1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19
Profile picture for danny2022

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

Profile picture for suefish
suefish | @suefish | Oct 23 6:10pm

I know exactly what you mean. I walk around sniffing like a large hound looking for food. @suefish

REPLY
Profile picture for oly78
oly78 | @oly78 | Oct 31 12:23pm

Has anyone actually gotten any real help or been able to resolve the throat and mucus issues? Have any doctors been able to identify if it is gastro or other related to post-covid, like mast-cell issues, over-active immune system and cytokines, viral reservoir, etc.?

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for suefish
suefish | @suefish | Nov 1 10:45am

I’m in the same boat.

REPLY
Profile picture for srqqd
srqqd | @srqqd | Nov 2 1:08pm
In reply to @oly78 "Has anyone actually gotten any real help or been able to resolve the throat and mucus..." + (show)
Profile picture for oly78 @oly78

Has anyone actually gotten any real help or been able to resolve the throat and mucus issues? Have any doctors been able to identify if it is gastro or other related to post-covid, like mast-cell issues, over-active immune system and cytokines, viral reservoir, etc.?

Jump to this post

@oly78 I went to a pulmonologist after working with my doctor. I, like many had a difficult time try to figure out if I should choose an ENT or pulmonologist. Along with the symptoms you described, I coughed when talking, and at night...I thought from the post nasal drip.
The pulmonologist listened, ran blood work, and prescribed Trelegy, a once a day steroid inhaler.
I noticed a difference on day one. After 3 weeks my symptoms, cough, phlegm, post nasal drip were gone.
Now at 6 weeks, I'm still on the inhaler and have a follow up appointment in 2 months.
I'm very hesitant to stop the inhaler. I fell better than I have in 2 years.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for oly78
oly78 | @oly78 | Nov 2 1:23pm
In reply to @srqqd "@oly78 I went to a pulmonologist after working with my doctor. I, like many had a..." + (show)
Profile picture for srqqd @srqqd

@oly78 I went to a pulmonologist after working with my doctor. I, like many had a difficult time try to figure out if I should choose an ENT or pulmonologist. Along with the symptoms you described, I coughed when talking, and at night...I thought from the post nasal drip.
The pulmonologist listened, ran blood work, and prescribed Trelegy, a once a day steroid inhaler.
I noticed a difference on day one. After 3 weeks my symptoms, cough, phlegm, post nasal drip were gone.
Now at 6 weeks, I'm still on the inhaler and have a follow up appointment in 2 months.
I'm very hesitant to stop the inhaler. I fell better than I have in 2 years.

Jump to this post

@srqqd thank you for the advice!

Yeah, mine is so strange - I have never really had a cough, so I haven’t really suspected the lungs, but when I drink water, the mucus in my throat is insane. I have no idea where it is coming from (nose, throat, esophagus, lungs)… It feels like a type of allergic reaction, but I don’t have any allergies (serum and prick test)…

REPLY
Profile picture for srqqd
srqqd | @srqqd | Nov 2 4:33pm

My blood test showed I'm allergic to dogs, cats, dust & mold. I don't have pets, but knew I had an allergy to cats. I live in Florida, lots of allergens in the air.

I wish you the very best, and hopefully find a solution to good health.

REPLY
Profile picture for ccbwell
ccbwell | @ccbwell | 2 days ago
In reply to @oly78 "@danny2022 I know it has been a while… Did you ever get any relief from this..." + (show)
Profile picture for oly78 @oly78

@danny2022 I know it has been a while…

Did you ever get any relief from this affliction? I have had the same thing since 2020 and it has taken everything from me. Any time I have water or a meal I get this terrible mucus and it can change to a raw throat, etc. It goes on for hours and never fully goes away.

I have had countless laryngoscopy, EGDs, CT scans, swallow study, throat manometry, 24 hr ph, etc.

I have tried H1s, H2s, PPIs, nasal sprays, nasal rinses, etc., but nothing has worked.

It all started after my family had a virus in late February 2020 (we’ll never know if it was covid). We have had confirmed cases in ‘23 and ‘25 - and my throat still remains a huge issue. I would love to hear if anyone has found the genesis of this problem or at least some therapeutics.

After almost six years of this hell, I still can’t tell if it’s post nasal drip, some type of tracheal hypersecretion, or gastro - and neither can any of the doctors I’ve seen.

Jump to this post

@oly78
Question: Swallowing the Thick phlegm (to much to spit out)
comes out in stool undigested. You to?
Helpful : Chewing gum creates regular saliva and so phlegm easier to swallow. (a help)
Helpful: Neurologist suggested putting peppermint on my facial skin to help with associated migraines (a help)

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for oly78
oly78 | @oly78 | 2 days ago
In reply to @ccbwell "@oly78 Question: Swallowing the Thick phlegm (to much to spit out) comes out in stool undigested...." + (show)
Profile picture for ccbwell @ccbwell

@oly78
Question: Swallowing the Thick phlegm (to much to spit out)
comes out in stool undigested. You to?
Helpful : Chewing gum creates regular saliva and so phlegm easier to swallow. (a help)
Helpful: Neurologist suggested putting peppermint on my facial skin to help with associated migraines (a help)

Jump to this post

@ccbwell no -‘I have not really had issues with the mucus in the stool - but incessant mucus in the throat, of a very sticky (abnormal) consistency, especially after drinking fluids (leading to sore throat and mouth sores).

I do have other long covid issues as well (more classic), extreme lethargy, insomnia, queasy stomach, weird acne. I had none of these issues before (47 yo male, symptoms started at 41 - two confirmed infections, most likely was three - 2020, 2023, 2025).

REPLY
Profile picture for palka9898
palka9898 | @palka9898 | 1 day ago
In reply to @lauralej "I can. Mucous pours down my throat and I have a chronic cough. Steroids help only..." + (show)
Profile picture for lauralej @lauralej

I can. Mucous pours down my throat and I have a chronic cough. Steroids help only for a few weeks and then it returns. I’m miserable.

Jump to this post

@lauralej I am in the same boat. Inhaler helped me for few weeks and all symptoms are back.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for palka9898
palka9898 | @palka9898 | 1 day ago
In reply to @ccbwell "@oly78 Question: Swallowing the Thick phlegm (to much to spit out) comes out in stool undigested...." + (show)
Profile picture for ccbwell @ccbwell

@oly78
Question: Swallowing the Thick phlegm (to much to spit out)
comes out in stool undigested. You to?
Helpful : Chewing gum creates regular saliva and so phlegm easier to swallow. (a help)
Helpful: Neurologist suggested putting peppermint on my facial skin to help with associated migraines (a help)

Jump to this post

@ccbwell I buy so many gums that I should buy shares of the company. lol.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.