I think I am allergic to something. I don’t know if it’s dust, mold, pet dandruff, but my throat is just itching and irritated all the damn time now. I actually went to the doctor and got instructions to use Flonase and Mucinex. None of which is helping my throat. Still hurts especially on the left side. It’s not acid reflux – I’m on Prilosec and have zero heartburn. The doctor did look at my throat and saw some mucus, but nothing else.
It’s been going on for weeks and the worst part is whenever I sit at the computer, it seems more irritated. It’s not as bad outside. We went on a walk yesterday and it didn’t seem to be too painful, but now it’s just bugging me to no end. Bleh.
Does anybody else in Central Texas has this crap happening to them? Or am I the only nincompoop?
PS. I’ve resorted to Russian medicine and ordered propolis paste from Amazon.
Allergies are the worst. Feel better soon!
Yes, but up in DFW. Itchy throat, watery ? around twilight. Likely allergies to something. As soon as the weather settles down with these 40 degree swings, it should clear up. Hang in there and drink lots of tea – that seems to help me.
North Texas but about a week ago my nose started running and my throat is all scratchy and my right ear itches and feels weird.. It’s worse at work so I swear we are in a toxic building. Allergy meds don’t help.I hope you forgive it out.
I take all my allergy medicine (including my nose spray) at night. For some reason it works better when you take it then (there is a reason, but I couldn’t tell you what it is). I have a perscription strength nose spray due to the fact that ragweed is hell on Earth. If I don’t take it at night it gives me a headache. Have you tried taking a Zyrtec or something like that instead of musinex?
If there is sinus pressure I find that the four hour sudifed works really well on that if you can take sudifed.
How are your eyes? Is the left one irritated? Your eyes drain down the back of your throat and can be the cause of the itchy throat, especially if it’s focused on one side.
My doctor told me (when I had more allergytroubles than normal this fall) that I had trouble with the fine dust coming from the forestfires in Portugal and the Saharah dust that was also flowing our way. Couldn’t it be something like that?
He told me that once it started to get colder and started raining, it should get better.
Throat coat tea. I live on it certain times of the year. We’re experiencing unseasonable warmth with thunderstorms, and that always sets me off.
You can get throat coat tea off amazon, it’s not expensive:
https://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Medicinals-Throat-Coat-Pack/dp/B00LHGEL6K/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1509896783&sr=8-3&keywords=throat%2Bcoat%2Btea%2Btraditional%2Bmedicinals&th=1
Another tea made my the same people is called Breathe Easy, it also helps with head/chest congestion.
Feel better soonest.
Breathe easy tea is awesome!! tastes good and works really well.
Hot lemon tea with honey might help. Or camomile tea. I used to get “the crud” once a year in the South and tea along with a humidifier saved me.
Nope, the eyes are fine. It’s mostly on the left side right where the tonsil would be, except mine were taken out. It feels like the day you get after your sore throat and it’s healing and itching and driving me nuts. Ugh.
Throat coat tea should take care of it in three to four days. It uses slippery elm bark, and it works great for that kind of throat pain.
Definitely try the tea. It could be mold – that has been nuts in Austin the last few weeks. The other thing that helps is a nasal wash system. Totally gross, but helps with nose and throat funk. I use this one http://www.hydromedonline.com/hp_landing.html
I don’t have allergies to plants, I have them to just about every kind of fragrance and all smoke. Hard to live in a fragrance free environment these days.
I sip on Dr. Pepper in public, as the caffeine suppresses the “reaction” of my lungs, (Which is they stop inhaling) but I know a whole group of people who found out that they are reacting to their own shampoo/hair spray/soap/dryer sheets….etc. It is absolutely shocking now many things we use on a daily bases have some kind of fragrance in them. One man I know has major soar throats from laundry detergent! And they last for days!
So, have you considered that maybe you are reacting to something you use in your household?
I have to buy “free” everything for my husband, including sensitive deodorant. Thank goodness All is not an expensive detergent.
That can be from post nasal drip. I get that when my allergies flare. It’s usually one side more than the other. The drip hardens up into a little ball of stuff that blocks the drainage and starts to hurt, quite a lot. Kind of feels like one sided tonsillitis if it gets really bad.
You said your tonsils have been taken out…but there may be some remaining tissue in the back of the throat. If so the tonsil tissue may be inflamed or even infected. Try taking a flashlight into your bathroom, lean close to the mirror, open your mouth WIDE and shine the light into the mirror. Look in the sides of the back of your throat at about the level of your bottom teeth. If there is a reddened/irritated area or even a white patch, your tonsils may be to blame. Try a dental/gum anesthetic ointment on the area to kill the pain. If there is a white patch (one doctor said I had white bread stuck back there!) my best treatment is to get a finger back there (yes, this will trigger the gag reflex) and break the film over the pus/white matter and then gargle with good mouth cleanser several times a day for several days. Not a doctor, but medically aware….
I’m experiencing the same crud on the right side…add a cough every once in a while. Allergy pills and ricola sugar free lemon are keeping it bay for the most part. Hang in there.
I get that with allergies, too. I have no help for the “why” but the only thing that stops the drip for me is real pseudoephedrine (behind the counter). 12 hour has the best lack of downtime (lasts about 11 hours), and, of course, root causing the allergen and cleaning/clearing it out (if possible. Airborne allergies are hard).
When the store throat hits only one side, for me, it’s either that I sleep on that side while exposed to the allergen, a sinus infection, or ear infection.
Good luck!
Hopefully it will clear up in your new house. If it’s a mould allergy, then you will have to hope the new house is mould free. Use a hygrometer to measure humidity in the house. Normally you want to keep the humidity between 45% and 55% but if you are worried about mould, then keep it between 35% and 45%. I do this with a dehumidifier, which removes moisture from the air. I also monitor outside humidity when I open windows. Sometimes the hygrometer shows an increase in humidity, in which case I shut the windows.
I have been told by a doctor that Beta-glucans are good for boosting your immune system to fight allergies. You might like to read up on that approach.
All the best.
My pulmonologist recommended chlorpheniramine maleate 4mg twice a day for postnasal drip 11 years ago after I had a lung lobe removed for neuroendocrine carcinoma and couldn’t cough without intense pain. I’ve been on it ever since. When my leaf mold allergy gets worse, I use Nasalcrom. Both are OTC. I have no drowsiness problems with the chlorpheniramine. Nasalcrom isn’t a steroid; it’s a mast cell inhibitor which prevents the allergy symptoms from starting. Nasalcrom can kill dogs so you have to keep it where the dogs can’t chew the bottle.
::takes notes for future stories:: Nasalcrom for dog killing…
Oh my God….
No worries, Grendel and Beast are safe.
