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Hello,
For several months now, my days have been filled with coughing up phlegm. It's terrible. I had 2 mandiblectomies in the past 17 months, with the most recent being October of 2025. But I wasn't coughing up phlegm until about January of this year. Is this something that will improve over time by itself, or is there something i can do to help it?
I've already done things like drink lots of water and sit in an upright position when i consume my liquid diets (i'm on liquids for about another 6 months until I get my lower prothetic teeth). I've had swallow analysis and other tests, too, and nothing shows that there's much (if anything) going down the wrong tube. I'm feeling helpless and hopeless, as my quality of life has plummeted because of this. I never good a good night's sleep, and all through the day, I need to have a box of kleenex and a trash sack nearby.
Sometimes I have trouble coughing up the mucus, regardless of the fact that I've been blowing into the EMST 75 (an "expiratory muscle strength trainer"). I've been doing everything they've told me to do, but this problem is not going away.
So, yes - I've seen a pulmonologist and my primary care physician, but they tend to make my situation sound bleak. I'm hoping it's a matter of just getting my information to the right person. I've also seen a couple of doctors at the local VA hospital, but they didn't have the answer.
I'm 68 years old, living in SoCal. I'll travel anywhere to see who I need to see. You would think there should be someone near me who could provide the answers, given the population of where I live. But that's another problem; getting appointments.
Please help!
Replies to "Hello, For several months now, my days have been filled with coughing up phlegm. It's terrible...."
@skip0716 Hello and welcome. Two mandiblectomies! Both sides or did the initial one fail?
The phlegm issue seems to be common after a mandiblectomy, it certainly was in my case for a few years. I figured it was just part of the way the body heals, either by the perceived invasion of the throat area or the fact that we were under anesthesia for many hours.
I'm five years out and everything has finally calmed down, including issues with the gum being irritated along side the prosthetic teeth, requiring ablation three times. Being a fellow vet, I know we have both been through tough times prior. Sometimes however it just doesn't seem right that we have to power through something like this at our age. We are supposed to enjoy life now.
Churchill said that when you are going through hell, go fast. Unfortunately you can only go at the pace your body heals, which is not fast like it was when we were young and dumb. I have no advice for you on how to deal with this other than to perhaps offer you hope that it likely will get better over time, a long time unfortunately. I've got your six for what good that does, because sadly I've got no ammo. Courage.
@skip0716 Some patients on this site battling mucous have had some success with using a sparkling carbonated water or club soda to cut through mucous. Even the readily available flavored sparking waters have helped more than regular water. Others have been prescribed Mucinex to thin the mucous, have you tried that? A family member undergoing radiation for tonsil cancer found sleeping in a recliner helpful when his thick mucous production was a big problem. Another patient with mucous issues suggested ordering Himalaya Salt Mint sports candy, lemon flavor. These are an interesting item as I have tried them for moisturizing my dry mouth. I ordered from Amazon.
Has your ENT or surgeon suggested scoping to see if the area is healed well? Have you requested a referral, despite the long wait to get in elsewhere?
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@skip0716
If you already maxed out your EMST 75 with it set at the 75, I would go up to the EMST 150 which is double but results obviously better. Talk to your Speech therapist about it.
It definitely made a difference for me a few years back. Matter of fact, I am going to start up with it again to get ready for my daughter’s wedding in October.
God Bless,
Rob