1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

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

Posted by vmorton @vmorton, Mar 30 3:53pm

I have researched, but failed to find out why at the instant I complete any meal, I begin to cough up mucus. Most embarrassing!

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suzanne11 | @suzanne11 | Apr 9 1:13am
In reply to @blm1007blm1007 "RE: vmorton Mucus Production I also bring up, whatever it truly is, mucus, phlegm, saliva, sputum...." + (show)
@blm1007blm1007

RE: vmorton Mucus Production
I also bring up, whatever it truly is, mucus, phlegm, saliva, sputum. One or the other or a combination of one or the other. Hard to know. It is after every bite/meal/glass of water. Overall for me it is nearly every hour of the day and worse first thing in the morning until around 1 P.M. and it tends to subside some, until I have a snack to try and gain weight back. I would imagine for me, why it is worse in the morning, is having slept (thank goodness) and it just holding somewhere in the system until I awake to visit the bathroom and then return to the bed and have to sit up and try to clear the throat again as best I can before trying to manage it all and fall back to sleep, And then the beginning again in the morning for that day. This is also worse each time I nebulize, two times a day.
And yes, uncomfortable in public or with others and therefore, for me, limiting my ease of movement in the world and being with others. Wish I or the doctors knew what it all is but sometimes they also don't have the answers. I have a Hiatal Hernia and possibly Acid Reflux. I say possibly because one doctor said I have Acid Reflux and another said I didn't. The Hiatal Hernia, or if it is Acid Reflux....or both...it could be the culprit for me with the problem of having to clear my throat constantly. So between the clearing of the throat with the constant sputum and then the nebulizing ..... both tend to limit the ease of movement in the world and being with others. Hello BE and etc. etc. Do you have Acid Reflux or a Hiatal Hernia?

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Are you diagnosed with Lung Mac disease?

Are you talking any antibiotics?

REPLY
1 reply
vmorton | @vmorton | Apr 9 9:49am

Hi Suzanne, I have BE, but not MAC. I take Azithromycin 3 days a week, but no other antibiotics.

REPLY
blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Apr 9 12:51pm
In reply to @suzanne11 "Are you diagnosed with Lung Mac disease? Are you talking any antibiotics?" + (show)
@suzanne11

Are you diagnosed with Lung Mac disease?

Are you talking any antibiotics?

Jump to this post

I have a small amount of MAI that was found in Oct. 2023 during my week at NJH. Dr. L said he did not want to start me on Anti-Biotics because it "supposedly" is/was that small amount. I went to a local ID doctor in March 2024 who is near retirement and he looked at the NJH results and was confused as to why I wasn't started on Anti Biotics. It appears two different philosophies between NJH and the local ID doctor.
I have had one culture specimen from February completed and indicating the MAI, it was done at UT Tyler. No directions yet from Dr. McShane. Probably because we, I, am awaiting the March specimen culture results and scheduled to send specimens in for April before seeing the pulmonologist (Dr. McShane, UT Tyler) early May. I am assuming the decison is going to be made by Dr. McShane after all are compled with the labs. Now as I write this.......I will message and see if I can understand if and when a decison will be made. Not looking forward to a 'statement of "start anti-biotic routine' if that is decided. I will have to decide what to do considering I am otherwise in good health overall, no exacerbation symptoms yet, and my age is 81 and 6 months. I know some decide not to start the anti-biotic routines at a late age. Thoughts and opinions from anyone about starting the Anit-Biotics at my age?

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 9 1:45pm
In reply to @blm1007blm1007 "I have a small amount of MAI that was found in Oct. 2023 during my week..." + (show)
@blm1007blm1007

I have a small amount of MAI that was found in Oct. 2023 during my week at NJH. Dr. L said he did not want to start me on Anti-Biotics because it "supposedly" is/was that small amount. I went to a local ID doctor in March 2024 who is near retirement and he looked at the NJH results and was confused as to why I wasn't started on Anti Biotics. It appears two different philosophies between NJH and the local ID doctor.
I have had one culture specimen from February completed and indicating the MAI, it was done at UT Tyler. No directions yet from Dr. McShane. Probably because we, I, am awaiting the March specimen culture results and scheduled to send specimens in for April before seeing the pulmonologist (Dr. McShane, UT Tyler) early May. I am assuming the decison is going to be made by Dr. McShane after all are compled with the labs. Now as I write this.......I will message and see if I can understand if and when a decison will be made. Not looking forward to a 'statement of "start anti-biotic routine' if that is decided. I will have to decide what to do considering I am otherwise in good health overall, no exacerbation symptoms yet, and my age is 81 and 6 months. I know some decide not to start the anti-biotic routines at a late age. Thoughts and opinions from anyone about starting the Anit-Biotics at my age?

