Does anyone else have mucus plugs?

Mucinex and NAC together and LOTS of room temperature water (32 oz or slightly less) has been helpful. Not a miracle but I notice the first 2 rounds of clearance more productive than with NAC alone.

Thank you I saw Life Extension. I will try that

I really don’t know if I have mucus plugs or not, can they only be diagnosed in images? X-ray or CT? I do have Bronchiectasis & Pulmonary Fibrosis, and I do nebulize twice a day (am & pm) with albuterol followed by 7% saline. Every 4th or 5th day I seem to cough up globs of mucus after nebulizing. Are these plugs????

Mine showed up in a CT scan. I have been coughing like a mad woman and spitting up globs.

I was exposed to asbestos for 20 years in the Navy, 50 years after my retirement I had a lobectomy of the left upper lobe and have follow-up CT scans every 6 months. I developed Mucus plugging and an airway infection a few years after surgery and chemo which was ignored. About 6 months ago I started nebulizing albuterol and 7% saline twice a day. At first, I felt a rattling when inhaling, it ceased and I felt a rattling in my throat when exhaling, now I have neither. I never cough but I constantly produce sputum which I’ve come to realize my throat is producing it. Next week I see my pulmonologist and a CT scan at the cancer center. This is why I'm here, trying to prepare myself.

Yes. Nebulizing really helps. Airway clearance twice a day will help. They will reoccur if you don’t continue with airway clearance

I have been nebulizing 2x a day for 6 months, 3 ml of albuterol + 4 ml of 7% saline. added together in the cup it takes about 25 min, The 1st month for a period I had to stop to clear my airway while inhaling which cleared up followed by a short period I had to stop to clear while exhaling. Now I breathe in and out nonstop with no indicator, As soon as I stop I clear phlegm from my throat 6 plus times an hour until I go to bed with APAP for sleep apnea.
It was a few days ago I realized from an internet search it was being generated from the irritation in my throat, not my lungs. I sometimes cough when eating.

I'm following a somewhat similar treatment as you with somewhat similar results.
I combine the 2 items in the cup, The nebulizing is uneventful but as soon as I stop I continuously clear mucus from my throat. The throat is irritated and generates mucus, not the lungs.
A high-definition CT is best for mucus plugs in the small airways.
A plug is a plug like a stopper it prevents air from getting to the end of the line where the air is exchanged

Hello dwood1003
I am curious to know how you are doing since you mentioned you had/have to clear what comes up to your throat " clear phlegm from my throat 6 plus times an hour until I go to bed."
You have described what I have to do all day long.
Has anything changed? Did you change your routine for any reason since 2023?
Have you understood, more so, what is causing it all since 2023?
How are you doing at this time, 2025?
Barbara

It is my understanding from my readings that we will always make mucus plugs with having BE, Bronchiectasis.
Is that anyone else's understanding?.
I clear my sputum into a clear solo cup and see mucus plugs in the cup along with loose mucus, bubbly moisture and saliva.
Barbara