Chronic throat/nasal soreness and feeling of trapped mucus
Since around October 2024 (but worsening in the past year) I’ve had symptoms and have been seeing an ENT for about a year with no resolution:
- Every morning I wake up with a very sore, dry throat
- Throughout the day I have a constant feeling of something stuck in the back of my throat that I can’t clear, like there is mucus or something sitting there that won’t move
- Sometimes I’m able to cough out small bits of mucus, other times I feel like something is there but can’t get anything out
- Daily postnasal drip and constant throat clearing and nose blowing
- Occasional muffled/weird sensation in my ears
- Symptoms temporarily improve after eating, drinking, or using a neti pot but always come back within hours
What I’ve tried: Omeprazole 40mg, Flonase, Zyrtec, Mucinex 1200mg, azelastine nasal spray, amoxicillin-clavulanate antibiotics, regular neti pot use.
Currently trying ipratropium bromide nasal spray for the past 2 days so far, recommended in this Reddit post where they mentioned very similar symptoms.
After my ENT tried all of the above, they recommended a MRI to check for potential cysts.
MRI findings:
1. Small 5mm nasopharyngeal cyst
2. Mucosal thickening in paranasal sinuses possibly indicative of sinus disease
My ENT is recommending excision of the cyst but also acknowledged that a 5mm cyst typically does not cause any symptoms.
They attributed the mucosal thickening to potential allergies, but I have confirmed dust mite and grass allergies and have been on Flonase and multiple other allergy medications for months with nothing helping. I also clean my bedroom frequently, have good airflow, and a powerful air purifier running.
So I’m not sure if the surgery would help, or the sinus disease is the real problem. Would you do the surgery? Has anyone been through something similar?