I have been having issues with post-nasal drip bad lately and it has led to gagging and choking, which leads to panic since I am still a massive emetophobe

it got triggered so badly at a restaurant that I lost feeling in/control of my hands and the hospital extremely kindly prescribed me some anxiety medication. I am going to try and mix up my daily allergy med with something else as well to see if it works better, per multiple recommendations

But: I cannot eat. I slept until 2 pm, my body panicked again, I ate a little jello when I got my hand control back, and our power went out so we went to a friends house. They made us food that I managed a few bites of, and a slice of plain untoasted bread

Our friends are lovely

I am going to have to call out tomorrow again, I think

but the fear of choking/panicking is... bad now

especially with traveling lately

super sorry this happened to you!! bcuz of my chronic allergies i get this a lot, and the nosespray that's REALLY helped me out with this is Dymista

its over the counter here (but you have to ask at the pharmacy) and it TOTALLY dries up your schnozz

even if i've been having an amazing no allergy week, i'll still rip a snoot of it if i'm going out just to ensure i'm not gonna abruptly be gagging/sniffling/snorfling in public due to being ambushed by an allergen.

ah farts i googled it & it requires a script in the us. i'd highly recommend it. been using it as an emergency/preventative for years no with no ill effects other than a bit of dry eye if i have to use it a couple days

the post nasal drip is so fucking gross and miserable if you don't have a quick solution :C

might also be worth, if you have insurance to cover it since i assume its expensive in the us, to get an allergy test. i'm allergic to the dander that sheds off of DUST MITES ie i'm allergiC BASICALLY TO ALL AIR LMAO.

i did 2 years of immunotherapy & while its not FIXED since it was so severe (to a degree that my sinus passages are permanently thickened with scar tissue lol), it reduced it enormously, so if it is your problem but only minorly (obviously i have no idea!) it might permanently remove the issue

I have no advice only virtual hugs

augh, I’m so sorry, that sounds awful

Oh man, I'm so sorry. 🫂

I use Flonase and Xlear as sprays to help my sinuses - Xlear works especially fast for my congestion - there's a regular and a 12 hour one, I use both, but the regular one is the one I use to clear me up.

I appreciate the reccs, I should try a sinus spray. I am awake at a more normal time today after having another panic attack in the shower last night but I am drinking some warm lemony herbal tea and watered down gatorade, and tried a new allergy med. my head is killing me but thats probably the lack of hydration/nutrition

I feel really bad for missing work but I'm dying here

update: I was able to take a short walk, I've been able to drink more, and I'm attempting to eat

good luck!!

I finished half a bowl of ramen, so thats progress

its the fear of choking/gagging on phlegm that has me now still tho. I want to be able to eat and breath without the fear of something blocking my airway or getting sucked into my lungs or tickling my gag reflex

I am hoping to go back to work tomorrow, but I'm Anxious about that. I'm even more anxious about trying to go to HHN on Saturday...

I managed to drive us to the store to get some things like a strong cold medicine and some ginger paste to add to my chicken broth.

I think it says something about how bad my anxiety was on Sunday night that they gave me three different anxiety meds and I still couldn't sleep until I was at home and it was 4 am