Jump to this post

Here is an excellent discussion on when to treat:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bcvHKHzi4Q0

REPLY
1 reply
blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Apr 9 4:07pm
In reply to @sueinmn "Here is an excellent discussion on when to treat: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bcvHKHzi4Q0" + (show)
@sueinmn

Here is an excellent discussion on when to treat:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bcvHKHzi4Q0

Jump to this post

Thank you Sue.
Listening to the Dr. Daley video (great video's we are thankful for) today in between all the other things we, I, we all need to do for ourselves each day....want to do...and then close our eyes to that which we didn't have enough time to do, get to., or are still learning how to fit in 5 small meals a day, two nebulizing sessions, four aerobika with breathing/drainage sessions, staying in tune with others to understand all involved with ones BE, when and or when not to eat, take vitamin supplements, take gauifenesin, NAC, grocery shopping and tasks (may begin grocery delivery for some things...will be hard to give up picking out my own produce and it will limit ones knowledge of what's new) meal preparation with clean up, house cleaning and all the other tasks and joys that go along with a home and car. Question everyone, have I left out anything?????? Oh.... and P.S. I'm single, no children or pets so I'm sure I have left out things others have to do. What a turn life takes with a chronic health problem that one never heard of/and never, ever expected. True about the quote I heard. "BE is not a death sentence it is a life sentence." Smiling through the frustrations!
Barbara

REPLY
1 reply
suzanne11 | @suzanne11 | Apr 9 7:39pm
In reply to @blm1007blm1007 "I have a small amount of MAI that was found in Oct. 2023 during my week..." + (show)
@blm1007blm1007

I have a small amount of MAI that was found in Oct. 2023 during my week at NJH. Dr. L said he did not want to start me on Anti-Biotics because it "supposedly" is/was that small amount. I went to a local ID doctor in March 2024 who is near retirement and he looked at the NJH results and was confused as to why I wasn't started on Anti Biotics. It appears two different philosophies between NJH and the local ID doctor.
I have had one culture specimen from February completed and indicating the MAI, it was done at UT Tyler. No directions yet from Dr. McShane. Probably because we, I, am awaiting the March specimen culture results and scheduled to send specimens in for April before seeing the pulmonologist (Dr. McShane, UT Tyler) early May. I am assuming the decison is going to be made by Dr. McShane after all are compled with the labs. Now as I write this.......I will message and see if I can understand if and when a decison will be made. Not looking forward to a 'statement of "start anti-biotic routine' if that is decided. I will have to decide what to do considering I am otherwise in good health overall, no exacerbation symptoms yet, and my age is 81 and 6 months. I know some decide not to start the anti-biotic routines at a late age. Thoughts and opinions from anyone about starting the Anit-Biotics at my age?

Jump to this post

My Mother took the antibiotics in her older age. She did ok.

REPLY
harrynsc | @harrynsc | Apr 11 6:57pm
In reply to @blm1007blm1007 "Thank you Sue. Listening to the Dr. Daley video (great video's we are thankful for) today..." + (show)
@blm1007blm1007

Thank you Sue.
Listening to the Dr. Daley video (great video's we are thankful for) today in between all the other things we, I, we all need to do for ourselves each day....want to do...and then close our eyes to that which we didn't have enough time to do, get to., or are still learning how to fit in 5 small meals a day, two nebulizing sessions, four aerobika with breathing/drainage sessions, staying in tune with others to understand all involved with ones BE, when and or when not to eat, take vitamin supplements, take gauifenesin, NAC, grocery shopping and tasks (may begin grocery delivery for some things...will be hard to give up picking out my own produce and it will limit ones knowledge of what's new) meal preparation with clean up, house cleaning and all the other tasks and joys that go along with a home and car. Question everyone, have I left out anything?????? Oh.... and P.S. I'm single, no children or pets so I'm sure I have left out things others have to do. What a turn life takes with a chronic health problem that one never heard of/and never, ever expected. True about the quote I heard. "BE is not a death sentence it is a life sentence." Smiling through the frustrations!
Barbara

