Chronic Phlegm Collecting in my throat, I constantly have to swallow

I've got that.....chronic mucus running down the back of my throat, constantly coughing, clearing my throat....its like the sinuses have lost control and can't stop making this gunk. If I don't cough it up it will end up in my bronchial tubes....im at my whits end....
Taking musinex makes it worse. Using Flonase or nasacort does nothing.
I use a nebulizer with a saline solution.....it helps a bit but causes a coughing fit right after using.... ive been on presidone for a week....and thats done nothing. I believe this is some weird inherited thing as my mom is exactly the same. This sucks and my family is ready to move out from all my noise!!!
I'm also 68....female....did smoke as a young adult....and have always had problems with this since I was a teenager. Getting the Flu or sick was the easy part, it's been horrific getting past the few months afterward. I wish I had a reset sinus button!!

I have been told by my doctors and wish I had more specific information but there is a nerve in your throat that reacts to irritation and can overreact causing massive amounts of mucus and phlegm.

I have what others are posting here about this. With knowing the cause (at least for me) I know it is coming and prepare for it. Mine happens ever time I eat. I found soft things like mashed potatoes don't cause it. But I have learned to drink water when I eat to help keep food down and not irritate this nerve.

I am told the nerve not only creates mucus in throat but also sinuses thus the drainage from sinuses back down the throat mixing it with the mucus being made in throat by nerve stimulation.

I'll jump on the Mucus Wagon too. It's so nasty in public. My oral surgeon recommended a tsp of salt and 4c of water swish in mouth profusely. And use a toothbrush to delicately clean mouth, teeth, gums. I load up on tissues and a spit cup, handkerchief.

@jc76 that's the first I have heard of a nerve causing it....interesting....
What kind of doctor have you been too?
I saw a ent, but he told me it was allergies and there was nothing they could do for the drainage....so then I went to an allergist and had all the tests....nothing major except cats, which I don't have. Then there was the pumologist....and cat scans. They found I have reactionary bronchial tubes....so presisone and time to get rid of the gunk....but this is getting rediclulous...
My mom has it also but hers is triggered by eating....and anything in the air unusual.

@palomin01
The information about the nerve was discussed with me by my Mayo PCP. I am going to use the Mayo portal to send him a message about the nerve and will post it.

He did said I had an overactive nerve there and that was causing the extreme mucus and phelm.

I also see a Mayo ENT and have been told over and over that they suspect I have silent GERD and causes the same type issues in throat. This came from my ENT. I also saw a pulmonologist who also said he suspected silent Gerd.

But if I have silent Gerd and an oversensitive nerve really explains the extreme mucus and phelm build up. And like another poster posted seems to come almost every time I eat but then I will also have the symptoms at other times but not as extreme.

@jc76 I started having this thick sticky phlegm in throat and a constant feeling of it running down from sinuses, yet nothing if I blow my nose. Started post Covid 3.5yrs ago. Saw ENT no polyps nil except inflammation. Steroid nasal drops, steroid tablets inhaled steroid, anti allergy tabs, nothing works
The ony temporary help is inhaling steam. Or squirting saline from Neilmed kit or if starting to choke at night Prp up and suck strong menthol throat pastilles. Barely sleep. Constant swallowing stuff day time def from above
I’ve been told this post nasal drip is common Post COVID no idea if it’ll stop as it’s inflamed sinus cells. Stupid symptom to get me so down and fed up

@fiona57
You echo my feelings.

I am working with my PCP and ENT (I see next month) and will pass on anything I think can help. I try to explain the exact feelings you are feeling with the constant feeling of mucus running down from sinuses into throat and kind of getting stuck.

Have you tried elevating your head? What I do is elevate my head but I then turn my head to side and down to encourage sinus drainage out nose. I then when every I wake up will blow my nose.

I had COVID back in 2024 but it also caused a severe sinus infection and bronchitis that took me 3 months to get over.

There is a nasal spray that dries up your sinuses. I have used it but for me it goes to far and sinuses are really dry and still get throat drainage but worth a try if you ENT feels can help.

I have this also. I take Famotidine which is a pepsid from the gastro doc but it is not working. Coughing all the time and spitting up the phlegm, trouble swallowing too. I was scoped a year ago and all was okay. He gave me stronger medicine but it had side effects. I dread going back to see doc.

All the responses tell me that this might be a virus that went around and caused this. But I don't have any sinus blockage and I do not have much nasal drip down the back of my throat. It is like I have stick contact cement or barge cement stuck in my throat right where I swallow. It is just about there all the time to some degree or another. I never have had COVID but if I did, there were no symptoms. I have had eight COVID vaccines and all on time. What I had last year started with the worst cough I have ever had and it lasted a month. Then it subsided but still had this mucus in my throat. It got better last summer but returned November. I use Fisherman's Friends Lozenges which help a bit.

With all the people with this condition, maybe we should take a poll.
When did it start and did a cold or something else coincide?
How long has this been going on?