Hi all, I just created an account so I can come back later and read through everything. 3-4 years ago I started getting drainage every few days that was difficult to swallow. I never had allergies so I figured it was that. It progressed to last year where I was having issues daily. At some point I realized I could see the mucus at the back of my throat: thick, white, rope-like. I get it periodically through the day now, normally a bit I’m the morning, maybe around 10, then around 2, then always around 5-6, then a couple times in the evening. Now it dries out into large circular clumps, sometimes yellow, or green, or bloody and I can feel it drying out then have to hack and snort until it dislodges and I feel it drop from my adenoids. Sometimes it’s just thick mucus and sometimes it’s dried like a scab. My ENT didn’t believe me about the drainage at first and claimed allergies or acid reflux. Tried treatment and testing for both. He then tried an antibiotic followed immediately by a CT scan. It cleared for a week or two and this the CT was clear. He finally saw it on a scope and saw that it was coming from my adenoids. “Crusted and weeping”. He was very concerned at this point. Tried another antibiotic and a steroid nasal rinse. Very mild relief. He tried to declare me healed when he didn’t see an active drainage event the next time. I kept pushing and insisted on a biopsy (he first suggested it then tried to convince me otherwise the day of the appointment). It showed tissue necrosis due to chronic inflammation and nothing else. No fungal, no viral, no bacterial, no malignancy. I tried prescription strength mucinex and it may or may not help? His suggestion is now adenoidectomy. I am 30, female, very mild allergies (according to testing), wide air passage, normal anatomy, non-smoker, rarely drink, not very active but eat fairly well (have to reduce carbs due to GI enzyme deficiency). 125 pounds, otherwise pretty healthy but history of chronic bronchitis after every cold (probably due to poor sleep hygiene and stress). Rare issues with asthma. Recently diagnosed with sleep apnea. Still have my tonsils, never had issues with them. I have some thyroid cysts/nodules but haven’t grown under observation for a few years. My adenoids are not enlarged, just inflamed.

It keeps progressively getting worse. I often can’t dislodge the mucus plug and end up gagging, dry heaving, coming super close to vomiting. I had to pull of the highway the other day because I couldn’t move my throat muscles without violently gagging. The mucus is incredibly thick and sticky so it sticks to my gag flexes.

I get married at the end of the month and will be spending the day swishing mouth wash to get rid of the mucus smell on my breath. Post wedding, I will select 1 of 2 doctors he recommended for a second opinion.

I work in a very small print shop internal to a business office and live in an 103 yo house but I think these problems first started at my old job and in my old apartment but I don’t want to rule out environmental factors either.