Mucus in throat

Posted by karen10225 @karen10225, Jul 24 12:38pm

I constantly have mucus lining my throat even after saline nebulizer. This makes me have to clear my throat all day. Does anyone have a suggestion for this? I am really growing weary and wondering how to get through each day. I have had bronchiectasis for 20+ years and mycobacterium simiae for about 4 to 5 years. I have chosen not to treat due to many other health conditions. All I can do is airway clearance, some exercise and eat a decent diet. I see my doctors every six months, but that really isn’t much help. HELP

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@blm1007blm1007

You may already know these things but I will share what I was told while at NJH in Denver.
Follow all guidelines for acid reflux, meaning no food or water three hours before bed.
No water in the night if you wake up. Sleep with the head of the bed elevated....blocks or wedge pillow or both. Sleep on your left side.
With having several health problems it does become complicated for the doctors and ourselves. I think at that point we work our way to finding out what works for us. For me I questioned why I had to see the local Pulmonologist every six months when all that they now could do was help me with antibiotics if I had an exacerbation and as well since I go to Tyler to see Dr. McShane as my primary BE doctor. Overall from the start the local pulmonologist truly was not much help. He agreed and said to please call him if I needed him, like if I feel I am having an exacerbation. This site, the internet and NJH were and are the best sources for how to handle and what to do with BE and the hiatal hernia (acid reflux). I use to wake up at night and the morning with a burning tongue and did think "acid." It was a couple of years later that with going to and learning from NJH (NJH leans towards believing acid reflux plays a role with BE) and following the acid reflux diet that I no longer wake up with a burning tongue. My problem is more silent reflux because I have not/never, as yet, have/had heartburn, a burning in the esophagus and the other typical symptoms of acid reflux during the day. With the constant feeling of thick mucus sitting in my throat, I chew gum, not the best thing, but it seems to help with the mucus caused by the hiatal hernia. I decided to try gum chewing before I knew that chewing gum is suggested for trying to control symptoms with acid reflux. It's not a total help, but does help some. The constant mucus/sputum is truly my main problem and the cause of a limiting lifestyle with it being worse immediately after eating. Not a pleasant thing for others to be around and watching a person do what they need to do...bring the mucus/sputum up and out and into a cup. So, I have many talks with myself and do try to be positive. So far my talks have helped...so far. So glad we are all here for each other.

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for sleeping :

cut a pillow from foam to fit into the head-shoulder cavity when sleeping on the side.
Make a cushion-mountain from several cushions
fixed with adhesive tape.
I was trying to sleep while sitting but failed.
I sleep in a new almost upright position just
since some days : left side, almost sitting
but leaning to the left,
left arm above the high pillow , left hand in the neck
foam pillow between left lower and upper arm

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@bsi15

for sleeping :

cut a pillow from foam to fit into the head-shoulder cavity when sleeping on the side.
Make a cushion-mountain from several cushions
fixed with adhesive tape.
I was trying to sleep while sitting but failed.
I sleep in a new almost upright position just
since some days : left side, almost sitting
but leaning to the left,
left arm above the high pillow , left hand in the neck
foam pillow between left lower and upper arm

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Thanks. Glad you found a good way to work for you. I need to try the left arm above the wedge. Good idea. Yes I find that having pillows for the arm(s) does help for support.

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@bsi15

for sleeping :

cut a pillow from foam to fit into the head-shoulder cavity when sleeping on the side.
Make a cushion-mountain from several cushions
fixed with adhesive tape.
I was trying to sleep while sitting but failed.
I sleep in a new almost upright position just
since some days : left side, almost sitting
but leaning to the left,
left arm above the high pillow , left hand in the neck
foam pillow between left lower and upper arm

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Would love to see a photo especially of the "cut a pillow from foam to fit into the head-shoulder cavity when sleeping on the side." Always looking for new ideas.

What's worked lately for me is putting a large pillow behind the sleeping wedge and use a "boudoir" size pillow for sleeping. Best I could come up with but sometimes wake with neck ache.

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@blm1007blm1007

To all above....my story.
I started having to clear my throat about 10 years ago in the mornings. Some mornings I brought up just what appeared to be clear sputum. However at times what came up was a darker yellow/green gel like substance/sputum. Eventually the clearing of the throat got worse and as of today it is a sticky, thick substance that comes up to the throat that makes me want to clear it out. At times I do bring up and out the light green/yellow mucus plug(s). I was diagnosed with BE 8/2022 and afterwards I had an coloscopy and endoscopy. The endoscopy showed a small hiatal hernia. The coloscopy and endoscopy did not indicate acid reflux. I understand, if I am correct, a hiatal hernia does cause over production of mucus. I also have the clear mucus, the foamy white bubbly (water,moisture) that comes out when I clear my throat, esophagus. This clearing goes on all day long and the need to clear is worse after eating or drinking (I drink water only). Any similarities for others who have posted?

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I also have the mucus all day long, especially after I drink water. I am being treated for GERD but I also have the chest pain after eating and drinking. Working with GI doctor along with ID, ENT and pulmonary docs.
It’s frustrating but praying us through these trials.
Best wishes for all.

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@scoop

Would love to see a photo especially of the "cut a pillow from foam to fit into the head-shoulder cavity when sleeping on the side." Always looking for new ideas.

What's worked lately for me is putting a large pillow behind the sleeping wedge and use a "boudoir" size pillow for sleeping. Best I could come up with but sometimes wake with neck ache.

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I have an old foam mattress from which I cut pillows
with a sharp carpet knife.
It's more stable then cushions with feathers but still soft.
You can form the shapes that you want.
I also use it for the big pillow to lean against
and to put the left arm onto.
I sleep on a door with elevation-angle = 10 degrees.
Bolster pillows below the back
(which may lean to the wall)
and the ass (to prevent slipping down)

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@mr1123

I also have the mucus all day long, especially after I drink water. I am being treated for GERD but I also have the chest pain after eating and drinking. Working with GI doctor along with ID, ENT and pulmonary docs.
It’s frustrating but praying us through these trials.
Best wishes for all.

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hmm, I get the mucus (only) in the afternoon and evening and night and I eat+drink in the moring.
Now I experimented with drinking also in the afternoon and it's much less (semi-)cough and mucus.
Now I wonder whether my whole bronchiectasis -
surprisingly diagnosed 2 months ago after a pneumonia - came from -not-drinking-enough in afternoon/evening , because of GERD.
Drinking a lot is also recommended for bronchiectasis, I read.

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Do u have gerd? Struggling with not drinking after 5

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@karen10225

Just been tested for that. Doctor says I don’t have it so I guess not.

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May I know what tests did they do for GERD

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@sweethighland

May I know what tests did they do for GERD

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esophagus manometry.
A tube through your nose down into the food-pipe.
I had it in 1999, it was difficult to go behind
the throat-resistance in multiple attempts while swallowing water.
I remember they had a C64 to store the data .
That test was why they decided to do fundoplication.

[keyword search for esophagus manometry ...]

Mayo calls it Scleroderma - I never heard that word

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@bsi15

esophagus manometry.
A tube through your nose down into the food-pipe.
I had it in 1999, it was difficult to go behind
the throat-resistance in multiple attempts while swallowing water.
I remember they had a C64 to store the data .
That test was why they decided to do fundoplication.

[keyword search for esophagus manometry ...]

Mayo calls it Scleroderma - I never heard that word

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Hello @bsi15, I noticed that you wished to post a URL to an article with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Please allow me to post it for you.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/esophageal-manometry/about/pac-20394000

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