Excessive mucus this time of year.

Yes, although I am only 6 months post radiation. The mucus is way back in my upper mouth, above the throat. It is at it’s worse when I get up in the morning. It is hard to expel, but I gargle with warm salt water and almost strain myself trying to get the mucus out. It does help clear for the rest of the day, but I gargle with warm salt water throughout the day.
Hoping it gets better with time, but it has become part of the “new normal”.

Thanks runner. Pretty much the same here and yes especially in the morning. I’m looking forward to the springtime already. Best of luck with your recovery

Hello @steve55.
After undergoing radiation, my Vocal Cords (VCs) paralyzed, and the excessive mucus was trapped. It became so bad I was near death, as it felt like I was drowning. I realize when the word "Tracheotomy," is mentioned, images of a tortuous tube and hole in the neck come to mind.

When it was determined my VCs had almost totally paralyzed, the ENT prescribed a tracheotomy. You see, how the ENT explained it, the mucus becomes trapped behind the VCs, as they are like doors that open and shut. He also told me something shocking...Many people with sleep apnea WANT a tracheotomy so they can breathe freely once more.

So, my advice is to have a scoping done with an ENT to see if the radiation caused any paralysis of your VCs. If you wait like I did to have the procedure you are putting yourself in jeopardy. In my mind, the fact I could talk, eat and drink meant the VCs could not possibly be frozen. I was wrong and barely made it to the surgery date.

Having a tracheotomy becomes so comfortable that you will forget it is there. It is the best thing I have ever done to preserve my heath. All that mucus is RIGHT THERE to be easily suctioned out or washed out of the tube a few times a day.

I compare having a tracheotomy to having floaters. As we age, we may develop floaters in our vision. At first, they are troublesome and highly visible. After a few weeks, you do not see them anymore although they are still there! Our brain is so amazing. It does the same thing with a tracheotomy.

Finally, I can push-mow the lawn, do all my chores, and am just as active as when I was in my 20s. It may take me a little longer with body aches though!!! I am sorry to be so long, but after having that mucus trapped for an entire year was such a horrible experience. The mucus can cause all kinds of lung infections too.

You are in my thoughts. Best wishes to you.

I had radiation treatment for vocal cord cancer in 2023. For several months afterwards, mucus was a problem and I could barely speak. Believe it or not, my GP suggested I try drinking two types of herbal tea: licorice root and marshmallow root. I don’t think the licorice root did anything, but after drinking the marshmallow root tea, my voice came back within a couple of days, and the mucus began to clear up within a week.

I will try that thank you

Do you have a tea brand you could recommend? Is it available in grocery stores or on line?

I'm interested too if there is a ready made marshmallow root tea. I have made this tea before but had to buy the loose ingredients from the heath food store. I've also tried Mullen liquid to clear lung mucous. I drink a lot of green tea.

I ordered both of these online (Amazon). The marshmallow root is loose tea. The licorice root is in tea bags.

The marshmallow root is a brand called “Starwest Botanicals”. The licorice root is a brand called “Terrell’s”.

The brand for the licorice is “Tearelae”. Autocorrect messed it up.

Thank you