Solutions for hypersecretion.

I had the same thing in the beginning, following endoscopy, just before starting immunotherapy. Couldnt swallow. Secretions piled up. I coughed & aspirated upon falling asleep. Caused pneumonia twice. It was suggested that the trauma from the endoscopy/biopsy created additional inflammation and associated secretion buildup. It improved over time and now 7 mos into it, I can sleep with up so much buildup. I do intentionally regurgitate couple time daily when I feel it building up. Facing the toilet, I just bend over & employ almost a vomiting maneuver. That really helps relieve the esophageal pressure. I recently started on a pump, which allows a days worth of feeding gradually overnight. I use it for water too. Has been a positive experience. I still have complete blockage, but immunotherapy is a slower process. Just gotta be patient. Hope your wife feels improvement soon & does well with her regimen

@bob2158 my husband has a flem problem also. It seems to build up and then he gets full the vomiting starts. He gets so agitated because it also brings up whatever he is trying to eat. The last 3 days have been great. I think the chemo is kicking in. He hasn’t thrown up and the food is going through. I’m overjoyed but again cautious. Will this continue and will chemo always be part of our life? His diagnosis is stage 4 esophagus cancer which has moved to his bone. Also we have put the feeding tube on hold. Good luck and stay hopeful

My ESSC was caught before it escaped my esophagus, but it had ALMOST closed my esophagus, to the point no local GE doc could get an endoscope down past the tumor, which was almost circumferential, with a tiny hole in the middle. I was having problems with spasms, which would close my throat entirely, at which time, I'd develop the hypersalivation problem. I've lost up to 16 oz of saliva and stayed up almost all night to avoid aspiration, until a spasm eased. I've tried every drug they could think of except Botulin shots, which have their own problems. My cancer is in remission, but I traded scar tissue for tumor, so I still had my stricture. After two dilations, with another, at least, to go, the spasms don't close my throat entirely. However, the drug which seemed to help the most was glycopyrrolate, which can be crushed and given via a feeding tube. It is not without its side effects, a mouth as dry as cotton, constipation and blurred vision. It can't be given intermittently; it must be daily. It's given most frequently to Parkinson's and CP patients, who have the same problem. You might at least ask about it...

@earle Thank you for the information. I'll check it out.

My husband just had revision surgery. He was spitting up all day and vomiting up once a day...more heavy secretions. This started 4 months post esophagectomy. It took 3 more months to get the surgery scheduled. I feel like those symptoms have lessened. His doctor approved glycopyrrolate once, 2 days post surgery. It really helped. But I know he can't live on that.
He just had a chest tube put in and it drained a liter of fluid right away. Maybe that will help. One day at a time. I am hopeful that he can get thru this, get the next issue dealt with and just maybe, we can take a vacation next year.
Happy Thanksgiving to all the wonderful people on this site.

You are all going through many of the same problems my husband is experiencing. This is a terrible cancer. Im glad all of you are there telling your stories. It helps me to know that he is not alone and that his trek is expected, not some freakish thing ( which it feels like sometimes.) Right now, keeping him optimistic is my hardest task. Thank you all.

@billnclaire47
My husband was prescribed Prozac after the initial esophagectomy. I don't know if it helps or not but no way are we going to stop it now. He's a pretty stoic person but keeps things inside way more than I do. The optimism we've hung on to is from this group and their positive outcomes even though some take years. That is the hope we both cling to. I try and encourage him to let friends visit and keep interacting with life. It's a struggle but I do think my positive energy helps even though he may not show it. Stick in there.

Thank you! I also struggle to get him to talk on the phone with his friends and let them come visit. Thank you for the encouragement!