I had symptoms like that for over a year with a dry cough in response to the itchy/tingling feeling.
Turned out it was a medication side effect and even when I mentioned my symptoms to my doc he didn’t think of that. Took a change in insurance and new doc to finally figure it out.
What was the med?
Probably an ACE inhibitor such as Lisinopril.
Bingo!
Never hesitate to look up medications online if you have any new or ongoing symptoms you can’t explain. I once thought I had been exposed to some kind of heavy metal food poisoning or contamination only to find out that the intense metallic taste in my mouth was a known side effect of a sleeping pill sample dose my doc had given me. (Still another doc from the other two I mentioned)
Another medication gave me nightmares every single night.
you also might try zinc lozenges before bed.
Highly allergic to loads of natural substances, here. Be careful with the topical stuff as they can affect your mucosa; I have had nose bleeds due to the thinning thereof. Quite bad here as the leaves are dropping combined with pollen that didn’t dissipate during the summer.
Dr told me two weeks for Flonase to do the job. Give it Time.
I got off the Flonase, it did nothing for me and I hate steroids but I take Allegra daily and Singulair (generic) for asthma symptoms. The neti pot is good when it is really bad as well as mullein tea. I found the NeilMed system is much easier than the neti pot and does much the same. I have been good with this for most of ten years. It is so hard to find what can help us actually breathe normally when you have severe allergies. Mine are year round.
I just watched a video of how many VOCs fracking pads release. They poison the air for miles around. And I suffer those symptoms, but I have a mold infection from living in a lifetime of houses with mold…
I’m not ad advocate of antihistamines but have found it necessary this time of year because of ragweed. Xyzal works really well. I’ve found riccola lozenges to be the best for irritated throat.
Allergic to moving? It is pretty hard on the body…the packing, cleaning, unpacking. I resort to Asian medicine when Western meds fail or are too nasty. Hope your Russian medicine remedy helps!
Could your problems be due to early mountain cedar season?
DFW has a bad ragweed season right now. On top of that, the mold isn’t going away either. Both are double whammies for me. The ragweed affects my eyes and sinus cavities. The mold affects my bronchial tubes (very irritated, nothing coming up). My throat’s been sore lately too. I think, for me, it has to do with the lack of humidity and the bad temperature swings. I hate the 80 and 90 degree weather. I want it to get down to where it’s suppose to be in November. 🙁
I take Allegra and dye free Benedryl (not at the same time). They make me drowsy so I have to take them at night. I also drink a lot of homemade sun tea (just water and Lipton tea bags in a 2 gallon container). The tea helps to flush out all the crap from my body.
I hope you get better soon, Ilona.
My throat was sore for like 9 months supposedly from post nasal drip. I was on Flonase twice a day and I took antibiotics several times when it would get to the point were I felt like I was swallowing glass. In the end, it stayed sore. Ends up I had thrush from the antibiotics and Flonase. ?♂️
I work as a nurse in an allergy clinic, and this is what we recommend: Allegra/Zyrtec/Claritin, one of them once daily. Saline nasal rinses daily before using the Flonase or any other OTC nasal spray. You can try going to the doctor and see if he will add Singulair to your daily regimen. If all that doesn’t work you probably need to be tested to see if you need allergy shots.
I live just north of Austin and my whole family and I have been having this the last couple of weeks. I use the generic version of singular (Rx pill) and it helps some. Gargle with warm salt water and use a humidifier at night. It’s the worst and seems focused on throat/lower throat area which is driving me bonkers.
I’m so sorry! Allergies are awful. I’m allergic to 8 types of mold and have seasonal allergies so I sympathize with your situation.
If you haven’t already, you might want to try vacuuming your computer keyboard (and entire computer really) as well as the room it’s in. The allergens may be especially concentrated in that room. Then consider putting in a humidifier (obviously, well away from your computer) in your office and bedroom. A humidifier will help your throat irritation by keeping the air more humid and weigh down most allergens in the air so they should sink to the floor & mostly out of your breathing range.
As others have mentioned, try some other meds. Nothing works the same for everyone. Flonase doesn’t do a thing for me. I might as well squirt saline up my nose. The best nose spray for me is Patanase. I spray that and WHOOSH my nose opens up. It’s like magic. It is a prescription, so if you’d like to try it, you’ll need to ask your doctor.
I hope you feel better soon!
Good suggestion for computer dust
For sore throat (this does work) put honey in cup (amount you like) boil a quarter of a lemon in a little more than cup of water for five minutes squeeze lemon and strain it into cup stir and let it cool (cause boing water will hurt)
Have you tried gargling with salt water? My parents used to always force that on me when I my throat was itchy. That or they’d tie a banana to my throat. The banana was so humiliating and smelt terrible but they swore it worked. Gotta love those old wacky caribbean remedies.
I take a otc sinus medicine every stinking day. This is a lovely part of the South I could do without.. I’m in Mississippi.
If your symptoms are worse at the computer you might do a clean-up. Get a can of compressed air to blow out the keyboard. (Take it outside to do that) If it’s a desktop open the cover and clean out accumulated dust and pet hair, especially check the filters and fans. PC’s can be incredible collectors of dust, and exhaust fans can be blowing fine particles at you…
This was recommended by IT person at work, and I can tell you what came out of that fan unit was truly horrifying.
I live in Central Texas and get this one-side-throat crud. I find that the Claritin that you dissolve in your mouth helps better with the throat symptoms. Also, a spoonful of LOCAL honey a day. I like Walker’s honey. They are a bee farm in Rogers, TX.
Throat coat tea or a simple tea with lemon will help. A teaspoon of locally produced (real) honey will help reduce symptoms, reduce irritation, and will help build your natural immunity to local allergens.
Frequent gargling of warm water with sea salt should help reduce irritation as well. For herbal teas; peppermint, chamomile, licorice root, lavender, and ginger are very helpful. If you have access to essential oils (therapeutic grade essential oils from a reputable health food store), you can place a few drops of lavender on the back of your tongue. Using lavender or peppermint essential oil in a diffuser is another option. Finally, spices like cayenne, ginger, turmeric, and clove all help reduce irritation, swelling, and pain. The spices can be blended into a tea.
Obviously, don’t use anything that you might be allergic too and I’d recommend double checking WebMd for medication interactions with the herbs/spices/essential oils if you take any prescriptions. Make certain you are drinking at least 8 glasses of filtered, pure water daily (or whatever amount of water keeps you well hydrated).
I’m currently working on my AAS in Complimentary Alternative Medicine, so I get a bit wordy when I’m talking about herbal teas and whatnot! I hope you find something that helps!
