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Every day I cough up what looks like a scab with ugly mucous and blood

Posted by needtoknow @needtoknow, Feb 10, 2016

Every day I cough up what looks like a scab with ugly mucous and tiny amounts of blood. It seems to come from the back of my throat or nose. My doctor has seen the scab but does not see anything wrong. This, to me, seems really odd. Has anyone had this problem?

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nikyo | @nikyo | Jun 28, 2021

Before hacking up these things it feels like a soar dry throat which is because when these parasites are sticking to the roof of your mouth they are actually sucking on it. Before you discredit me think what I am saying through its the only thing not mentioned. Remember "eyes nose ears and throat" what do you think they are looking for? I know this from taking these and looking with a microscope also try putting hydrogen peroxide on it it will give you a whole new perspective sorry I hate to say it but this is the truth and doctors don't ever like to touch on the parasite thing for some reason. Now we can figure out how to beat this there is still hope especially if we call it what it is! thanks for your consideration

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catstx | @catstx | Jun 29, 2021
In reply to @needtoknow "As you know from my previous post, I have had this same problem. One time, the..." + (show)
@needtoknow

As you know from my previous post, I have had this same problem. One time, the doctor pulled it out but, as you say, thought nothing of it. It may be partly attributable to GERD but I feel there is a spot somewhere in there where mucous collects and doesn’t drain properly. After the mucous gets stuck there for a while it forms a scab and becomes infected. If I don’t “hack it up” regularly, it really becomes infected and I have to take an antibiotic. I know this sounds gross, but hacking it up sometimes is really difficult. Wish I could find a doctor that could/would fix this. Had an MRI of my sinuses but they could not find anything - I think that is because it is just a little “dent” or “ledge” back there that collects mucous and doesn’t drain and they cannot see it in an MRI. Let us know how you are doing with this. Good luck!

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Sorry for very late response. You are describing what I think is happening to me, as well. Specifically, I think my frontal sinus doesn’t drain properly and the phlegm gets a little hard and I must hack it up to dislodge. When it comes out of my throat it looks ugly like the photos others provided. The only thing that’s helped me is Neil Med sinus rinses and a Rx nasal spray. Let’s hope someone comes up with a medical, not speculative answer.

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sarahbrhein | @sarahbrhein | Jul 4, 2021
In reply to @sarahbrhein "Hello everyone, thank you for the replies, I just wanted to provide an update. Since posting,..." + (show)
@sarahbrhein

Hello everyone, thank you for the replies, I just wanted to provide an update. Since posting, I've had a biopsy of my nasopharynx where the andenoids are. I was told there is no cancer, but my tissue tested positive for a bacteria called Eikenella Corrodens. My ENT told me this diagnosis is perplexing to him because many people normally have this specific bacteria in the nose naturally, but not necessarily in the actual tissue (from the sample of skin he took out). I have already taken a round of clindamycin for 10 days due to my crusty phlegm sample testing positive for heavy growth staph areus. Now, my ENT says he thinks he'll prescribe me a second round (now a month later) because the Eikenella is resistant to Clindamycin and I'll now be taking Augmentin. I don't know if perhaps this is a co-colonizatiom between the two bacterias? Or, all part of normal flora and is just a coincidence and I just a nasal irrigation issue... or both. Since my biopsy, I have only coughed up just 1 phlegm which was super bloody from the biopsy but it's been a week and nothing since. I plan on waiting till I cough up another one and then start the 2nd round of antibiotics while starting nasal irrigation twice daily as many of you have recommended. Thank you all for the feedback, please let me know if any of you have a similar diagnosis or thoughts about the Eikenella in the nasal tissue! I am also scared to take antibiotics because clindamycin is strong and that was just a month ago so I might wait a little....

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Just wanted to provide an update... I've had luck minimizing the amount of "crusts" by doing this vigorous routine for the last few months:

- 2 back to back nasal rinse in the morning (neilmed). I add a small drop of Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo to the first rinse, and use the 2nd rinse to flush that out. I repeat this in the evening.

