’ve had rhinitis sinusitis over 30 years. POTS for 8 years. I have same problem with nose since beginning of POTS. Tons ruled out . It is progressing and is a failure of the Vagus nerve i believe. But haven’t got official diagnosis.