Heather Langston
Hi Heather: *not* chamomile if the person has hayfever or an allergy to ragweed – it can exacerbate the problem as it comes from the same family. Source: my aunt who was an herbalist at Kingwood Gardens (Mansfield OH) .
Also – there’s a loose tea called “Cold Be Gone” from For Tea’s Sake that works for me, mostly because it’s licorice and ginger. Worth a try, especially with local honey and bee pollen added.
Cedar fever is ramping up. Different folks have different reactions. I’m not a doctor, but I had my tonsils out (which are lymph nodes) and when there’s a lot of crud going through them they feel {ick} crusty. I do OTC allergy steroids and Flonase year round; that usually keeps things from creeping out of control.
It’s important to tamp this stuff down because secondary infections, like bronchitis and pneumonia, can creep in if the Crud Isn’t Fought.
Again, not a doctor.
Feel better!
One thing to check is indoor humidity. If you can keep it under control, mold will slow its growth and you can use simple air filters to remove excess stuff from the air.
Also, something you may already know, plaster and lath and sheet rock interiors will slowly degrade over their lifetimes and leave a fine dust or powder that some folks may react to.
Just a few things to think about.
When is the last time you cleaned the inside of your PC?
A PC is like a car in that it should have regular maintainance. If it has been a while or never (shudders), get it opened up and cleaned as you probably have half an animals worth of fur and dust trapped inside.
Texas sounds awful for allergies! I have a friend here on the Left Coast who suffers terribly. She was actually scheduled for nasal surgery, (some sort of scraping that sounded horrendous), and decided to try a Netti pot. It has been a Godsend to her and she was improved enough to forego the surgery.
Hope everyone soon feels better!
How is your computer hygiene? Over time computers collect dust in their insides and caybords are not much better. Mayby something started to grow inside but the dust may be all it took for your throat. You can let your computer be cleaned it may help.
I have had that/those specific symptoms, and not much seemed to help, until:
homemade ginger tea (extremely strong).
Ingredients:
water
freshly grated ginger
lemon juice
cayenne
honey
It’s best if steeped a ridiculous amount of time, but can be made in large batches and reheated in the microwave. And you must get used to the very strong taste/smell og ginger.
It starts to help almost immediately (although you will feel the sore throat burn a little as the tea touches the area).
If you would like more details, please contact me directly.
It works better and more quickly on this than any prescription or OTC product I have ever found.
Must try this for my constant scratchy throat. Usually I just do hot lemonade with hot water, lemon juice, and honey.
I have hayfever and a moderate dust allergy and got prescribed a nasal spray last year called Dymista (azelastine and fluticasone nasal spray). It has significantly improved my quality of life. The constant sore throat from post nasal drip is much reduced and i feel like i can properly breathe through my nose for the first time in my life. It is prescrition only here in the UK but i think over counter in other countries. Hope you feel better soon!
It sounds like an indoor allergy, if you’re better outdoors. Seconding cleaning your computer thoroughly and maybe an air filter near your desk. We use one at night near our beds. It helps immensely.
Here in New Mexico there’s lots of pollen right now. I’ve been congested and coughing for weeks. My doctor suggested something for congestion and throat tickling that’s kind of gross, but works without the expense and side effects of meds. Put warm, potable water in a small cup or bowl, add a tiny bit of salt, stir, and snort it up through one nostril and into your sinuses, holding the other nostril closed. Then blow everything out. Lather, rinse, repeat. Like I said, kind of gross, but it really works. It gets rid of the congestion and tickling, scratchy throat for quite a while. Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Using a nasal saline rinse a couple times a day could help clear the crud out of your sinuses and ease the drip. During allergy season I use NeilMed Saline rinse, which is much easier to use than a neti pot. Amazon is the cheapest source, as it seems to be for most things. Be sure to use distilled water, not tap water, and warm it up a bit either in the microwave-careful not too long – or by sitting the filled plastic bottle in a sink of hot water while you are getting dressed and brushing your teeth. I hope you feel better soon!
Sinus drainage.
No matter how good the allergy meds are, you still get drainage that makes you throats – and ears for me – itch/hurt. Sitting still makes it worse while moving around makes it better.
I deal with it 3-4 months every year but that’s cause Virginia is worst case senario for most allergy sufferers.
Get a Hepa Air Purifier, clean the exhaust fan on the computer and eat a teaspoon of honey. The air purifier helped my husband’s allergies tremendously. Good luck.
Have you heard of MSM? It helped me a lot with my cat hair allergy so I could keep my cat.
Allergies are the absolute worst! Up here in Colorado, too much moisture is rarely the problem, but the allergies still abound!
Sometimes adding an H2 blocker to your regimen can really help…it sounds weird, since these are usually marketed for acid reflux, but adding a famotdine 20mg daily or ranitidine 150 mg daily can help stop that histamine cascade–H-receptors come in 2 flavors, 1’s and 2’s, typical allergy meds only hit H1’s, tummy meds only hit H2’s…if you in particular have a higher assortment of 2’s, no amount of H1 blockers like allergy meds will ever cover the whole problem, you have to block both. Good news is, they have very few interactions or side effects, as long as you stay away from Tagamet/cimetidine. Other good news? They’re OTC and you can find them inexpensively. In the tummy remedy aisle!
I hope things calm down for you allergy-wise soon!
A friend in my church choir is a vocal instructor at Juilliard music school in NY City. I used to lose my voice every year around Christmas. She recommended nasal saline several times a day to rinse out my nose and throat. You can get it at the drug or grocery store in a pressurized can. I’ve gotten laryngitis once in the 15 or so years since I started using it. It’s worth a try. Feel better.
Have you tried a Neto-pot to flush your sinuses?! You need a Neto-pot, distilled water, and saline packets. Walgreens or CVS should have it all. This is all that helps my allergies. It is gross and weird but it works. It will even stop my migraines mid-aura if I do it quick enough. Good luck and congrats on the house!
Ugh…Neti-pot. Stupid autocorrect.
Lots of good advice here already. Here is my two cents worth. NeilMed sinus rinse is fantastic. Dymista is a combination of steroid and antihistamine, works great for me. Nasalcort and Flonase only have the steroid. Try an antihistamine, Claratin, Zyrtec or Allegra. If your symptoms are allergy related it should help, this is a bad time of year for alot of people. Local honey within 50 miles is good if you have pollen allergies, it has helped me.
Unfortunately my allergies have become year round so I have been forced to get allergy shots every month.
Hope you get to feeling better soon.
Lots of sneezing and coughing in S. Central Texas. The molds are still bad. Dymista RX works for me.
Feel better soon!
Probably just allergic to work. You’ll get over it.
Russian cures? Do they include vodka?
