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

Posted by dungeness @dungeness, Jan 25 11:18am

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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brigid4 | @brigid4 | Jul 9 11:39am

In reply to @ashaninka "@wendymb I just take a handful of cloves around with me wherever I go and pop..." + (show)

@ashaninka There used to be a chewing gum, I think it was "Clarks" with clove. Otherwise see whole cloves in spice department at grocery store.

johnny49 | @johnny49 | Jul 10 11:56am

I read a pubmed study on using NAC - n-acetyl cysteine - at higher dose of 2,400 mg/daily (4 - 600 mg capsules) to thin out mucus. I tried it and , voila, it works! It's cheap and no bad side effects.
Best wishes

TomC7231 | @tc7231 | Jul 10 5:47pm

I also use NAC (learned about it on this site) and take guaifenesin along with it. Both OTC and inexpensive; no side effects either. Now I can stand at sink and spit out the phlegm. I just wish there was a way to stop it.

con123 | @con123 | Jul 11 6:42am

You might consider diet. It could be LPR if your diet is on the acidic side. Dr Jamie Kaufman has a book, Dropping Acid, that explains that LPR can affect the throat and sinuses. I had miserable mucous with throat clearing a cough. It’s gotten so much better by decreasing acidic foods. She also recommends not lying down for 3 hours after meals. It can’t hurt to try dietary changes.

abob | @abob | Jul 12 2:35pm

In reply to @johnny49 "I read a pubmed study on using NAC - n-acetyl cysteine - at higher dose of..." + (show)

@johnny49
https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-nac
Interesting, thx

abob | @abob | Jul 12 6:42pm

My husband has had some improvement of his post-nasal drip with Azelastine (Astepro) spray. Adding Singular at night has been helpful.

sandeep9007192908 | @sandeep9007192908 | Jul 19 4:40am

Are you ok now I am dealing same case 😭😭 pls tell me

jc76 | @jc76 | Jul 19 3:42pm

In reply to @con123 "You might consider diet. It could be LPR if your diet is on the acidic side...." + (show)

@con123
Got the same advice from ENT. She said so much of this is caused by silent GERD. It can affect the esophagus and the Vagus never than run though it to over react and cause the increased phlegm and mucus.

I go the same advice about eating. My ENT did suggest a acidic reduction company. I went on it and have purchased a gum you chew after meals.

I was and still am reluctant to go on prescription medications that reduce acid in stomach as take a lot of medications.

fever1 | @fever1 | Jul 20 8:55am

Guaefenesin and substantial amounts of water will thin phlegm easily. Time release otc 1200 mgs. Not expensive.

mariego | @mariego | 5 days ago

@dungeness, I went through a similar battery of tests last year. The first EGD scope showed esophogitis LA Grade D (the highest - ie, worst -- rating possible) with contact bleeding. I had 4 scopes under anesthesia between April and October 2025. Last scoping showed esophogitis resolved. but aperistalsis persists, as does resultant regurgitation (reflux). I have another EGD scoping scheduled in 2 weeks. My gastroenterologist said that even though I don't feel heartburn, a scoping will show him if there is some damage occuring that I might not be detecting. PPIs at the highest dose did not help the regurgitation. Last June they put me on Voquezna instead, and that seemed to help with the acid refux resulting from constant regurgitation. However, by then I had (and continue to) self eliminated all food except milk, soft cheese, yogurt, dry toast, applesauce, protein powder supplement, so unsure if Voquenza was the cause of relief. Since you asked, I would definitely undergo a scoping under anesthesia if my gastroenterologist recommended it. The risk of anesthesia, to me, does not outweigh the benefit of having my gastroenterologist see first hand the totality of what is going on in my esophagus. I do not want to wind up with Barret's esophagus or worse. Since there seems to be no cure for aperistalsis, diligent monitoring seems to be the best management tool we have. Also, if you don't have a baseline scope to see the condition of your esophagus before you start PPI, how will you know if the PPI made a difference?