-i use a few drops of Polaris nasal enallment twice a day following my rinse.

-ive also started heating up the rinse bottle with the water in the microwave for 20 seconds before each rinse. I think this alone has made a HUGE difference.

Doing these things, for the last 3 months I have only had like 2 "crusts"/month and half the time they came out during the nasal rinse. The ones that I did cough up were super tiny and came out on the first cough. I think the summer humidity is helping as well. I always keep my room at 50 percent humidity using a humidifier.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 6, 2021
In reply to @sarahbrhein "Just wanted to provide an update... I've had luck minimizing the amount of "crusts" by doing..." + (show)
@sarahbrhein

Just wanted to provide an update... I've had luck minimizing the amount of "crusts" by doing this vigorous routine for the last few months:

- 2 back to back nasal rinse in the morning (neilmed). I add a small drop of Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo to the first rinse, and use the 2nd rinse to flush that out. I repeat this in the evening.

-i use a few drops of Polaris nasal enallment twice a day following my rinse.

-ive also started heating up the rinse bottle with the water in the microwave for 20 seconds before each rinse. I think this alone has made a HUGE difference.

Doing these things, for the last 3 months I have only had like 2 "crusts"/month and half the time they came out during the nasal rinse. The ones that I did cough up were super tiny and came out on the first cough. I think the summer humidity is helping as well. I always keep my room at 50 percent humidity using a humidifier.

Jump to this post

I really appreciate the update, Sarah! Can you share where you got these tips about adding baby shampoo and Ponaris nasal emollient? How has microwaving the rinse bottle helped?

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1 reply
tomc123 | @tomc123 | Jul 28, 2021

I have that. It’s a clump of dried glue like mucus stuck behind the uvula stuck where my adenoids used to be. If I get it to cough out I feel so much better. Once it breaks free it feels like the back of my throat is a big wide open space. I just found this out today from my ENT. I’ve been to a hundred doctors since 1991 to get an explanation. It all started when I had my tonsils out.

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mar2a | @mar2a | Aug 2, 2021

I heat the water for sinus rinses, too, but I heat the water in a 1-cup glass measuring cup because I worry about the plastic giving off chemicals if I heat the bottle itself, or the bottle wearing out earlier. I have absolutely no scientific basis for this fear, though. I just thought I'd mention it in case others have that fear.

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sharonk76 | @sharonk76 | Aug 10, 2021

I have the same issue and so far no one can tell me why this is happening

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robin0490 | @robin0490 | Aug 31, 2021

I have the same thing, but no blood. I don't cough t up more like hacked up, i can feel it stuck in the back of my throat/nose. Its a hard yellow/green scab.

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needtoknow | @needtoknow | Aug 31, 2021

Apparently quite a few people have this problem and the ENT’s have no clue as to what causes it or any treatment that can clear up this aggravating condition. Some days it makes me feel really bad.

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robin0490 | @robin0490 | Aug 31, 2021
In reply to @klpdx "@fcleaner1 @beebuzz @needtoknow Hey guys, pardon the totally gross pictures, but I thought it might be..." + (show)
@klpdx

@fcleaner1 @beebuzz @needtoknow Hey guys, pardon the totally gross pictures, but I thought it might be helpful to make sure everyone has the same issue in mind. The photo is of the afore mention snot crusts. I’ve been definitively diagnosed with chronic adenoiditis, and will soon be having them removed. Currently, I have to clear one of these bad boys out more or less daily, and at times, it can be annoyingly difficult, painful, and embarrassing to try and “cough it up.” Basically, you sound like you’re trying to (pardon me) “hawk up” a stubborn loogie (sp?). I encourage anyone with similar symptoms to gather the evidence: save/document a series of crusts (to show your provider), study nasal anatomy/read about chronic adenoiditis, and perhaps most important: find an ENT who listens to you, and agrees to perform an internal laryngopharyngeal exam with a flexible fiber scope.

Jump to this post

Im doing the same thing, and looks just lke that. Going to talk to my doctor asap.

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