I am loving all the good advice given here. My two cents. Definitely get the hepa filter, we got a good one through Costco.com. Clean the computer and the room it’s in. Keep the filter in use in that room. I was on nasal spray allergy meds as well as OTC meds but stopped them in March after using them for years. This caused many side effects and other issues but they were messing with other parts of my body. So I did some research and started taking Quercetin with Bromelain. Definitely helped. I have suffered from allergy issues my whole life and went through 6 years of shots which helped but never made them go completely away. This did not cure me but has helped immensely. Hopefully you get some relief soon.
My sister suffers roughly 3/4’s of the year. She finds that a serving of protein for breakfast helps with the allergies.
Hi Ilona Im happy to tell you that as a brazilian I can give my Word that própolis whith Honey is a holy medicine to any throat Paim. Hope that foi get bether soon
Foi* you
Make sure its local, organic honey.
Honey will only work if pollen is the problem. If you are allergic to molds, or mildew, or even the dust, honey won’t help.
Traditional Medicinals has some good teas which are very soothing. Throat Coat and Gypsy Cold Care are two of our favorites.
Yes but honey with própolis work in any throat pain
Throat coat is wonderful!
I live in Kansas and have issues 24/365. I finally got allergy testing and found out I’m medium-allergic to just about everything. One or two things wouldn’t cause a problem but when you put it all together, it’s miserable. I’ve tried Rx allergy meds, hepa filters and constant cleaning but it’s still not helping so I’m going to start allergy shots in a couple of months. Fingers crossed.
Clean your fan area in your computer, dust bunnies flying out.
Have you tried adding locally made fresh honey to your diet? I use it and my symptoms are way less severe. Good luck!
Time to see a good allergist. I know it’s a drag to find another doctor. Sorry
Try Benadryl
Saline nasal spray or nasal wash. Sounds disgusting but it can be effective. Its not medicine as such so you can use it as frequently as you like. I find that the stuff that buggers up my throat comes in through my nose (so long as its not due to something I ate), so using the nasal wash helps. Neilmed or Fess are the brands we have here. Or just ordinary salt in warm water, though you’ll need the weird squeezer or teapot thingy to administer it. Works for me, and even worked on my mum’s weird cough. Good luck!
Sinus wash by NeilMed works well. Also, drink plain water — room temperature is best — continually. Just a little at a time. It helps cleanse the area.
Life-long allergy sufferer here. I’ve taken Xyzal (available OTC) year round for YEARS. I’m also packing up a house. I definitely understand your pain. I never know when I wake up with a sore throat if it’s a “real” sore throat or just allergies.
So things that could possibly be affecting you right now, IMO?
1) You’re in the middle of packing, so you’re probably stirring up a lot of dust you didn’t realize you even had. (Behind, under, in – no matter how clean you think your house is, moving makes you go “OMG!!! How could I have missed cleaning THAT?????” 🙂 )
2) Your new house. Who knows the housekeeping standards of the other homeowners. Then there is their furnace filter…
3) There are also actually a lot of organic allergens at this time of year. Leaf and other molds, blooming fall plants, plant seeds (plants release them to “blow in the wind”), etc.
You’ve probably always had #3, but your immune system has been able to handle it. You occasionally get some mild allergy symptoms during particularly “bad” years, but generally, you’re OK. But this year is different. YOU’RE MOVING. So you’re suffering. symptoms.
Suggestions
1) Invest in a HEPA filter for the rooms you probably spend the most hours: your bedroom & office?
2) For the rest of the house, invest in HEPA filter for your AC/furnace(s). We buy on-line, in bulk from airfiltersnow.com – easy-peasy home delivery (our brand is Filtrete and they have varying levels of filtration available.
3) BEFORE you move into the new house, consider paying a professional cleaning company to do a “move-in” cleaning. Then have any carpets you’re keeping professionally cleaned. That way YOU don’t have to deal with someone else’s dust & dirt. Also pay for a duct cleaning. I learned the hard way that a visual glance may show “clean” ducts – but you may be looking at a very fine layer of dust. Your medical bills later will thank you for the money you spend now in professional cleaning.
If you prefer a home remedy, and you like eggs, see if there are any people locally who raise quail and sell eggs. For what it’s worth, the eggs are supposed to help cope with allergies since most quail free range.
I suffer from allergies year round here in NZ, theres always something that will set me off. The itchy throat is a reaction, usually caused for me by mould, extreme dust or pollen. I’d sincerely suggest getting a non drowsy antihistamine to take daily and see if that helps. Our meds are different here but something with cetrizine is best. A good steroid nasal spray that you can if you’ll excuse the wording, “snort so it runs down onto the back of your throat” always soothes the irritation as well. Hopefully this might help.. 🙂
May be worth going to an ENT (ears, nose, throat) physician to get the throat looked at if it’s been going on for this long. A focal point of irritability doesn’t sound like just allergies or GERD. Regardless hope you feel better soon.
As I live in Australia, I have no idea what may be affecting you environmentally but when I have an irritated throat my first go-to is honey. RAW ORGANIC honey, preferably locally sourced – not the off the shelf supermarket highly processed stuff which has all the goodness leached out of it. (Forgive me for my “from a not so good memory” information here, I had a fantastic article about this once upon a time – but this works for me.)
First, suck on a teaspoon of honey, let it drizzle down your throat – it soothes the throat, is anti-inflammatory and can help reduce minor infections. Honey has amazing healing properties and locally sourced honey can help build immunity to local pollens. There are plenty of articles out there about this. But if nothing else – its yummy and it soothes the throat!
My second suggestion is Liquorice Tea (not as disgusting as it may sound). I first heard of this at a concert where the singer was sipping tea on stage between songs, as she had a sore throat and she recommended it to everyone – I tried it, and I do too. Liquorice tea has slightly oily texture so it soothes and coats the throat to alleviate that irritating, itching feeling. Bonus… you can also put the honey in the tea! Yum!
Best of all these are natural not chemical – hope this helps x
Get better soon 🙂 Shay
We aren’t allergic to anything, but we still keep room Hepa filters in the major rooms – one in each bedroom and one in the living room. We have the Rabbitair hepa filters and it is amazing the amount of dust and junk that gets picked up. Is there a particular time of day that it is worse? All day if you are indoors? In both your previous house and your new house?
Ragweed has been dominating the allergens in Central Texas for months. Juniper has started showing up recently, so you may have a cedar allergy. Mucinex thins mucus which can create more drainage and cause a sore throat. I would try a 12hr release pseudoephedrine tablet to dry up the drainage.
I use a saline machine like sinupulse or navage with the neilmed wash and some manuka honey mixed in. It has all the antibiotic powers of tea tree, since it is from pollinating those flowers. Check with an ENT for sure, you may have inflammation on one side blocking your airway and causing an infection on one side of your head. Dust or the direction you hold your head while typing can aggravate issues.
