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From: Rick
Date: 02/08/01
Time: 12:18:21
Hello, Rick checking back in. It has not been a full 2 weeks, but I will be out of town over the weekend, so I thought I would check back in, since I was requested to do so.
I'm the guy that believes that the problem is postnasal drip related.
It started a year ago. FEB 2000 -- previously very active (excersise), now sedentary and stressed. Belching, bloating starts, -- chronic-- no heartburn. Doc says - Maybe gastritis. Gives me prevacid. No real help I take the prevacid for 3 months! No real help I stop taking prevacid. I start to feel better, but then heartburn kicks in (never had it before). Probably rebound effect from the prevacid. Instead of prevacid, I take some tagament occassionaly when the heartburn is there. I try alternative suff - Licorce root, Glutamine, Cammomile, etc. They help a bit. Eventually, no heartburn anymore, but constant lump in the throat. People say globus -- all in my head. Well, I can actually spit out mucus -- so, it is real, not psychological. By now it is around NOV. 2000. Still have mucus in the throat constantly after waking. Never had any heartburn problems at night or anything. I even tried all of the raised bed stuff, and the like, becuase in my mind, I always assumed this was GERD related.
Eventually read about some sinusitis stuff, and about postnasal drip. Well, this was chronic, and I never had infected mucus in my nose or anything. So, I wasn't convinced of any nasal problems. All my mucus is kinda clear, but just thick and constant. I also noticed less lump in humidity.
Now, Jan. 2001. Eventually try nasal irrigation, and for the first time in a long time - NO LUMP for at least half a day. After that, it returned. So, this lead me to believe that it was nasal related. Continued the nasal irrigations. Then, read about uncontious teeth clentching. Realized I was doing it! Due to anxiety and stress, etc. Made an effort to keep my jaw loose, and teeth never touching. Also, did some facial and neck excersizing.
In the last 2 weeks, I have been focusing on nasal irrigation once a day. Extra Vitamin C, and Zinc, and keeping my jaw loose and relaxed.
You guys told me to check back in. SO, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM MUCH BETTER. NOT THAT MUCH LUMP ANYMORE! I think the pressure from teeth clentching keeps sinuses irritated, inflammed, and succeptable to infection. Once drainage is improved, they will improve.
I never really noticed any stuffed nose or anything, just continual postnasal drip. Also, I KNOW that this drip causes me to burp, be bloated, etc. Burping causes upward pressure of acid from the stomach. If drip sits in your throat, it will hold acid upon splash upward. Think about it.
It is just amazing to me that when I burped, I always thought of it as a stomach problem. It took me over a year to look at other causes. I am a programmer, so I am quite anal about finding out the causes of things.
So, I will check back again in a week, but I think I am on the right path.
Just think about it - people always say gerd is stress related. Yes, that stress plays with you facial and other muscles. That puts stress on the sinuses. Which causes drip. Drip causes you to stress about lump in the throat. I believe that this leads to full gerd problems.
That is why we feel better when we are less stressed.
This is just my experiece, so take it as you will. Again, I will check in again.
PEACE
Rick
Below, you can read my initial posting: ==========================================
I might finally have my answers. Yes, it is postnasal drip irritating everything. Had the most stressful time of my life this past year. Very low excersize = anxiety. Anxiety caused chronic (unrecognized) teeth clentching! I KNOW THIS SOUNDS WEIRD. But I found that by not holding my teeth together (during sleep or at night), my sinus drained better, lump begins to dissapear. More saliva in the mouth. This thins the postnasal drip. Stomach problems / gerd gone. I even feel my jaw becoming more relaxed! Try it.
Got this from this website: http://bcn.net/~stoll/index.html
Sinus Infection - Chronic SInusitis The habit of letting the teeth touch, when relaxed, is the MOST COMMON cause of any type of chronic sinus infection.
Walt says: 99% of those with "chronic sinusitis" have it only because their habit of holding their teeth together blocks the pterygoid venous plexus and causes back pressure in the sinuses. This causes swelling and ANY cavity in the body that does not drain properly becomes susceptible to bacteria and fungus infestation.
Stop the teeth touching and the infections will just melt away never return.
Dr Meyer, a professor of Pediatrics in Florida, reported this more than 40 years ago, along with wonderful color pictures, so NO ONE could misunderstand. It is only because there is a LOT more money in doing research and developing treatments for the infections, than there is in teaching the person to change their susceptibilities, that this is not common knowledge!
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