[hungryhippo]

I am not looking for advice, just wondering if anyone has had anything similar. I have seen a doctor!

So, since the start of the year, every time I wake up I an congested, I also sneeze about 15 times a day and my nose will go through being congested and not a few times a day. There is no pattern to it and anything can set it off. It happens at home, at work (office) and while I'm out so I can't pinpoint one thing that's causing it.

I've also been really bloated and gassy for I think a few months and I don't know what's causing it. I have a flat stomach and if I am not sucking it in, it can look like I am pregnant. I wake up bloated and it doesn't go away at all.

I put off seeing a doctor until today. I thought they'd both go away so decided to wait it out and of course nothing has changed.

I saw a doctor this morning, she felt my stomach and said it feels ok and said 'maybe you swallow too much air when you eat and drink'..um Ok? I don't think I am suddenly inhaling air when I eat and drink.

I also asked why I am constantly congested and she said 'oh you may have allergies'..well I have never had them before so if I do now, I'd like to know what from!

She also said to drink tea with mint in it and if that doesn't work come back for a blood test.

To me, it seemed as though she was trying to get me in and out. I came out more confused than when I went in.

So my question is, has anyone else experienced this before? Sudden onset of bloat and congestion that doesn't go away? I think I will see my old doctor who is more thorough, but I can't get in until next week because of the long weekend.

[Madnesscraves]

No advice sorry. But agree with you see another dr. That one sounds like no helpful advice at all.

Can't hurt to try the tea with mint and see what it does then tell your other doctor what it did.

[Alvarywinters]

It does sound like some sort of allergy or intolerance.
Prob no help, but I had similar with the bloat and gas when I started to become lactose intolerant. Small amounts of dairy throughout the day just kept it going.
My DH also slowly developed a reaction to dust mites...he would randomly get sneezy. wheezy and stuffy...took us months to work out what it was.

Allergies and intolerance can come on out of nowhere and it's not uncommon to get a couple pop up at once. Keep pushing your doc, you'll get to the bottom of it.

Oh and with the sneezing etc, you could try an antihistamine like telfast to see if it makes the symptoms go away, confirming an allergy. Ask your doc first tho, it might have side effects, I'm no expert lol

[PrincessPeach]

It can be caused through a food intollerance. Particularly wheat or dairy.

The way it was explained to me (by a naturopath) is that an intollerance is caused by your body no longer processing that food group as effectively as it should & by removing this food group from your diet for a period of time (as little as 6 weeks & up to 7 years) it kind of re-sets your body's processing mechanisms.

Definatly seek a second opinion though & if you are still not satisfied, maybe seek out a reputable natural therapist. Which is where i found more help.

[~A Poetic Winter...]

My first thoughts were dairy/lactose intolerance. Not necessarily that you are allergic as such, but just not tolerating it now.

Maybe before you see your Dr again, do a food diary, look for any patterns.

[HollyOllyOxenfre...]

I haven't had the bloating side, but do get the congestion - I have a massive dust mite allergy. It took FOREVER and a number of different doctors to finally find one who sent me to an ENT to get fully checked out rather than just blaming it on my asthma. When I got there, he checked everything out, got me tested and we found the allergy. It's an unavoidable one unfortunately, but I can do things to lessen the impact and just knowing what it is helps a lot.

I would definitely be seeking a second opinion - swallowing air?!? That sounds ridiculous to me (although I'm not a doctor, so maybe it's legit). Good luck OP - feeling like crap and not knowing why really sucks

[niggles]

My husband gets similar issues and puts it down to hayfever. Antihistamines do offer some relief.

I can't quite believe your GP told you to stop swallowing air and have a cup of mint tea. Of course. If only you'd thought of that earlier!

[hungryhippo]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I appreciate it.

Haha, yes I couldn't believe she said to swallow less air.. Perhaps I shouldn't breathe when eating???

Anyway, I think I will go back to my old doctor (I went to a new one as it's closer) and see if she can help. She is usually very thorough so hopefully I'll get some answers.

I've never had any allergies, hay fever or food intolerances before, so this is all new to me.

[LittleBear]

I'm with the group who suggest food allergy/intolerance also. Last year I went wheat/dairy/soy/caffeine free for four months. I had loads of energy (after the first few weeks of general crapiness), was able to stay up longer at night, no 3pm sluggishness and had less phlegm/mucous. My tummy was less pudgy looking too. I should have stayed on the diet... but it is hard, especially when you go out with kids and you can't eat anything other than hot chips because if something doesn't have wheat then it has dairy or soy. Clearing dairy and soy reduced my headaches by 50% though, so that should give me motivation to get back into it after Easter. Last year I did it in the four months before New year.

Amanda

[hungryhippo]

Thanks for your reply Amanda. (Sorry for my delayed reply!)

I am considering going on a similar diet. It doesn't leave much left you can eat though does it. I am off to another doctor tomorrow and I will see what they suggest. I think whatever it is, contributes to the bags under my eyes and my general level of energy.

I went to bed at 10pm last night and woke at 6:40am and it is 1:50pm now and I am exhausted. I don't have kids and have a desk job so it's not like I've been running around. I seriously feel like if I laid down right now, I would have a sleep!