I cannot clear my throat; feels like mucus is there. Suggestions?

Posted by muffincat1 @muffincat1, Mar 10, 2021

I have been to doctors and tried everything had my throat checked by doctors. nothing works it is driving me and my family nuts.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.

...surprised the three specialists you have seen don't know what is causing this. I wonder if it is worse at different times of the day? Could you keep track if it is? Thinking, maybe the toothpaste you use; some medications you take; (I am on an antibiotic right now and my mouth tastes like the bottom of a bird cage). But you also have mucus... maybe an ENT? In the meantime, wonder if gargling with a small glass of warm water with half tsp. salt. Could try it am and pm for a week and see if helps? Best of luck, sounds annoying to say the least but I don't know anything about Sjogrens. Good luck.

REPLY
@dancing1

For anyone have terrible taste in mouth along with this occasional mucus that is hard to get rid of. I’ve been having a terrible taste for two months now. I e seen the dentist, dermatologist, and recently GI doctor. Nothing has helped. I have Sjogrens disease. It’s a terrible taste there nonstop.

Jump to this post

Hello - I have a suggestion for you as you pursue this issue. When I was on long-term antibiotic therapy, I had the same problem, and mentioned it to my pharmacist, blaming it on the drugs I was taking. He agreed, saying it was messing with my gut biome, and suggested probiotics to help restore the flora. I did that & it didn't go away completely but got better.
My Dad had the problem for many years, and he would chew on parsley or grass - he said it helped.
Sue

REPLY
@sueinmn

Hello - I have a suggestion for you as you pursue this issue. When I was on long-term antibiotic therapy, I had the same problem, and mentioned it to my pharmacist, blaming it on the drugs I was taking. He agreed, saying it was messing with my gut biome, and suggested probiotics to help restore the flora. I did that & it didn't go away completely but got better.
My Dad had the problem for many years, and he would chew on parsley or grass - he said it helped.
Sue

Jump to this post

@sueinmn I have had too many antibiotics over the years mainly for uti but have ibs-d so it is difficult to stop ecoli entering bladder; but re the subject, I remember people used to chew on parsley, hopefully this will help the person asking for suggestions but about the probiotics - I am an internet checker and one site says they work, another they don't, on many sites; some say it has not been proven also that some probiotics can cause diarrhea! Talk about too much information!

REPLY
@dancing1

For anyone have terrible taste in mouth along with this occasional mucus that is hard to get rid of. I’ve been having a terrible taste for two months now. I e seen the dentist, dermatologist, and recently GI doctor. Nothing has helped. I have Sjogrens disease. It’s a terrible taste there nonstop.

Jump to this post

Hello dancing1,
Have you ever had your throat examined internally with a nasal scoping? It is uncomfortable but painless. You could have vocal cord problems. If the cords are not functioning properly or are partially paralyzed, many times a person will still be able to talk and eat/drink. The mucus is trapped and cannot get out. It is just a thought. By the way, Covid caused many vocal cord problems in certain cases. Best wishes to you.

REPLY
@thomason

Hello dancing1,
Have you ever had your throat examined internally with a nasal scoping? It is uncomfortable but painless. You could have vocal cord problems. If the cords are not functioning properly or are partially paralyzed, many times a person will still be able to talk and eat/drink. The mucus is trapped and cannot get out. It is just a thought. By the way, Covid caused many vocal cord problems in certain cases. Best wishes to you.

Jump to this post

Thank you very much I just saw this. When I see my gastroenterologist I will ask him. The taste is still as bad no change at all my primary doctor did ask me to try Gaviscon again after each meal but it still hadn’t changed a thing. My swallowing still very difficult so mainly eating soft or liquid foods. Still feeling like something is at the very back of my throat. Tried milking the glands to help with salvia but only caused a but more sore throat. Thank you so very much again I appreciate your reply. Linda.

REPLY
@dancing1

Thank you very much I just saw this. When I see my gastroenterologist I will ask him. The taste is still as bad no change at all my primary doctor did ask me to try Gaviscon again after each meal but it still hadn’t changed a thing. My swallowing still very difficult so mainly eating soft or liquid foods. Still feeling like something is at the very back of my throat. Tried milking the glands to help with salvia but only caused a but more sore throat. Thank you so very much again I appreciate your reply. Linda.

Jump to this post

dancing1,
I had a Gastric Endoscopy done by a gastroenterologist, and he never caught the tumor in my throat either. I am not saying you have a tumor...just that an ENT (and second/third opinion ENT too) would be the place to start. Two different ENTs did Nasal Endoscopes on me and never found the tumor. It took a third ENT to scope me, and he found it immediately. Even a CAT scan did not detect it somehow. The radiologists suggested my symptoms were from "Eagles Syndrome." If I had left it at that, I would surely be dead by now. If you are not having pain, then maybe you just have a blockage with dysfunctional vocal cords. Don't give up, and please make that appointment! Best of wishes to you.

REPLY

..... i don't want to scare you either, but my ex was at drs. over and over and on painkillers, so not quite the same symptoms, but as in last post, a dr. finally discovered a small tumour at the back of his tongue and he had radiation and that worked.... one drawback was that he became addicted to the painkillers. Hope you find that "one doctor" who will discover what is causing this....I think we 'know our bodies" and know when something just isn't right...best of luck.

REPLY
@juleszs

This is @juleszs--- I have a condition that has lasted about 1 and 1/2 years. I feel like I have phlegm in my throat but I can not bring it up. I have been scoped 4 times by an ENT doctor I have tried GERD meds. I have been to an allergy doctor. He tried asthma meds. Nothing helps.
This condition goes away when I sleep. As soon as I move around in the morning the congestion returns and stays with me all day---it feels like there is a lump in my throat.
Background ------ In January, 2020 I had neck surgery----- C 4/5. Maybe the breathing tube nicked my throat. This condition started just after the surgery. However-- I have had this condition twice before in the 27 years that I have lived in Florida. But it has gone away in due time. Now it is here to stay.
Please comment!

Jump to this post

I am dealing with this same phlegm in throat situation. It goes away when I sleep and returns in the morning. I have a deviated septum and hole in one side of my sinus. I am seeing an ENT Dr. and am getting close to having surgery for both. I have had an allergy test. I also had CT scan on my sinus that showed my condition. I will post my results from surgery here.

I doubt that yours had anything to do with the breathing tube.

REPLY
@fab44

I am dealing with this same phlegm in throat situation. It goes away when I sleep and returns in the morning. I have a deviated septum and hole in one side of my sinus. I am seeing an ENT Dr. and am getting close to having surgery for both. I have had an allergy test. I also had CT scan on my sinus that showed my condition. I will post my results from surgery here.

I doubt that yours had anything to do with the breathing tube.

Jump to this post

My condition is now about 2 and 1/2 years old. I have given up. I just live with it. Sometimes it is hard to breath. I am not seeing any doctors.

Juleszs

REPLY
@juleszs

My condition is now about 2 and 1/2 years old. I have given up. I just live with it. Sometimes it is hard to breath. I am not seeing any doctors.

Juleszs

Jump to this post

Juleszs,

Thank you for your reply. I am at the point that I have to do something with my sinus drainage problem. My deviated septum is a 70/80% blockage in one side of my nose. I need to get it corrected. According to my ENT Dr. the hole in my sinus will be opened up with surgery. It seems to me that a "hole in sinus" should be closed but it is apparently not the case. I would appreciate more input about this if anyone on the Mayo Clinic ENT forum can help.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.