Why do I cough up mucus at the end of every meal?

The mucus I coughbup after meals, is the same as the mucus I clear with my BE air clearance. I usually use a few tissues after each meal's coughing episode, whereas I use many tissues when I clear my airways for BE. I am currently trying to find the best method of sterilizing my BE eqipment so that I can reduce the possibility of infections. Thanks for responding.

Have you tried clearing your airways a few times more after you think you're finished? In other words, until the gunk that comes up is no longer there? A respiratory therapist I met recently suggested I clear until I was "dry". This might help with the after meal cough production.

A good idea, thanks.

When I was coughing a lot while dealing with MAC, coughing during and after eating was a big problem, even causing me to choke on food at times.

By accident, I found out that doing my daily exercise routine, including a downward dog pose, greatly helped my airway clearance. I call it my "upside down" trick. Due to reflux possibility, I do this before eating or at least 2 hours afterwards.

I still have a great tendency to choke during meals, bringing on horrendous coughing fits. Lately I found bending forward from the waist & doing some huff coughs before a meal helps a lot with the problem. When I'm out, I excuse myself to the restroom and do this before we begin.

I'm not sure if it will help with post-meal coughing, but it's easy to try.
Sue

Thank you so much Sue. I will try it.

It might be because when your stomach is full, your abdominal cavity increases the pressure on your thoracic cavity. It could also be from reflux.

I would think about eating 4-5 small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals. And limit, to the best of your ability, drinking at meal time. Water, especially carbonated water, can both increase the fullness of your stomach and cause reflux.

Best,
Linda Esposito

That’s a great idea!

When I do my airway clearance late morning I cough up a combination of colored mucus and white foamy stuff. The addition of the white foamy stuff started happening about 1.5 years ago? Maybe 2? Prior to that I never had it. I have asked my pulmo about it a few times. He does not seem to know but did say it could be from air getting into the nebulizing process or some such thing. I know that sounds confusing but the white foamy stuff does seem full of air. But the more I hear and read it seems like acid reflux is a known cause of it. I also clear my throat a lot. But wonder if that is from reflux or simply the food sort of sticks to the throat due to the mucus/infection?

Thank you so much. These are great ideas I plan to try.

Wow, I have the same thing and didn’t think much of it.