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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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@jc76 You are spot on with your quote. I too have all the symptoms of silent reflux. At 82 and with a pacemaker and too long on pantoprazole, I am trying to switch to a different method to both control my GERD/reflux and keep the acid level lower. It matters not what I eat, same results. I had my gall bladder removed years ago and since then, the reflux. There has to be a connection.
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1 Reaction@babushka thanks for your info. Could you tell us more about Mometasone. I’ve never heard of it and I feel like I’ve been to every doctor under the sun with all of these symptoms. Still looking for relief from cough and phlegm. Thx.
Mometasone Furoate Nasal spray also known as Nasonex must be prescribed by your physician. ( I have used Nasonex over the counter but it did nothing for me.) I use Mometasone every night to reduce inflammation which causes mucus. When I was first being treated for allergic rhinitis, the doctor first prescribed prednisone for 5 days to stop the inflammation. Then a protocol of Azelastine nasal spray in the morning when I get up and Mometasone before bed. The more you use it, the more you benefit from it. I intend to use it forever. I also use an air purifier at night and Miracle Sheets which are infused with silver to reduce dust mites which I am terribly allergic too and caused one sinus infection after another. Now I have been infection free for over a year! Hope this info will give you relief if you haven’t tried it yet.
@brigid4
I saw ENT couple of days ago. They do a short term medication treatment for GERD and silent reflux.
The ENT physician did a scope on me including down to vocal cords and cannot find a reason from sinuses causing the accumulation of mucus in my throat. She recommended an OTC to try but I think has something to do with the back of throat not acid.
My PCP told me he thinks I have silent reflux disease. He says he also thinks I have developed over the years a irritated vagus nerve in back of throat and sends signals to brain to make more mucus.
Either way a real pain to deal with. I am not certain I have silent reflux disease as I can develop the mucus and phlegm in back of throat standing straight so not sure how acid can come up into my esophagus standing up.
I will pass on the outcome of the OTC I was suggested to take. Don't have the name of it right now, and have not taken it. But will pass on in later post whether it helped or not.
@jc76 My heavy mucus is coming from above my soft palate 24/7.
My last throat radiation was at least 4 years ago and this is holding me up from swallowing normal. I am using saline sprays up my nose at times to flush out the heavy stuff that is in my sinus cavity. My ENT doesn't have any answers and said to me it's surely from the radiation and also my upper inside gums just over the teeth gets puffy at times. I just hope it goes away with time because it is an obstruction from swallowing. I have been on Glucerna through my stomach tube for the past 4 1/2 years now. My left tonsil was removed from surgery back on 12/2021 now my right tonsil was reported "full" on the last CAT scan. Maybe just inflamed from all the hacking up I do getting the mucus out?
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2 Reactions@jc76 so what did they tell you to do for the silent reflux? I believe this is what I have also
@vaskeace
Got lots of advice from different doctors of mine.
My ENT does not think problem is from sinuses but silent reflux. She offered a short term plan of taking the medications but she knows I have apprehension about side affects. I take a lot of heart medications.
My ENT suggested Reflux Gourmet. I went on their web site and see you can do a gum and it reduces acid. But I read about another product they offer that you swallow after eating and when you go to bed. What is does is expand in your stomach and float upward blocking the acid reflux from going up into your esophagus. I am going to try both.
I had two sinus surgeries and the last one really opened up my sinus drainage. With that I immediately got sinus drainage down my throat. My PCP also thinks I have silent reflux disease AND what he called an over sensitive vagus nerve in my throat sending signals and creating more mucus, and phlegm. He wants me to sit straight up when eating, prop my head and upper body up during sleep.
What I have been trying to do is have my sinuses drain out my nose not my throat. But if I have silent reflux this is not going to help fix problem.
I can pass on my experience with this OTC medications after I try them for awhile. I found them on Amazon.
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1 Reaction@leIehowder98
I'm sorry. I have not encountered that issue. In my enamel basin I dip my finger in baking soda and rub with the water running
@gareee314
Nice to meet a member who has worn the Gtube longer than me. I've worn it for 3 years going on 30. GP thinks I need to wear it indefinitely. I am at health risks for contracting aspiration pneumonia, cardio-vascular, malnutrition WITHOUT IT! I tube feed high caloric Ensure does the trick! Mucus is ongoing. Especially with some food or drink intake and head cold.
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2 Reactions