Question:
I am just five weeks out of surgery and have had a relatively easy time...until now..

My sinuses kicked in big time this fall and i have a lot of mucus in my pouch...my doctor prescribed me claritin for it and it was better...until today...i cannot get anything in my stomach because of all the mucus i've swallowed...i keep throwing anything i try to eat up..my question is, is there anything else that can be done for this? i mean, i can't even get any liquids down without feeling exteremyly full and sick....    — Becca P. (posted on November 2, 2002)

November 2, 2002
I've had the same problem and my surgeon has me on Allegra. It works pretty well and I can certainly tell when I forget to take it!!!
   — Kathy B.

November 2, 2002
Wow! My sinuses have been the worst in my entire life. I have been on Allegra, Clarinex, Nasonex, Flomax, Advil Sinus Cold. You name it and I have tried it. I work for a Doctor!! He didn't see how this could possibly be connected to my surgery, but now I am wondering. Is it? What's going on with this?
   — Sue A.

November 2, 2002
I had the same problem too, in the first couple of months post-op. I went to my Ear, Nose & Throat doc and he said I had a sinus infection. Gave me an antibiotic and it was gone almost immediately. Maybe you should check in to that.
   — KelBurt

November 2, 2002
Warm tea with lemon helps cut through the mucus
   — Kathleen M.

November 2, 2002
Every time I have an ng tube in (and I don't know if you did or not) I get a sinus infection. You may want to be checked for one. I agree with the warm tea and lemon to help cut the mucus. If you get really desperate drink a bit of warm lemon juice straight (no pulp!). It can irritate the pouch and cause heartburn, but it should do the trick.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 2, 2002
Sweetheart--you need some combo therapy. Claritin is not enough.At this point you need to be on some antibiotic, straight Benadryl, and possibly some Reglan or Cimetidine to work w/ the stomach mucus--just a recommendation from a 25 year veteran of healthcare. I would not recommend this generally, but you're too soon post-op and are the perfect set-up for infection--otherwise I would say do the gentle teas. Zyrtec in place of the Benadryl could also be an appropriate choice--but straight Benadryl rules--just be prepared to nap!!!!
   — Wannabe A.

November 3, 2002
Claritin is great if the problem is just allergies, but you may have a sinus infection. I had one when I was an early post-op and many of the anti-biotics we cannot take with our new tummys. My PCP gave me a series of injections, like 3 or 4, one every other day and it knocked it right out of me.
   — Cindy R.

November 3, 2002
I had the same problem @ 2 weeks ago,I was miserable! It helped to drink very warm teas, (I know,I'm not a tea fan, but you can make a pretty good Sugar free friendship tea.) I just went to the search engine and typed in sugar free and friendship tea. Also, find a sugar free menthol cough drop, that helps clear the sinuses. Good luck!
   — Dana B.