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

Posted by dungeness @dungeness, Jan 25 11:18am

I had a bad case of what the doctors said was bronchitis March 2025, almost a year ago, and as of Jan 2026, I am still dealing with mucus in my throat. Although they did say that without a scope, they could not be sure. It is best described as a sticky mess right where I swallow and constantly has to be cleared, but rarely is any mucus produced up, just swallowed. Here is the timeline. In March 2025 the sore throat started and then a cough. After about a week, I went to the clinic and they said it was going around. The cough became worse and it became really bad and constant. After several more trips to the clinic and a chest x-ray, (unremarkable), we tried some different meds with no results. After about two months I improved, but still had an occasional cough and just lived with it. In Nov 2025 the phlegm in my throat became worse so I went several more times to the clinic. They had me go two weeks off of Lisinopril, then Prilosec for two months, and Mucinex for a week with no change. I can't describe it as a cough anymore, just having to clear the mucus from my throat where I swallow very often durning the day. It feels like a sticky mess right where I swallow.

68 year old male, never smoked, 160 pounds, never short of breath, regular exercise.

I am looking for ideas and others that have had this. Thanks.

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@bluesmanbill
Regarding the nerve. It is the Vagus nerve. I runs from brain down to body and is quite active in things like this.

I was told by Mayo PCP that it was sensitive and reacting excessively to irritation and thus the developing of mucus.

When I was having tachycardia after eating this same nerve came up. Can't remember exactly but the nerve is responsible to what in your body gets the blood focus. when you eat it does there for digestion and can trigger VTAC episodes. A wonder for me as did not anything.

What I was told to do is limit my eating, Sit straight up. It did help with the tachycardia.

With the mucus in throat I think someone posted it got worse and triggered the increase when eating yogurt. I do remember eating yogurt and was at water aerobics and was constantly having to clear my throat.

I don't usually have issues in early morning but have kept a log now of what I eat and see it if contributes to the mucus. Right now I do know yogurt is a trigger.

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@jc76 not just yogurt all dairy affects me … even chocolate increases my mucus production

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