Reducing Increased Mucus/Snot?

BraveheartKitchenSink

Has anyone else dealt with this? I know we all have heard about or experienced the "stuffy nose" pregnant women often get due to increased mucus production. I had it with my twins and it went away as soon as I delivered them. But this bump, for as easy as it has been on me, is in overdrive with the snot. So much so that I gag constantly on the new post nasal drip. If I'm not eating or sleeping, I'm gagging on snot. I'm blowing my nose so much it's just blood now. The mucus is completely clear so I know I'm not sick (plus it's been going on for almost 2 months at this point). I can barely talk to my husband and get full sentences out and I've started throwing up just pure bile from the amount of snot in my stomach. In fact, the minute my stomach is empty, I start gagging on the snot to the point where it doesn't go away until I eat. While driving, trying to work, picking up my kids. You name it. Has anyone found a way to reduce this? I was taking zyrtec everyday while some forest fires were nearby making it worse. But this is getting out of hand and getting worse the further I get along. Probably a weird question.  I've never known anyone to have this much extra snot before. I'm not really nauseated to clarify. It's the gag reflex being triggered by the snot from the post nasal drip. It's a feeling like if you were to try to hock a loogie and clear your nose/throat... but it doesn't come out and gags you more. 

MrsCaliRN

I recommend an antihistamine! I’m on Claritin 10mg daily and it’s helped quite a bit! On rough days I’ll take Flonase, too, which reduces nasal inflammation overall and may give you some relief.  

BraveheartKitchenSink

Been doing that and it honestly didn't make a dent. So I stopped taking it. I took it again last night because I was getting desperate and almost puked on myself while trying to pee this AM just choking on snot. It's been a weird all day thing. I can barely even have a phone convo with clients without gagging while I talk. I used some otter pops this afternoon 2 get through 2 client calls. I feel like if I am constantly eating, the gag reflex is held at bay. 

MrsCaliRN

Oh gosh, that sounds miserable! Dairy increases mucus production. Have you tried cutting it out of your diet? Other thing I can think of is to change air vent filters and use air purifiers in spaces you spend the most time.  

BraveheartKitchenSink

MrsCaliRN said:

Oh gosh, that sounds miserable! Dairy increases mucus production. Have you tried cutting it out of your diet? Other thing I can think of is to change air vent filters and use air purifiers in spaces you spend the most time.  

Yeah, I have reduced a lot of dairy, but it's hard because I NEED my coffee and can't have imitation stuff due to my thyroid (soy based stuff increases antibodies and exacerbates thyroid disease) and I'm allergic to coconut. Most almond milk either has soy, coconut, or both and it's almost impossible to find it pure, let alone consistently. So far I've reduced the mucus quite a bit in other ways... but the tiny drip that's left just tickles that one little spot and then I'm yacking. It's a new phenomenon.  That's for sure. I was just plain nauseas 24/7 for the entire pregnancy and a few days after with my twins. I'm mostly just sick of eating at this point. But I'm doing good just splitting meals in 2. Eat half my breakfast with my coffee like I normally do. Eat the rest between breakfast and lunch. Then split lunch between lunch and 2nd lunch before dinner. Then split dinner between dinner and right before I go to bed. I only seem to get a couple hrs max before I'm gagging again. Usually an hr or so after I eat I am good.