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.

Thank you----- Keep us posted.

Juleszs

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@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

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I have the excess phlegm in my sinuses and goes to my throat. I, too, have a septum problem: I have a hole in my septum. I use NeilMed nasal rinse and that helps temporarily and also fluticasone nasal spray. Not permanent solutions, but I decided not to surgically mess with these areas.

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I have no idea if what I am going to mention is your diagnosis but I recently found out I have an esophageal web which partially blocks my esophagus. I don't know much about what this can cause. I have a chronic dry cough which can be one symptom. Difficulty swallowing can be another. I am going to be seeing a gastroenterologist in the near future. Just one suggestion for you.

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for the last year I have had musk back in throat. gargle with salt water, but it quickly returns. Has no cough, and can't cough anything up either. can only snort it up can constantly suck a lump in the mouth. every morning it's a big white blob. no soreness, but sometimes it tastes bad. Some who know what it is. Ent carnt see anything

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@gitteh

for the last year I have had musk back in throat. gargle with salt water, but it quickly returns. Has no cough, and can't cough anything up either. can only snort it up can constantly suck a lump in the mouth. every morning it's a big white blob. no soreness, but sometimes it tastes bad. Some who know what it is. Ent carnt see anything

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Hello, and welcome to Mayo Connect. We have moved your post to this existing discussion about mucus so you can chat with others with the same issue. @catstx @thomason @buckeye83 & @stephanie101 all have some suggestions about what might be the cause, or what might help with relief.
Some people have had the problem after a Covid infection, did this happen to you?
Sue

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Google LPR…..mucus in your throat is a symptom of LPR.

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@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!

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Hello,
I am soooooo glad to hear your problem! I too. have been dealing with something nearly identical. Mine will get so bad at times that my breathing becomes short, and even labored. I have done the ENT visits, the asthma meds, the GERD/LPR stuff (which oddly enough, breathing the straw actually helps), x-rays, CTs . . .

I have some questions for you, if you do not mind:

1. Do you have the issue when you try to cough the lump, congestion/phlegm up, but, it is almost as if the cough/air does not reach the area where the mess (lump, congestion, phlegm) is? Like, if your cough would reach that spot then all would be good. And also, does your cough feel like it is . . . cut in half, or missing a certain part of the windpipe, or like you can feel the cough in your entire throat except for 'the' area. Like somehow it is going around 'the' area.
2. This may seem weird, but I am just trying to figure this out. Since this started (last Dec.) I have not had a single booger <-- sorry, but it is true. What's more, I go through a box of tissue a week. The crazy part about it is, when I do blow my nose, the tissue has very, very little substance on it. I am talking a drop or two. THAT IS IT! Even though my nose feels like it is packed full and one tissue will fall to pieces.
3. Since you have posted, have you had any luck with doctors? If so, PLEASE, PLEASE give me anything that can help. I will definitely do the same.

Thank you for your time. I hope that we can get through this.

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@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.

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I too, share this issue. We are not alone.

I have been dealing with this for nearly a year and have gone through all the same testing. Also, I just found this discussion board and am slowly trying to get caught up. I want to post now even though you may have posted later. If you have not posted your results PLEASE do.

I am some doctor appointments coming up and will post everything once I get the results back. I feel that posting all of the test and procedures done can help. For instance, I had monitor done my nose and into my throat for 2 days just to test for LPR. And, well, it is not LPR. Maybe that info can help others.

Thanks

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@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

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Sorry about all the replies - I just found this discussion board.

When you are having difficulty breathing.
Go to Wendy's and grab a handful of straws. Cut them in half, evenly. Place a straw in your mouth like a cigarette and breathe through it. The keys to this are that you have to take normal breaths and your lips have to be closed. At first it is difficult to take normal breaths. Just stick with it and you'll see a difference within a couple of days. Try to use the straw as often as you can. I found that placing the straw at the side of my mouth with it resting between my teeth (lips are still closed) works the best, Hell, I was even able to fall asleep with the straw when it was on the side. At first, you can use your nose to breathe along with the straw. Once you figure out to just take normal breaths, the straw will be your new best friend.

Lastly, I totally understand your frustration. I just want to tell you that you have helped me tremendously just from reading your original post. And in return, I will post on this thread every time I do anything with our issue. I will not give up on this. And once I/we figure this out, I will be on here to let everyone know.

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@hdandb

Hello,
I am soooooo glad to hear your problem! I too. have been dealing with something nearly identical. Mine will get so bad at times that my breathing becomes short, and even labored. I have done the ENT visits, the asthma meds, the GERD/LPR stuff (which oddly enough, breathing the straw actually helps), x-rays, CTs . . .

I have some questions for you, if you do not mind:

1. Do you have the issue when you try to cough the lump, congestion/phlegm up, but, it is almost as if the cough/air does not reach the area where the mess (lump, congestion, phlegm) is? Like, if your cough would reach that spot then all would be good. And also, does your cough feel like it is . . . cut in half, or missing a certain part of the windpipe, or like you can feel the cough in your entire throat except for 'the' area. Like somehow it is going around 'the' area.
2. This may seem weird, but I am just trying to figure this out. Since this started (last Dec.) I have not had a single booger <-- sorry, but it is true. What's more, I go through a box of tissue a week. The crazy part about it is, when I do blow my nose, the tissue has very, very little substance on it. I am talking a drop or two. THAT IS IT! Even though my nose feels like it is packed full and one tissue will fall to pieces.
3. Since you have posted, have you had any luck with doctors? If so, PLEASE, PLEASE give me anything that can help. I will definitely do the same.

Thank you for your time. I hope that we can get through this.

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This is Juleszs. I do not have any further comments, I suffer with the same condition. I do not know of any help for this condition. Cough drops help sometimes.

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