Every day I cough up what looks like a scab with ugly mucous and blood

Hey everyone. Came back to follow up with you. I recently got pregnant. I am 13 weeks. So I have not hacked up any of the scabs in weeks. Probably since February. Now it’s just clear liquid running down the back of my throat that I have to hack for it to come up. Yes it’s still annoying, but no where near annoying as the scabs were. And it’s clear not green which makes me feel so much better. The only thing I have changed or started doing differently was taking my prenatal vitamins everyday. Maybe this is from sort of deficiency? I don’t know. I just know it stopped once I started taking daily vitamins. Hopefully this info will help someone. If you try this, and it helps you, please follow up with all of us. I check this thread often.

Hello fellow sufferers! I am so happy to have found this forum and know that I am not the only one experiencing this so thanks very much to everyone who has contributed.
I have been having this ‘coughing up mucusey and occasionally bloody scab’ problem for a couple of years now. Thanks also for the photos because they have confirmed that I think we all have the same problem. Also, consistently with other people’s experiences it is worse over the winter and then I don’t notice it over the summer. At worst over winter I cough one up everyday, at best every few days - it varies.

I have found the last post the most helpful to me because I finally started googling and looking into this because I am thinking of getting pregnant and was concerned about whether or not I should get pregnant with an ongoing health issue. So thanks very much for sharing that info, I think I can confidently go ahead knowing it won’t affect things. I have only just, a couple of days ago, started taking the vitamins - so too soon to know if that will help but fingers crossed.
From reading everyone’s comments I think I’m coming to the conclusion that this could be down to environmental factors and maybe overall health? I’ll share some of my environmental and health info in case it is helpful.

- I’m 34, female, in good health otherwise, very slightly overweight and not very fit at the moment. Perhaps it’s worth saying that about 3 years ago I moved and started working from home - at this time I think I started exercising less and had a few too many snacks and put on a bit of weight. And shortly afterwards the throat issues started. So perhaps the fact that my overall health and fitness declined has had something to do with it.
- I don’t have a dog but do have occasional interaction with dogs.
- I used to be a smoker but not for about 5 years - I now only indulge when on holiday (once a year or so). I don’t notice any impact but I’m sure it doesn’t help.
- I do drink, favour a G&T in the evening maybe 3 or 4 times a week. Again - this has been a habit that has developed over the last 3/4 years - before I used to have a drink much less regularly so another factor that probably isn’t helping. Perhaps quitting alcohol due to pregnancy was another factor that helped @reebobbin improve?
- I have never had any ENT surgery of any kind. I did have a phase of chronic nose-bleeds when I was a teenager but these seemed to clear up on their own. I do get a very occasional nose-bleeds in adulthood when I have had a cold and been blowing my nose too much (Side note - my father has the same issue). I have noticed that when I have a nose bleed, a blood clot has formed in my sinuses and only when I blow it out does the nose bleeding seem to stop.
- I think I am quite a mucusey person in general - I’m always the person blowing their nose constantly in winter and reaching for the tissues as soon as I get some cold air on my face.
- I sometimes have phases of having quite bad sinus headaches.

So in general I think it’s fair to conclude that I have quite delicate sinuses - sounds like some other sufferers on here do too? - and maybe this genetic disposition makes us more susceptible to this throat issue that might be exacerbated by not being quite fit and healthy enough to keep our immune systems in tip top shape?

Thanks again everyone, I’ll check back on here once I’ve been on the vitamins for a bit longer and see if I can report any changes. I think information sharing is the key for solving unusual health issues!

Hi @georgieuk and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You seem to be well aware of your health and recognize areas that you can change. I, too, work from home and exercise or even getting up once an hour can be challenging, especially if you're engrossed in your work. I have made a daily early morning exercise routine a non-negotiable in my life. When I get up, I put on on my workout clothes no questions asked. Just having on the "uniform" makes it easier for me to just do it. Remembering to get up from my desk throughout the day, not so easy for some reason.

Might regularly rinsing with a neti pot help you?

What is Cleavers? I constantly have sinus problems. Can't breathe. I have a "severely deviated septum. I had a cat scan on my head at the dentist's. He told me my sinus was really a mess. Yes, I know. I went to an ENT in Columbus, Ohio. He wants to operate on the septum. I have allergies and I use Afrin spray and have been told not to use it by different doctors. It is the only one that really works. I am sick most of the time -get very little sleep. Have sleep apnea, nose swells shut at night. Ears have been swelling. Can hardly get my hearing aids into my ears. My mouth is so dry, if I do get to sleep, that wakes me up. I used Biotene for dry mouth then read it contains parabens which is cancer causing in make up. I really helps--is it cancer causing? Anyone know? I have been up all night. Got one hour sleep. Very tired. Need back surgery--it is hurting. The pain radiates to my foot at times. What a mess I am. I am blessed because I do get up each day and can get out of bed and get dressed and do some cleaning--can't visit anyone. I really miss seeing my grandchildren. Yesterday one of them had a birthday. He was going to have a party but of course that didn't happen.
Take care, stay safe, this, too, shall pass. God bless.

I just found this site. These pictures look just like what I blow out of my nose. I can't breathe--blow with all my might and out comes this green and red booger. I took pictures of mine but have no idea of how to get them on here. They are gross. I have horrible breathing problems. Severely deviated septum--the doctor wants to operate but I am so old and I have had so many surgeries--I just pray I don't have to have more although I have many ailments. My list is long. I would like to ask a question. Does anyone have a severely dry mouth? I do. I purchased Biotene and used it then read it contains parabens. I wonder if it is safe.

I have the same problem.

This has nothing to do with our issues. Just wanted to say my sister had a nickname of Peachy. Mine is Woogie. Our big brother gave us these names. Peachy and I were 18 mo. apart. She left us but is in a better place.

We are supposed to be wearing masks but I can hardly breathe as it is and have real difficulty wearing something over my nose and mouth.

Hello @woogie, I can only imagine how frustrating and frightening these symptoms must be. Please hang in there!
I'm inviting @codybmusser, @ben1985, @reebobbin and @theysayimcrazy who have described similar symptoms of coughing up scabs, feeling of tiredness/ having headaches, and may be able to update on their treatment journey, and whether they've found ways to alleviate the symptoms. 
@woogie, you mentioned your concerns of using Biotene for dry mouth regarding the parabens potentially causing cancer. I found this article from Harvard Health:
By the way, doctor: Are parabens dangerous? https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/By_the_way_doctor_Are_parabens_dangerous
 
Have you brought up this concern with your doctor? 

These discussions have really helped "normalise" my symptoms, which have felt debilitating for the past 4 years, interestingly started as I hit menopause and still wonder if my hormone imbalance was one factor. I am coughing up copious amounts of phlegm every morning and the mucous scabs every other day, often feel like I am choking on my phlegm in the night, utterly horrible. I have been under a specialist for nearly 2 years and had chest x rays, MRI scans and been prescribed various medications and nasal drops and given endless advice, none of which has alleviated the symptoms. My diagnosis is something called Bronchorrea and told constantly by Consultant not to worry and it isn't serious. Currently on 40 g of Omeprazole which is not helping with a view to adding an inhaler in a few weeks, as there are symptoms of mild asthma. I have tried diets of no dairy again which made no difference. Am resigned that it is now just a regular feature of my health. Bit paranoid in the current climate with covid19 and know that my immunity is vulnerable. Feel less alone knowing others have similar issues. Dont feel the medical model has been very reassuring or helpful.