Getting rid of other people’s dust takes a few weeks so it should get better as you get used to the house.
Best tip I ever got for a sore throat was from my go who advised to gargle with soluble aspirin, don’t spit it out. It gets the pain killers right to the source of the pain and cut down on the need for unnecessary antibiotics.
Good luck
I live on the coast in Mississippi. I get this a few times a year. I’ve tried all sorts of things until I landed on the Neti pot at the recommendation of my pharmacist. That seems to do it.
I suffer plant allergies year-round. When it turns into throat irritation, even if I take medicine to clear it up (recently started Flonase as well, and it has been helping), usually the last thing to clear up is the throat. It seems to not start healing ‘til everything else is clear, and then take at least a week or two to heal. I usually just mainline hot tea with lots of honey at that point.
Flonase is a steroid, not an antihistamine. It won’t help an acute allergic reaction.
Mucinex is an expectorant, not an antihistamine.
It also won’t help an acute allergic reaction.
You’ll need an antihistamine like Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra etc. Those 3 are all non-drowsy when taken as directed. But if it’s really bad you’ll need to pull out the big guns, Benadryl.
Not an immediate cure, but always helps me: Warm drinks, Carrabbas Sicilian Chicken soup, & Musinex-D. Can also add a spray like Chloraseptic to numb things out for a bit. Seriously, the mix dries the sinuses out and gives the throat some recovery time!
The Southwest Native Americans used osha root for all things respiratory related. I was first introduced by a medicine woman who gave me a piece and had me chew it A traditional way of administering the medicine), which I don’t recommend for anyone except the traditional, hardy, or desperate. I purchased Osha Root honey in Arizona at a local herbal apothecary and its was amazing at alleviating coughing, sore throats, and anything respiratory, so I ordered Osha root online and started making my own with.
You can also order Osha honey online, and I like the fact that those orders support local herbal medicine people, since Osha root, unlike red rice yeast for high cholesterol, hasn’t been appropriated by western pharmaceuticals (and hopefully never will be because it only grows at high altitude and does not adapt well to cultivation.) But that means osha root (which I think is known in western botany as lovage, not 100% sure) has to be wild crafted, so if you purchase the root or osha honey, you need to make sure it has been ethically sourced/sustainably harvested.
Its not just you. Allergies have been brutal this year between the mild winter, and the warm year and rain.
Waco, Texas is the allergy capitol of North America, so we really get whammied here in Central Texas. Juniper, Ragweed, Mountain Cedar.
In order to function I do daily: a Sinus Rinse in the morning. Plus I’m doing an oral antihistamine (24 hour zyrtec), a nasal antihistamine (rhinocourt, before I leave the house).
On an as needed basis I also take advair as needed when I have allergy induced asthma symptoms. Taking airborne to help my immune system when symptoms worsen as I’m prone from going to mild irritation to full blown bronchitis quickly.
Cough drops with menthol for sore throat and coughing as needed.
Sometimes a steroid shot can help too. I’m trying to hold off until I really need it on that though.
Healthy cures are great over time but you’re probably on dust and mold overload with moving. For relief right now, try Zyrtec over the counter in the morning. Non-drowsy it covers the most allergens and is a antihistamine. If after a couple of days you still have symptoms, go to Dr. (or have called in) for a prescription of Singular in addition to Zyrtec. It’s a antileukotriene and is the 2nd treatable pathway in an allergic response.
All the previous suggestions on air filtration are great and will help.
I live in Austin and have dealt with the same thing for weeks, too. I was told it was a virus. It might be environmental stuff as well. I haven’t found anything that really helps and if I overexert myself, it gets worse. You’re not alone.
Could be scm. also sitting at computer, your posture could make it feel worse.
Handy tip, sucking on a Hershey kiss is just as effective as a cough drop..
What is SCM?
I’m near Houston, and my allergies are nuts right now. If you haven’t looked into it, allergy shots are serious worth the time/money/getting the shots. Won’t help the immediate issue, but will help long term. Which mucinex did you buy? I find the straight up blue/white mucinex works a treat, and the other variations don’t work at all.
For short term relief, I use a honey ginger crystals tea mix, half a lemon or so of lemon juice, a squirt of honey for soothing, and some form of sugar. And hot water. Sometimes I will add either caff or decaff green tea for depth of flavor. It’s also good with fresh ginger instead if I am going to let it steep overnight. (I don’t get enough smack you in the face ginger in a short steep from fresh.)
https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Ginger-Honey-Crystals-Pack/dp/B002SWB73C?th=1
Oh, and what my doctor always tells me is to double my liquid intake. Thins the mucus.
I’ve had allergies my entire life. But since I started taking Allergra it’s been 15 years since I’ve had a cold so some of those “colds” before were allergies. I’m allergic to dust mold plants perfumes and cats. For me Claritin did nothing and I had a bad reaction to Zyrtec. But it’s very individual you have to see what works best for you. I take Allegra year round. I also use a nasal spray. The best for me was Nasonex which went generic last year Mometasone but is prescription. They wanted me to try Flonase (cheaper and otc) but it is scented and made me sick. OTC the best I’ve found for unscented is Nasocort. I hope you find a combo which works for you Anne
Do you sleep on your left side? I sleep on my left side, and when my allergies flare up everything drains to the left sinus overnight. It then drips down my throat and irritates the left side all day. Decongestant before bed helps. So does sinus wash (I just use salt and warm water). Also turn over anytime you wake up. You will eventually go back to your normal position, but the break helps keep the swelling down.
I have something similar, and I think it is crap growing in the house as well as plants here on the Monterey Bay. Out if curiosity, the side that hurts, is that the side you sleep on? If so, it could be a sinus drip thing from while you sleep that is getting out of control. Neti pots/sinus washes are helpful. If you go this route I suggest doing it in the shower as it can be messy and, well, wet. Using straight salt is a more painful route. Using salt and baking soda is good because the baking soda buffers the salt. You can get a neti pot at health food stores, a lot of drib stores, and probably Whole Foods. Here’s a recipe for the solution;
1 liter boiled water
½ t salt
¼ t baking soda
or
2C water
¼ t salt
1/8 t baking soda
For the salt, I recommend Diamond Crystal Kosher salt in the red and white box. Not the fine or ice cream stuff, just the regular stuff used for koshering meat. No additives, clean flavor/aroma, and is great for cooking with.
