1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19

Phlegm in my throat and post nasal drip after Covid

Posted by danny2022 @danny2022, Dec 18, 2022

Ever since I had covid in January of 2022 I recovered from the virus but I was left with a constant phlegm in the back of my throat and post nasal drip that will not go away. The feeling of having mucus in the back of my throat actually gets worse when I try to get rid of it by coughing. I have been given steroid inhalers, albuterol, allergy medication, but none of these work. The mucus gets worse especially after I eat. I've never felt like this before and it all started after covid. Can anybody relate to what I am going through?

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cdelpiano | @cdelpiano | 6 days ago

I have found that taking regular Musinex - 600 mg daily seems to help the phlegm in my throat. I take one a day, but my pulmonary dr said it’s ok to take one every 12 hours. Try it - I hope it helps.

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shashig | @shashig | 6 days ago
In reply to @prancer20 "Yes, I also have the issue with phlegm in my throat, but usually only after dinner..." + (show)
@prancer20

Yes, I also have the issue with phlegm in my throat, but usually only after dinner in the evening. Doesn't seem to happen much with breakfast or lunch. I will try gargling with warm salt water. Thanks for the tip. I have also noticed people complaining about GERD after Covid. I wonder if the phlegm is related to the reflux. I will ask my doc about the nasal irrigation.

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To check out the GERD possibility, you might try taking Gaviscon Advance before bed. It's not identical to regular Gaviscon from the drugstore but instead a UK product available here via Amazon. It's a safe, natural formula that forms what they call a "raft" atop the stomach so that the contents don't leak upward into the esophagus overnight. It's a more natural alternative to omeprazole, also available OTC. Good luck.

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dieraufl | @dieraufl | 6 days ago

I sip tea throughout the day (Throat Coat with slippery elm) and suck on lozenges a few times a day (elderberry with zinc). I also gently massage my neck and glands, gargle with warm salt water 3 times a day, and I have a humidifier going at night. I wish you well.

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palka9898 | @palka9898 | 5 days ago
In reply to @cdelpiano "I have found that taking regular Musinex - 600 mg daily seems to help the phlegm..." + (show)
@cdelpiano

I have found that taking regular Musinex - 600 mg daily seems to help the phlegm in my throat. I take one a day, but my pulmonary dr said it’s ok to take one every 12 hours. Try it - I hope it helps.

Jump to this post

@cdelpiano, Is it Mucinex without DM, correct?

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palka9898 | @palka9898 | 5 days ago
In reply to @shashig "To check out the GERD possibility, you might try taking Gaviscon Advance before bed. It's not..." + (show)
@shashig

To check out the GERD possibility, you might try taking Gaviscon Advance before bed. It's not identical to regular Gaviscon from the drugstore but instead a UK product available here via Amazon. It's a safe, natural formula that forms what they call a "raft" atop the stomach so that the contents don't leak upward into the esophagus overnight. It's a more natural alternative to omeprazole, also available OTC. Good luck.

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Liquid or Tablets? How much?

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palka9898 | @palka9898 | 4 days ago
In reply to @chuckstran "To break up that stuck-in-the-throat phlegm, thin it and cough it out, good old Robitussin or..." + (show)
@chuckstran

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.

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@chuckstran, How many a day?

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pacathy | @pacathy | 4 days ago
In reply to @jjg33 "I am close to tears rn after reading these comments- to see that so many other..." + (show)
@jjg33

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.

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I don’t have post Covid issues and just happened to see this, but have had more than my share of post nasal secretions, sinusitis and that have caused voice issues and possibly cause of bronchiectasis. Have you used nasal rinses? Neilmed system is what Penn doc recommended. I had steroids in it for a long while, but am just using saline 1-2x/day now. It along with aggressive antihistamines for allergies. You have my sympathy. It was miserable.

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cdelpiano | @cdelpiano | 4 days ago
In reply to @palka9898 "@cdelpiano, Is it Mucinex without DM, correct?" + (show)
@palka9898

@cdelpiano, Is it Mucinex without DM, correct?

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Yes- just the regular Mucinex

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chuckstran | @chuckstran | 3 days ago
In reply to @pacathy "I don’t have post Covid issues and just happened to see this, but have had more..." + (show)
@pacathy

I don’t have post Covid issues and just happened to see this, but have had more than my share of post nasal secretions, sinusitis and that have caused voice issues and possibly cause of bronchiectasis. Have you used nasal rinses? Neilmed system is what Penn doc recommended. I had steroids in it for a long while, but am just using saline 1-2x/day now. It along with aggressive antihistamines for allergies. You have my sympathy. It was miserable.

Jump to this post

I use the Niel rinses regularly; saline only - no steroids. Too much steroid treatment = damaged sinus tissue, exacerbated symptoms, inability to tolerate or benefit from steroid or synthetic steroid nasal treatment. Overprescription (prior to covid) did that to me. Post-COVID the post-nasal drip and overproduction of mucous became immediately worse - increasing NAC 600's to 2x/day worked.
Do your own reesearch or check with a doc; I started with one NAC to help with post nasal and sinus issues, and now take one PM to help nighttime post-nasal drip/sleep interruption issues, and one AM to get through the day, wheeze and nasal drainage-free. You'll likely discover, as I did, that you can get by with far less antihistamines if constant mucous isn't in your passageways as a constant irritant - triggering a histamine storm response, in which the body to says, "Irritants in airways! Send antihistamines!"
My bronchiectasis disappeared, three years into COVID, with NAC 2x day. NAC is another remedy that most docs aren't hip to.

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