Jump to this post

I'm married and if I wasn't, I don't know how I would do everything.
When I do the saline, I have to stop every few minutes and cough
and get a cough drop, so my 15 + 15 + 30 minutes turns into an
hour and a half. So three hours a day out of my life. Throw in
visits to the pulmo, ID doctor, hearing, vision, cardiologist,
and blood tests, and it's easy to get depressed. Started on the
big three a month ago. Hope they work.
Harry

REPLY
2 replies
blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Apr 11 8:50pm
In reply to @harrynsc "I'm married and if I wasn't, I don't know how I would do everything. When I..." + (show)
@harrynsc

I'm married and if I wasn't, I don't know how I would do everything.
When I do the saline, I have to stop every few minutes and cough
and get a cough drop, so my 15 + 15 + 30 minutes turns into an
hour and a half. So three hours a day out of my life. Throw in
visits to the pulmo, ID doctor, hearing, vision, cardiologist,
and blood tests, and it's easy to get depressed. Started on the
big three a month ago. Hope they work.
Harry

Jump to this post

Harry- I also have to stop during nebulizing the saline....every couple of seconds....to clear out what builds up in my throat/mouth. So yes it is a long nebulizing session for us both...two times a day. I think what is coming up is a combination of fluids, but mostly white, foamy, bubbly substance. From what I have read it is probably related to my Hiatal Hernia and possible GERD. I am worried there will come a day when I can't hardly nebulize due to this fluid that builds up and I have to release it. Crazy! Thank goodness for all the good years I had before this health problem. AND YES....all in between those many types of doctor visits so many of us have to have. Thanks for reading and responding....This Mayo Clinic Connect site is so important for many reasons. Hope you have good results with having to take the anti-biotics.

REPLY
blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Dec 7 10:03am
In reply to @harrynsc "I'm married and if I wasn't, I don't know how I would do everything. When I..." + (show)
@harrynsc

I'm married and if I wasn't, I don't know how I would do everything.
When I do the saline, I have to stop every few minutes and cough
and get a cough drop, so my 15 + 15 + 30 minutes turns into an
hour and a half. So three hours a day out of my life. Throw in
visits to the pulmo, ID doctor, hearing, vision, cardiologist,
and blood tests, and it's easy to get depressed. Started on the
big three a month ago. Hope they work.
Harry

Jump to this post

Hi Harry-
If I am correct you started the antibiotics around February 2024. What antibiotics did they suggest for you? What type of bacteria did they say you were treating with the meds?
How did it go, what is the result so far.
Have you been consistent, hard to do sometimes, with nebulizing and airway clearance.
Do you do any type of exercise also?
Overall it is somewhat difficult to compare how one person does with the meds to another because we may not all do the same things in trying to avoid harmful situations ...as an example of things: hot water tank bacteria, shower head bacteria.....or do all we are told and suggested to do.
I myself have adjusted the tank temperature and drained it once so far and also make sure the shower head and hose have dried out before I take my shower. I also eat healthy 95% of the time and do take supplements. I wear a N95 mask 90% of the time I am out and around people.. that 10% is when I get brave enough to eat out in a restaurant.
I have often said that in order for the doctors to truly understand all regarding us in order to diagnose and decide on a course of action....they would need to follow us around for a couple of days and nearly the same for us to be able to compare ourselves with each other and how we are doing. Good luck to that.
Hope you have good news for yourself to tell me.
Barbara

REPLY
1 reply
vmorton | @vmorton | Dec 8 10:26am

I have had BE only for 45 years. I am 75 now and I have always coughed up mucus almost immediately after eating. No one has ever been able to tell me why. You're right about it being embarrassing. I just excuse myself and go to the restroom and clear it.k

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