Air filter/hepa filter helps. Ionizer helps, and I am looking into an ozone-ator. Used on boats and damp homes for killing molds/mildews. Local bee pollen can help if it issue is plant based, but it helps to use a particular dosing if you go that route. (More info if you want it.) I worked in a health and vitamin store for a few years, and picked up a fair bit, plus I have experimented on myself. Warm salt water gargles help throat ick, as does tea made from fresh thyme (gargle with this as well as sip). Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat and Breathe easy combined help, and I usually toss in a couple bags of Tension Tamer. Might help with some of the “Oh crap, we just bought an house!” jitters. I empathize with you. Good luck.
It could be post nasal drip from allergies (pollens/mould etc) and I get pollen allergies in spring and autumn. About 2 years ago I started taking 1 level teaspoon of turmeric powder a day* and was able to give up my daily antihistamine. I still take an antihistimine in the worst couple of weeks each season, but it’s great to not need it for most of the year. I started getting tachycardia from fexofenadine every day after 6 years.
*the body absorbs more if the turmeric is cooked, so I add it to my wake-up coffee. That’s the only way I’ll regularly take it and at least it’s in hot water for several minutes. I still got benefit from making it into a small cold slurry with a water chaser, but I’m used to it in my coffee and it’s doesn’t get forgotten.
Have you tried adding locally made fresh honey to your diet? Goodluck to you.
Warm salt water gargle as needed. Also lots of fluids. Dust/clean keyboard?
For reals allergy shots worked miracles for me. Totally worth stabbing myself w a needle on a weekly basis for months on end. I used to be a walking allergy commercial. I finally broke down and saw somebody about it. We did the scratch test thing. It’s easier to tell you what I’m NOT allergic to. I am not allergic to: Mice, Horses, Palm Trees, Ragweed and Food. Everything else? I’m at least moderately allergic to it. I used to have to take Zyrtec every single day and I would still spend months looking like an allergy commercial. Now I take Zyrtec once or twice a year. Mostly bc I need to do some booster shots but I’m slacking. For real tho. 110% worth it.
I also know a essential oil cure from back before I did the shots but I wouldn’t do it w anything less than actual DoTerra oils bc you injest it and it’s an unregulated industry and blah blah blah. But it works. Like wow. You can send me email or FB message or whatever if you want details.
Go to Walgreens and get wal-act from the pharmacist. You have to sign for it because it can be used to make meth but it is not prescription. It’s the only effective solution I’ve ever found for symptoms such as you describe. I find one tablet in am and one at night is sufficient.
Stinging nettle tea is meant to be helpful and maybe it is a bit. I steep it with peppermint tea because it is not tasty by itself. This is not a wholehearted recommendation but is pleasant enough to drink the combo
That’s a good idea with propolis or even organic unheated honey. If you could source it locally it would work even better for your local bugs and allergens
#lovemyrussianremediea
Find a doctor that will do a laryngoscopy
It is at the old house or the new. I recommend getting tested. Shots will help, but more importantly you will know what you are allergic to and can take steps to avoid it. It can also be food/beverages that cause it. In the meantime, antihistamines help.
Im like this almost half the year. I have environmental allergies. A huge culprit is dry air. The AC dries out the air in house and the sinus draining both irritate my throat raw. Allergy meds help little. I brought more plants in and a humidifier to keep moisture in the air, gargle a lot of salt water, and eat sugar free Popsicles.
Zyrtec works best for my husband, Flonase does zilch for either of us. Also try gargling: 8 oz of warm water, 1 tsp of salt & 1/2 tsp of baking soda. Good luck!
Mucinex might make you cough and you’ll hurt more. Try antihistaminic. It should help the itchy feeling and if you take it before bed it should help you sleep. Until the antihistaminic have an effect a simple painkiller will help.
I have false cold with itchy throat all winter. I tried a lot of things until a doc told me it’s an irritation cough and to stop cold drugs!
Good luck. I hope you feel better soon.
Mold is off the charts right now and it does cause throat irritation. All the suggestions will help but when the weather changes (Wednesday) it will help so much more.
After 30 years of living here I’ve finally started to show signs of allergies – mostly watery and itchy eyes. I hope you find something that makes you feel better!!!
As annoying as it is. It is allergies. Make sure your drinking a lot of water. Maybe some hot tea with lemon and honey. Suck on some throat lozenges whenever its really bothersome. If your mucous stays where it’s at it will eventually develop into some sort of a chest cold/bronchitis. I take generic zyrtec everyday the 24 hour and every so often I have to use Flonase and usually takes care of it. Fall really sucks for me. I have allergies all year round. Dont take Mucinex for longer than 4-5 days. Otherwise you WILL get sick. Something in those medicines that can make it worse if you continue to take them for longer than a few days. You can take like a break for a week and then go back to taking some if there is still an issue. Feel better!
When I lived in San Antinio, I constantly had Cedar Fever. It is a local -to Texas- phenomenon where the cedar pollen causes severe allergies and a fever. I gargled warm or cold salt water, which ever felt best. The Hepa filter was my new best friend. Nasal spray and antibiotics were called for sometimes too.
Since your allergies seem worse inside at home, I suggest you look for a subtle water leak. My daughters bedroom wall backed up to the shower wall. There was a tiny tiny occasional drip that resulted in a tiny tiny mold patch by her headboard. When we cut the sheet rock out for the repair, we found the mold growing all over between the walls from the water wicking outwards and down. Fixing the leak, clorox & brand new sheetrock resolved her health issues immediately.
I hopr you get well soon and thanks for the snippet!
Mountain Cedar pollen does me in, so I’m in the same boat. I’ve thought it was a cold coming on several times, but it never gets worse, so I have to blame allergies. Fluonase and Mucinex only helps, it doesn’t make it all go away. H.E.B. has these wonderful honey-filled cough drops called Honees, for less than $2/bag. They aren’t just made with honey, they have some in the middle too. They come in plain honey flavor, or in lemon-honey. Here is the sacrilegious part – I sweeten my hot tea with them. Lovely lemon and honey, with a touch of menthol helps clear my head, at least temporarily. I also flush my sinuses in the hot shower with saline water, which really helps more than the medicines. I’m also in Central Texas, and for me, allergies are almost year-round. Winters are just not harsh enough to make everything go dormant, (or kill off fleas and mosquitoes for that matter).
I live in Houston, and sore throats are just part of life about 1/2 the year. When they get REALLY bad, I do Allegra in the morning, and then hot tea w/ lemon and honey all day. If it’s still bad post work, do hot tea with lemon honey and bourbon. If nothing else it helps you not care that your throat hurts.
I can´t get rid off dry coughing, but I one thing that helps me is green tea with fresh lemon juice, grated raw ginger(peeled) and bit of honey. It´s my lifesaver.
