Cough With Excessive Mucus Something New To Me…

Posted by SusanEllen66 @SusanEllen66, Jul 26, 2023

Since the beginning of the year, I have had a cough that is producing lots of mucus. I have never experienced this before. My coughs were always dry. I don’t have a post nasal drip.
The amount of mucus has reached a point where I am gagging and having to “vomit” to get rid of it. This is extremely distressing! This morning was particularly bad so I’m grateful that I am home.

I do have seasonal allergies so I’ve been taking 2 Guaifenesin 400 mg. a day for years. I guess they are not helping me now.
I also use a steroid nasal spray, and salt water rinse in my nose.

I don’t know why my lungs are producing so much mucus. I’m going for my annual physical next month and of course I will ask my doctor. I wanted to see if anyone here has any recommendations.

Thank you!

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I had a minor cough for 10 years following a bout with pneumonia. Routine blood work every year never showed signs of infection, and my doctors never took my cough seriously. 2 years ago, i had a new doctor do a chest x-ray, which led to a CT, which eventually diagnosed a lung infection. Antibiotics cleared the infection, but I had some scarring because I ignored it for so long. So please insist that your doctor investigates this cough or refers you to a pulmonologist.

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Thank you so much, I had influenza A last December and have had a persistent cough ever since. My secretions have gotten to the point I am constantly coughing with a large amount of phlegm. Finally got on an Abx for 15 days and a breathing Tx at home and am doing some better with much less phlegm. Oh yes what precipitated the increased phlegm was Covid I had that a few weeks ago.

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I had Covid last year and have had so much mucousy sticky saliva since. I also have had 4 bouts of asthmatic bronchitis inclusive of Covid and presently getting over asthmatic bronchitis with pneumonia. I believe Covid knocked my immune system for a loop. I never had pneumonia until Covid (I already battled asthmatic bronchitis prior to Covid, but, not to his extent). I have horrible allergies and can't help but wonder if the debris from Canada from the wildfires to the US and this high humidity have contributed to this. I feel like I am smothering when I go outside in this heat...never felt this way until having Covid and increased Asthma. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

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I suggest you see a pulmonary dr and you need further tests like a CT scan.My pulmonary dr has also have me do breathing tests and referred meet a class to learn best way to deal with my breathing problems and all have helped me a lot

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I have stage 3 esophageal cancer and cough and congestion go with it. You have to get the congestion out of your lungs, out of everywhere to breathe, cough to spit it out, vomit it out, use a spirometer to help with lung capacity. Use whatever safe drugs exist to help, use a nebulizer to loosen it or a humidifier even.

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@donnajones

Thank you so much, I had influenza A last December and have had a persistent cough ever since. My secretions have gotten to the point I am constantly coughing with a large amount of phlegm. Finally got on an Abx for 15 days and a breathing Tx at home and am doing some better with much less phlegm. Oh yes what precipitated the increased phlegm was Covid I had that a few weeks ago.

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@donnajones what is Abx and Tx?

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I am so sorry to hear of your difficulty and I totally relate. I've had a cough for many years and am diagnosed with bronchiectasis which produces lots and lots of mucus. I discovered my mucus is extremely thick when I gave a sample for testing. And, yes, this makes coughing the stuff up really tough. I have found that 12 hour max strength Guaifenesin extended release tablets, 1200 mg per tab to be very helpful. I take 2 per day. This helps thin my mucus and makes coughing it up a lot easier. You might ask your dr if this is a good option for you. I definitely recommend a CT scan, sputum sample and/or other testing. And, if you are not connected yet, I'd highly recommend a referral to a pulmonologist. Best of luck to you.

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@SusanEllen66

@donnajones what is Abx and Tx?

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I think she meant those as abbreviations for "antibiotics" & "treatments".

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@equanimous

I am so sorry to hear of your difficulty and I totally relate. I've had a cough for many years and am diagnosed with bronchiectasis which produces lots and lots of mucus. I discovered my mucus is extremely thick when I gave a sample for testing. And, yes, this makes coughing the stuff up really tough. I have found that 12 hour max strength Guaifenesin extended release tablets, 1200 mg per tab to be very helpful. I take 2 per day. This helps thin my mucus and makes coughing it up a lot easier. You might ask your dr if this is a good option for you. I definitely recommend a CT scan, sputum sample and/or other testing. And, if you are not connected yet, I'd highly recommend a referral to a pulmonologist. Best of luck to you.

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Can I ask what time of day do you take them? I know they say they’re supposed to last 12 hrs.

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@spider109

Can I ask what time of day do you take them? I know they say they’re supposed to last 12 hrs.

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Can take before you go to bed and then the same time in the morning. (ie 9pm and then 9am) .
I take these as well when i get excessive mucus, my pulm md reccomended these

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