Chronic Phlegm Collecting in my throat, I constantly have to swallow

@dungeness
It is your body and your decision to make.

I have tremendous mucus and phlegm down my throat. I had the scope several times down to vocal cords. Same thing saw mucus but not growths or things like that.

My PCP said he sees this all the time. He said his diagnosis was a sensitive vagus nerve that runs down throat. So when you eat, cough, etc. you can trigger the vagus nerve and it will create more mucus and phlegm which will cause more irritation and more phlegm and mucus.

I think he hit right on with me. Seems when I sometimes eat I feel a finch in throat and the mucus comes on and on and on. Other times when I eat and don't eat something that triggers throat I don't get the mucus build up.

I am not sure if your have tied your mucus buildup to worse at eating but if you have you could try eating different things to see what triggers yours. I know when I eat toasted bread it happens, or eat nuts, triggers, so I know those being crunchy are irritating my vagus nerve running down the back of my throat.

And now I have found this. Even though it is AI, the information is good.

Sinuses drain back there too. Make sure it isn't sinus related.

@dungeness thank you so much for this. I have had so many tests none of my docs have ever mentioned LPR to me and I have all the symptoms now I don't even know who to go back to the ENT the gastroenteritis or the larynx specialist who just gave me amitriptyline or offered a nerve block in my throat. Sounds terrifying. Any advice?

Well, my feeling is that it is sinus related, but the ENT scoped my nasal and didn't mention sinuses as the issue. He wanted a barium swallow test which I assume was a check for GERD or acid reflux. The Barium Xray showed thickening of the folds in the esophagus, which would indicate some type of acid reflux inflammation. But in reading, my symptoms seem to indicate otherwise. But one can have silent reflux, so I am taking the PPI for a month, sort of as a diagnostic test. So we'll see after that.

I have had what many have had. The constant feeling of mucus in my throat and having to cough it up. I have had about 6 sinus scopes and had one today. The ENT said there is not sign of sinus issues that would create the mucus and symptoms your are experience on a constant basis.

She like my PCP said believe it is silent reflux disease. She gave me the name of a OTC drug to try versus trying a reduction of acid drugs. She said there are side affects of acid reduction drugs so wants me to try this OTC. It is not the OTC acid reducers. I don't know the name as she had not send my after visit portal message withe the name of OTC and instruction yet.

I am told I have a overly sensitive vagus nerve in esophagus. This over sensitivity causes the mucus and phlegm build up aggravated by the silent acid reflux. I was told as we age the splinter that closes to keep acid from coming up from stomach and into esophagus weakens and thus as we age more prone to it. I am 79 and like the saying says, what does not hurt, does not work. This poor old splinter has probably seen better days.

50 years of this. I have allergic rhinitis, silent reflux ( lpr), laryngeal neuropathy. I bet most of you have most if not all of these, also. For the allergic rhinitis, I take azelestine spray and Zyrtec. I was prescribed Flonase for years with no relief. For the silent reflux, I take famotidine upto 4 times a day after meals and at bedtime. I was giver Omeprazole for many years with no relief. For the laryngeal neuropathy( hyperactive vegus nerve) I take pregabalin twice a day. All of this has greatly reduced my symptoms. I still have to steer clear of some food triggers, such as- chocolate, caffeine, tomatoes and tomato sauce, garlic and onions. I will have flare ups caused by unknown triggers from time to time that usually last about a day. The constant throat clearing, sinus drainage, horrible taste and nasty breath, for me, can never be "cured". But it is well managed. It took me 50 years to get here, and from where I was to where I am now, is night and day. I think for most people, like myself , who suffer from cough, throat clearing, excessive mucus from sinuses, and reflux, are suffering from multiple conditions. Don't give up and good luck to you all!

Have you tried the nasal spray Azalastine…..it is the gold standard for nasal dripping, coughing and mucus build-up. If I forget to take it in the morning I start coughing from the mucus in my throat and getting a runny nose most likely from allergies. Before bed I take Mometasone. It is a corticosteroid but my ENT doctor told me it doesn’t cross over into the blood stream but stays in the nasal area which means you can take it forever. Another gold standard! I also take Famotadine for reflux. Works semi well.

I have gastritis. My throat Dr says acid is rising to my throat and burning. My throat is making saliva which has ph that is protective. It is thick, sticky and clear. The stickiness is the most impressive feature. Gastritis, maybe from years of arthritis meds is the real problem

@bootblack Do you have a resolution for cleaning the sticky, clear yuck off the teeth?