And for mucus in a throat, the good way to dissolve it is to make a saturated warm saline solution (just add a salt to cup of warm water until it does not dissolves anymore) and gargle it twice a day. Not very tasty but helps. Same thing also helps to clear stuffed nose (but is even less pleasant, though it works) – you have to sniff it.
Luke warm saline water does wonders for my sinusses. I have a lot of problems with them due to my severe dust mite allergy and rinse them every day. Since I do that I my sinusses swell up a lot less so I have a lot less headaches.
Never tried the saline water to gargle, I will certainly try it next time I have mucus stuck in my airway.
Yeah, gargling with salt water works great. Unpleasant, but works.
Or you can get premixed saline packs at the pharmacy or grocery and use it once or twice a day it really cuts the mucus. They have neti pots or what I use is a bottle you squirit up your nostrils and tilt your head each way to clear the water and mucus. It helps the mucus and moisturizes your mucus membranes. I have awful drainage and allergeries and my ENzT Dr has me using this and it really does help a lot
Dear Mrs. Gordon,
My name is Cynara, (long-time reader, first-time writer,) and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am sorry to hear about your throat. I feel your pain; it is frustrating to not be able to sing without my voice cracking because my being off-key isn’t bad enough. You know that feeling when you are just talking and suddenly get a dry spot in your throat that makes you keel over hacking? This tea can make it go away. It is called Throat Coat by Traditional Medicinals Wellness Tea. The good news is you only need a sip hot or cold, and it relieves the irritated spots for, I would say, at least 30 minutes. The bad news is, is doesn’t taste fabulous. My son calls it “the witch’s brew.” I’m sure there are other things with slippery elm in them, but I have not found them. This tea is easily purchased at any grocery store in Arizona, so I hope you can find it easily. It’s an easy, effective fix. I will attach a picture for you, and I hope you feel better soon. Also, thank you for the hours of enjoyment you and your husband have given me. There is a peace I find when I am lost in a good book, and I appreciate every moment.
Sincerely,
Cynara
I get an itchy, irritating cough when the air is too dry indoors since I live in a house with central heating (and it’s an old house with brick walls that are 30 cm’s thick so I guess they absorb a lot of moisture too). When the cough persists for too long I get mucus in my throat that is very hard to cough up. Thyme sirop is a good way to help loosen the mucus.
I bought a big humidifier last winter that also purifies the air, which is a plus cause I have severe dustmite allergy. As long as the humidity doesn’t go under 50% I don’t have a scratchy throat anymore. My humidifier has a hydrostat so all I have to do is full it with water every day.
If you buy a humidifier, don’t buy one that works by ionising the water. Before I bought that big humidifier I had a small one as a test that worked by ionisation and after a while it leaves a white film (very fine chalk) over everything in the vicinity even though I put water in it that went through my Britta filter. Humidifiers who work by warming the water, or cold water and a fan (which is the system I have) don’t have that.
If you’re in your new home, I’d suggest an interior air analysis. Formaldehyde can have that kind of effect, as can other chemical irritants. There are some reasonably inexpensive home test kits available. Good luck and feel better.
I have the same symptoms with my throat with my chronic sinusitis. It comes from the post nasal drip down the back of the throat which is frequently in such small amounts that I don’t notice it. It is usually worse on one side but both sides are involved. I use the Navage to rinse out the sinuses because i’m not very skilled with a netti pot. And that helps in the short term. Have had to have antibiotics several times to clear up the low grade sinus infection which causes no other symptoms. I find it gets worse with seasonal allergies or when the heat first comes on in the fall. Sitting at the computer makes it worse and I can only assume i am holding my head in a position that facilitates the drainage. Try washing out your sinuses by whatever method you prefer and use your flonase which can take a while to be effective and possibly add sudafed (if you tolerate it) to dry up the drainage. For me the mucinex which is supposed to help thin the mucous and help the sinuses drain made the symptoms worse but don’t stop it as your doctor said to use it and he should be the one you listen to. Hope you feel better soon.
Sorry to hear about your sore throat. Everyone has some great suggestions. (some of which I’m trying!) I have a lot of allergies, including to foods, & have found that while (non-sedating) antihistamines do dry out my sinusitis, they also dry my throat & that hurts. 1st the post-nasal drip, then dry, then a sinus infection. Sore throat, swollen sinuses. If I notice the infection soon enough, a steroid nose spray will help, if not I must get antibiotics. I have switched to freeze dried stinging nettle capsules for the runny nose symptoms, those work pretty well. (I tend to save Benadryl for extreme allergic reactions like anaphylaxis, after the epi pen & hospital trip.) Benadryl does make a terrific sleeping pill for me also. Other people I know are able to take Sudafed in the morning and/or evening and be ok. Although you have to try ’em to see which works, the stuff you must sign for or the PE. As for soothing your sore throat, a warm toddy is by far the most fun. Also, most people seem to be allergic to molds/funguses of one type or another. You should probably get the new house checked for those too, before you move in. Sorry about all this.
If you are willing to try Chinese medicine, my parents fed me this whenever i had an itchy throat or cough: https://www.amazon.com/Nin-Jiom-Pei-Pa-Koa/dp/B001FAQXD2 It helps that I think it tastes good too
Or if you don’t want medication, Asian mom pseudo science says: eating asian pears or the pith of oranges will help with coughs and itchy throats. To check if its a humidity issue, breathe over a bowl of hot water (with a towel over your head), if it makes you feel better, then purchase a humidifier. If you think it is chemical related, make sure the air filter you get also has a large activated carbon filter. HEPA filters filter out particles (the P in HEPA) while activated carbon filters remove odors and gases. Good luck!
You might be allergic to certain fruits. As I get older I found my throat now itches if I eat bananas, kiwi fruit or cherries. I would take a Benadryl tablet to make the itch stop. Now I just stay away from these fruits.
I am not in Texas, but Montana. I have had something similar before though 🙂 Things that helped me were gargling warm salt water or alcohol based mouth wash. These dry out the mucus in the throat. Also, a netty pot rinses out your sinuses from whatever is irritating it. The only other things i can suggest are pretty basic, mint tea, eucalyptus essential oil in an oil diffuser. Oh! if you have a DOTERA person their “on guard” really clears out your nose and smells warm and citrusy.
I have dry throat + allergy problems that sound similar. One thing that helps me is to wear one of those paper, elastic over the ears, hospital masks around the house, or when I sleep. It works like a mini humidifier/allergen excluder. If it’s really bad I will mist the inside lightly with water, or even rub it with a little bit of lavender oil or eucalyptus. Works for me.
