Phlegm in my throat and post nasal drip after Covid

I made an appointment to see a different ENT next week to see what he thinks. Starting fresh with a new set of eyes. Doubtful that he’ll be the “miracle worker” that I apparently need. Really losing hope here that I’ll ever feel better.

Please post what you find out. I am considering the same thing. My ENT is highly rated at a top leading medical hospital….so….idk. I guess I could find another one with comparable credentials. My insurance has changed and I am no longer limited to any certain providers. That gives me more options.

I understand & have been there. There is hope! It took 18 months of coughing up ugly phlegm & visits to 3 specialists B4 I just had to work thru it on my own. The Mayo Pulmonary PA said long Covid is classified as an autoimmune illness. For me , I realized my throat glands had stayed overactive after the virus. Even though the allergy, asthma meds & nasal rinses didn't cure the problem, I feel they helped my recovery. I am now treating myself for Larynx- Pharynx Reflux. I have no doubt I irritated my throat by forcing coughing to clear the thick phlegm for about a yr. & the symptoms of the reflux were there. Over time I am doing much better, feeling much better, so there is hope!! Wishing everyone well in your recovery.

For the congestion, I took the pseudoephedrine from behind the pharmacy counter for several months. It seemed to help over time , altho I was told we aren't supposed to take it over a long period. But after a yr of coughing up phlegm I was going to try anything, especially since it helped.

I too caught covid twice and started having this mucus after 3-4 month approx.
Once I kind recovered from other symptoms.
I am long covid person, even I had it first time took 8 months to recover fully.
Is the 2nd time in October 2021 when I caught it again.
So now is over 3 yes having this mucus non stop.
Is very frustrating.
I have tried everything and paid a lot money to get check privately, tried the herb stuff all sorts.
No cure until now.
I ve kinda given up, I live in the UK.
My next option to to try treatment abroad.
Wish all the best for everyone suffering with this.

When COVID was going around the second time I was taking 1 cap of NAC (n-acetyl cysteine, 600 mg) as needed when allergies triggered bronchitis, runny nose, asthma. NAC is a form of cysteine, which is the precursor for glutathione in the body. Glutathione is an amino acid that regulates mucous production.

NAC is the only form of cysteine that can be assimilated via oral administration. So, to regulate mucous, your body needs enough cysteine to do the job. I founds post-COVID that 1 600 mg tab a day wasn't enough. The doc I had then who was hip to post-COVID upped me to two per day - one AM, one PM.

NAC is a non-Rx suppliment and some drugstores carry it. It's also readily available on-line. And, it's relatively cheap.

NAC is not for symptomatic relief; it's not a dry-you-out antihistamine with rebound or other side effects. It's something that some people, like asthmatics and quite possibly post-COVID patients like many of us, need.

I've read considerable literature; it has no side effects I'm aware of at normal doses and has many other benefits including cognitive - I don't recall them all, now, but the information is out there. Look it up.

I've recommended NAC for friends with COPD, asthma, etc. and it's been a real game-changer for them. When the second round of COVID hit a couple of years ago the usual suppliers ran short -or out - of NAC. As COVID disrupts all sorts of respiratory and neural systems, NAC might work well for some who read this.

To break up that stuck-in-the-throat phlegm, thin it and cough it out, good old Robitussin or the generic, guiafeninsen. I do best with the pure guiafeninsen that doesn't contain dextromathorphin as that suppresses the cough that's supposed to evacuate the phlehm - the two working against each other give me immense headaches when I cough.

You might try NAC, one ot two 600 mg caps/day - research is plentiful on-line. Cysteine is a naturally occuring amino acid that moderates mucous production. Some of us are short of it, especially after covid.

I am close to tears rn after reading these comments- to see that so many other people are going through the exact same thing as me.
I’m so sorry to each of you, yet it is so oddly comforting to know that I am not alone.
I have been dealing with this for almost 5 years. Ever since I first had Covid in 2020. Doctors have literally been NO HELP whatsoever and I had just about given up on even trying to figure out the root cause or how to rectify it.
The coughing and irritation in my throat is one thing- along with the disgusting phlegm that I’m occasionally able to expel (ranging in consistency from a weird foam to an extremely thick, sticky, stringy, solid white substance) yet never fully leaves. The worst part though is it has started to affect my voice quite a bit- one that was already slightly raspy, yet deep and strong and I frequently received compliments on. I love to sing too, and while I still do it anyway, the phlegm has severely limited my range, ability, and overall confidence- so I’m not where near as skilled as I once was.

Please read my posts above,jig33 about NAC.

I was exactly as you describe after my first bout of COVID. Upping my NAC did away with the yuk that you describe. COVID the second time did some damage, I'm coping, but at least with increased NAC I can get up again without facing a 3-hour coughing jag that leaves me exhausted. NAC makes the difference.

Like you, I used to sing - but my second bout of COVID wrecked my intonation. It's as if my brain knows which note to hit but the signal doesn't get to the vocal chords. I sense that it's neurological, not strictly physical. So much of LC is neurological. I wonder if we might be onto something -it's not just the physical damage to the throat.

As to not being able to get the gooky yukky phlegm up, read my post about guiafenensen, the generic for Robitussin (syrup) for immediate relief or available in tablet form (Mucinex)to get you through the night. You cough and bring the stuff up, spit it out and be done with it, quit coughing when the phlegm's gone.

I'd really encourage you to check out NAC and I hope it works for you.