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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@wendymb I just take a handful of cloves around with me wherever I go and pop one in my mouth whenever i need to

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@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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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