Consider where the computer is? Is there carpet? Do you wear the same clothes in there all the time? Change the drapes? Curtains? Something in that room is sparking your immune system……
It’s an Austin allergies thing. (Unless you have something else going on.) Usually it takes folks a few years to get sensitive to the allergies here. And then they just get miserable a few times a year until they get it under control. When you move it will probably get better. Allergies collect inside the house. Try getting an air cleaner. And changing your air filter every few weeks. And rinsing the allergies off your face periodically. And don’t rub your eyes, because that rubs the allergens into your eyes, which are right next to your sinuses.
Maybe try spending a week on the beach? That works to clear the allergies out of my system. Not for my sister-in law though, she’s allergic to something at the beach too.
One method we have found effective in dealing with allergies (and in one case we know of, a doctor recommended this method to a women suffering from severe asthma), is to take two tablespoons of local raw honey daily for about two weeks. It’s really important that the honey is local to where you are living. The raw honey (easiest to find in Farmers Markets) has the various types of pollen that could be causing all the reactions to your environment. It worked really well for my husband when he was commuting between California and North Carolina for about 18 months.
Good luck and much empathy.
Hi Ilona
I’ve read a lot of good stuff about this approach as well. Certainly worth a try and hey! Honey is yummy and good for you!
A couple notes:
Raw – you need to get raw honey because the pasteurization process kills the good stuff
By itself – You need to eat it straight and not in tea or on anything hot. The heat will kill the good stuff too.
I second the idea to check your air humidity. I had that problem – I found a good test to see if the air is too dry to stand near a kettle of boiling water for a bit – if the itch goes away after the kettle has been boiling for 10-15 minutes it is a humidity issue….
My throat does that usually right before I get a major cold from hell. My sinuses go crazy before this, so I do try the Flonase to try and head it off. When that doesn’t work I take raw honey (from a local in the area you are living in – helps with allergies) add slices of lemon and ginger let that soak in the honey and add it to my tea. My husband does that too – except he’ll add a touch of whiskey to it as well and swears it takes the pain right out.
Please consider food allergies in your list of possibilities.
When I tested positive for allergies to corn, soy, milk, wheat, eggs, coconut, and yeast, I paid a lot more attention to how food, in general, made me feel. A sore throat, itchy skin, arthritis, headaches, achy muscles, and nausea were some of the symptoms.
I live in Vermont and not Texas, but I do get similar symptoms at certain times of the year. A couple weeks ago was hell because some trees and plants were having a last reproductive hurrah before winter starts to set in.
I try to stay as hydrated as I can when this happens. Gargling warm salt water (“yummy”) helps the sore throat, and avoiding mucus making food/drink (my milk! my cheese! *sob*) helps with the mucus.
My office at work gets AWFUL in the winter and sooooo dry it hurts. So I use a cool air humidifier. I also use a Himalayan salt lamp (no laughing peeps), because it naturally ionizing the air and makes the burden on my asthmatic lungs a bit easier. Not to mention the pretty mood lighting! At home we use lots of humidifiers because the air gets really dry up here in the winter, especially when it gets really really (did I mention REALLY?) frigging cold up here in January and February. We’re talking -15F regularly… -30F to -50F after the windchill factor on windy days. The air gets dry enough to give you a nose bleed almost…
Because of the long cold winter that closes up our homes up here… it’s no surprise that once spring hits a balmy 55 degrees, we are opening windows and driving with the sunroofs open, lol! We finally had to close the bedroom window this week. Booo! Now commence the five months of coooooold…
Well I remember our year of exile on the east coast in 93-94. One of the worst winters at that time especially for exiled Southern Californians.
I always thought my husband’s cousin was exaggerating about wearing shorts and t-shirts in 50 degree weather in Cincinnati until we had been experiencing 25 degrees below zero and it warmed up to a sweltering 40 degrees in northwest New Jersey. The entire neighborhood dug out their shorts and t-shirts and swanned about . . . until the next ice storm and we went back to huddling in our sensible winterwear.
If you haven’t already, look into getting a whole house humidifier. We have used one for years now. We are in a two-story house, so we set it up on the second floor and run it during the Santa Ana winds and any other time the humidity is down in the teens to single digits and all the joys of dry air, dry skin, dry sinuses, and static electricity need to be wrestled into livable conditions.
Much empathy.
Dear Mrs. Gordon,
My name is Cynara, (long-time reader, first-time writer,) and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am sorry to hear about your throat. I feel your pain; it is frustrating to not be able to sing without my voice cracking because my being off-key isn’t bad enough. You know that feeling when you are just talking and suddenly get a dry spot in your throat that makes you keel over hacking? This tea can make it go away. It is called Throat Coat by Traditional Medicinals Wellness Tea. The good news is you only need a sip hot or cold, and it relieves the irritated spots for, I would say, at least 30 minutes. The bad news is, is doesn’t taste fabulous. My son calls it “the witch’s brew.” I’m sure there are other things with slippery elm in them, but I have not found them. This tea is easily purchased at any grocery store in Arizona, so I hope you can find it easily. It’s an easy, effective fix. I will attach a picture for you, and I hope you feel better soon. Also, thank you for the hours of enjoyment you and your husband have given me. There is a peace I find when I am lost in a good book, and I appreciate every moment.
Sincerely,
Cynara
Reading other helpful tips reminded me of one more
-I rinse eyes when my sinuses are acting up. As stupid as is sounds, a lot of the time just rinsing my eyes works like expensive medicines do for my sinuses. I buy the store brand box of preservative free single dose drops and let them work their magic.
I’m not sure if anyone else has suggested this but have you tried local honey? You can add it to tea or just have a spoonful (Its also awesome for sore throats). It has to be local (the closer to your location the better). I live in Florida with year round allergens so this is a trick that my mom used when we were kids and now I use.
If the irritated throat is worse at the computer try cleaning the keyboard. I had recently removed the caps on my keyboard to fix some sticking keys and was amazed by the gunk that was festering in the crevices between the key caps.
Could be formaldehyde in the air… try Peace Lilly’s they remove a lot of common household toxins! And are pretty – warning don’t let your pets eat them…
https://greatist.com/connect/houseplants-that-clean-air Gives you a list to look at too for other options
Also gargle warm salt water, it kills off bacteria and cleans off gunk.
I’m not certain if this would be at all relevant if you only started Flonase after it started to be irritated, but Flonase gives me a strep-like sore throat after using it for about a week. No other symptoms beyond an incredibly painful throat, but it’s happened all three times I’ve tried using the spray. Once I stop using it my throat takes a few days to recover and then we’re all good again.
Not sure if anyone mentioned this but a year ago I had an issue with an itchy throat and was constantly sucking on cough drops, finally found out it was my blood pressure medication. Not sure if you take any thing for blood pressure but something my have triggered ba medication to cause a reaction.