What can I do for lingering phlegm, congestion?

@rick4404 - It's good to hear your symptoms from COVID were largely minor but I know it has to be aggravating to have a persistent cough along with the mucous and phlegm. There is a Mayo Clinic Newsfeed that you might find helpful.

-- Post-COVID Cough: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/newsfeed-post/post-covid-cough/

Have any of the over the counter things helped a little?

This thread caught my attention because my husband has had a coughing, throat clearing, mucusy, hacking, hocking thing for 7 years (LONG before COVID). It defies diagnosis or treatment. He has been examined and tested by primary internal medicine, ENT, asthma / allergy, gastroenterology, pulmonary, language/speech pathology…. All to no avail. 🙄🤔😒🧐 ….. Now what?

If Western cant help, go with Eastern - herbs, cupping, acupuncture and oils. Find Chinese or Tibetan doctors locally through Yelp ?

Hi. I was actually on this site looking at covid cough remedies and saw your post. I had the same symptoms as your husband (plus headaches...even migraines...when it got really bad) for over 20 years. I went to an ENT who tested me for allergies. I was allergic to candida (yeast). The doctor asked me to try a different diet. He also said a lot of people think a candida allergy and associated diet change are a bunch of bologna, and he didn't seem rock solid on it, but told me to give it a try. Basically, the diet was no bread and very low carbs. He asked me to try it for 6 weeks to see if it did anything. He said it helps some people, but not everyone. Over 8 years later, I'm still on that diet. It was like a light switch went off. I do eat a few more carbs in moderation now (I originally didn't even eat fruit), but no bread, no pasta, no potatoes. I suggest getting him tested for allergies. I do have a similar cough now coming after contracting covid a couple weeks ago, but am hopeful it will go away.

@wepedmik thank you for your response. Asthma/Allergy was one of the departments we looked into. My husband has had allergy testing, does have allergies and has medications & treatments for them. Candida allergy isn’t one of his. Perhaps his Dr. should consider it. We will bring it up at next follow up. What I don’t understand about the diet you described was the low carbohydrate part. I understand avoiding bread because of the yeast but why restrict other carbohydrates (potatoes, other grains & veggies, fruits …..) ?

I’m having the same problem since 2020.

I had Covid March 2020 with horrible migraine that lasted 4 months.Lost about 15 pounds.Had night sweats.I felt twice my heart almost giving up.Now dealing with mucus/phlegm under chin and back of neck since first time having Covid. I take Sudafed,Flonase nose spray they help temporarily.Had allergies test and I have also allergies to dust,weeds.Anyone experience any of these?

I had nasal problems too. Ipratroprium helps me.

Does anyone know when Dr. Poland will appear here next?

Bronchiectasis and bronchitis have similar symptoms, including mucus in your lungs and coughing. But bronchiectasis causes permanent widening of your airways; and, bronchitis is a temporary infection that doesn’t cause lasting damage.
3 sites I use: Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins, Mayo, NHLBI.NIH.gov. Has/is hubby using inhaler with saline solution? Must gently, and often rinse mouth out with water. See specialist in bronchiectasis & yes, adults can get cystic fibrosis. For the lung, I would start with Cleveland Clinic. It took 7 pulmonologists before correctly diagnosed. Limit dairy. Homemade Lemonade, lower sugar.

I had the same issue. I read to gurgle with warm salt water for 30 seconds. I did that and it thinned out the phlegm which allowed me to expel it out.