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Chronic Phlegm Collecting in my throat, I constantly have to swallow
I had a bad case of what the doctors said was bronchitis March 2025, almost a year ago, and as of Jan 2026, I am still dealing with mucus in my throat. Although they did say that without a scope, they could not be sure. It is best described as a sticky mess right where I swallow and constantly has to be cleared, but rarely is any mucus produced up, just swallowed. Here is the timeline. In March 2025 the sore throat started and then a cough. After about a week, I went to the clinic and they said it was going around. The cough became worse and it became really bad and constant. After several more trips to the clinic and a chest x-ray, (unremarkable), we tried some different meds with no results. After about two months I improved, but still had an occasional cough and just lived with it. In Nov 2025 the phlegm in my throat became worse so I went several more times to the clinic. They had me go two weeks off of Lisinopril, then Prilosec for two months, and Mucinex for a week with no change. I can't describe it as a cough anymore, just having to clear the mucus from my throat where I swallow very often durning the day. It feels like a sticky mess right where I swallow.
68 year old male, never smoked, 160 pounds, never short of breath, regular exercise.
I am looking for ideas and others that have had this. Thanks.
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hmmm.....my take on this.....
weather dependent.
virus rolling.
I’ve had this same problem and I’ve seen 4 ENT and 2 GI doctors trying to get relief to no avail. Tried saline rinses, nasal sprays and all kinds of medications for sinuses and GERD and nothing has worked. It seems like it could be something viral. I had Lyme along with the co-infections that come with it in 2020 and now have Post Treatment Lyme. Covid in 2021. The sinus congestion and coughing up thick phlegm didn’t emerge until 2023. I also had a visit with neurologist who told me it could be neurological but she didn’t know for sure.
Things slowly started to improve after I started new herbs to treat Lyme about a month ago. I’m trying Dr. Rawls RESTORE 180. I’ll come back here and comment if this works. It’s six month program and if this doesn’t help I don’t know what more I could possibly do.
Hello. Why did the doctor put you on Lisinopril for mucus? In addition, heartburn seems to be doctors "go-to" when grasping at straws. I ask about the Lisinopril because my primary doctor prescribed Lisinopril for high blood pressure. After one month, I began having severe kidney pain and I quit taking it immediately. The doctor never even did follow-up bloodwork, which is critical for patients to monitor kidney function with this horrible drug. I will not be going back to this doctor.
As for the mucus, any creamers for coffee, cream, milk, and chocolate, create tons of mucus for me. Of course, I had cancer in my throat, which radiation cured but at a cost. Could your tonsils have become chronically enlarged after your illness? Have you gone to different ENTs for a throat scoping to see if they are the cause? Also, your vocal cords could have been affected. They act like doors in our throat. If one or both are malfunctioning, mucus is trapped.
Please go to a few different ENTs to get scoped. The procedure is quick and in-office. It is always wise to get more than one opinion. If you are interested, please go to my past comments to find out why I feel so strongly about second and even third opinions. Best wishes to you.
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1 ReactionIt was suggested that I go off of Lisinopril for two weeks to rule out that as being the cause.
So I had another visit with my GP and I asked to be put on Ipratropium bromide nasal spray....so far so good.....it keeps my sinuses from over producing mucus....nothing else was working. I've been on it 2 days and I finally feel like I can get this pnd under control...
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2 Reactions@dungeness, but it is high blood pressure medication that I would not touch with a ten-foot pole! The doctor prescribed Lisinopril for Mucus? I am confused!
No, the doctor did not prescribe Lisinopril for Mucus. He suggested that I quit taking it for two weeks to see if that was the issue. I have high blood pressure and have been taking a small dose of Lisinopril for a decade.
@dungeness When researching Lisinopril, the statistics show it affects elderly women the most in terms of side-effects. Take care.
I've been on Flonase for 30 years. It actually degraded my septum to the point of perforation. Then 15 years ago added Azelastine HCI and Ipratropium. 10 years ago added Xlear spray. Always scabbing and bleeding. 8 sinus surgeries. They final solution that worked was Aquaphor for scabbing and bleeding and Xlear with a small amount of mouth wash.
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1 ReactionI forgot to add that I put it in a spray bottle with distilled water.