Hi! Ditto the experiences of others posting here, but mine definitely began as a result of my dratted CPAP machine, which I've long since quit using. I tried everything drs suggested, but here's what gives me relief. I slept in a recliner for a few years, now propped on a couch. I try to stay at about a 45 degree angle. When visiting, I take a lot of bedrolls with me to prop from my fanny up---no more coughing before sleeping; no more coughing when I get up in the morning. If you feel nauseated when you first wake up, reach for crackers beside your bed, and slowly eat a couple before you move from the position your're in when you awaken---works great, and alleviates a bit of that need to cough repeatedly. I read the book Olive Leaf Extract by Walker and started with 1 capsule at breakfast for three days, then added another at lunch for three days, etc., until I reached 12 capsules a day, for roughly 2 months, then down to 9 capsules a day for another two months. OLE is remarkably potent and can cause die-off (Herxheimer effect). I avoided the die-off by using the slow method of reaching 12 capsules a day. A health food store employee can point you to the best OLE, but I highly recommend reading the book for a greater overall understanding of OLE's benefits. BONUS---I also got rid of the following nagging little problems: skin tags or tiny warts around my eyes vanished; toenail fungus I'd been trying to totally eliminate for over 20 years vanished; interstitial cystitis vanished (but has come back, now that I'm not taking the OLE, but at much less intensity); hot, hard, knotty vericose veins that stood above my skin surface receded, are no longer hard and knotty, and no longer emanate heat; hemorrhoiRAB receded; I had a LOT more energy; frienRAB commented upon my higher spirits; and I lost 23 pounRAB, without dieting or exercising. For the last 2 to 2 1/2 mo I was also taking approx 3 TBSP of virgin coconut oil internally for a skin condition. I learned recently that the VCO can positively effect the sinuses, weight, mood, and cardiovascular health, so the two natural agents together may have been working synergistically. A TINY bit of antibiotic oitment on a cotton swab rolled inside the nostrils helps nasal dryness. Wash your hanRAB well, leave them wet, sprinkle a little salt on your hand, and SLOWLY sniff the tiny bit of liquid from your palm. You can gradually get to the point of inhaling the salt water up into your nasal passages and down the back of your throat. I always use distilled water, and very warm, but not hot, feels good. Tap water is loaded with chemicals. Gargling with fairly warm salt water is also comforting. Look at your tongue and compare it with what info is out about what a healthy tongue looks like. A burning, hurting, stinging tongue, with indentations from your teeth, and crevices like tiny creeks (geographical tongue) indicates some vitamin deficiencies. Load up on B vitamins. However, if you're deficient in one, you probably need a good over-all supplement of vitamins and minerals, esp A, C, and E, which are very good for restoring mucosal tissue. AVOID DAIRY and dairy products, as they are mucus forming. Avoid sugar and sugar substitutes. Stevia doesn't seem to create a mucus problem for me. Couldn't believe the difference avoiding dairy made in my life. After about a couple of months, if you're desperate for dairy, buy certified organic. (Goat milk is supposed to be non-mucus forming, but I don't have a reliable source for it, so haven't tried it.) Makes a tremendous difference in the way you feel. But do avoid it for a few months so that you'll be able to clear it from your system. Drink plenty of PURE, not tap, water. The thicker your phlegm, the greater indication that you need more water. All of these things have helped me immensely. And, yes, I've started back on both the OLE and VCO. One other thing. The only medication I take is Armour for low thyroid, but I recently learned that low thyroid can cause the very symptoms with which we've all been plagued. You might look up how to determine low thyroid by temperature and by symptoms before racking up lab bills for test results, but it is something that you should investigate. I prefer a naturopath or holistic doctor when I need to see a physician. I sincerely hope that you can benefit from these things that have helped me. Best wishes to all of you.
