needtoknow
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Every day I cough up what looks like a scab with ugly mucous and blood
Every day I cough up what looks like a scab with ugly mucous and tiny amounts of blood. It seems to come from the back of my throat or nose. My doctor has seen the scab but does not see anything wrong. This, to me, seems really odd. Has anyone had this problem?
Liked by moreinfo, catstx, sarahbrhein
Halleluiah, I’ve been cured.
I was bringing up a scab every 3 days, it’s now been 2 months since my last scab.
In May I went back to my ENT. He scoped me and extracted the scab… sent it to the lab for pathology.
The report came back as Heavy Growth Staphylococcus Aureus. Moderate Gram Positive Cocci in pairs.
The pathology report included a Susceptibility Results report, which listed various antibiotics and if the specimen was resistant or susceptible.
From the list of susceptible antibiotics, my ENT prescribed Levofloxacin Tabs 500mg for 21 days.
So far, 2 months and no scabs. Hopefully this information can help you find an answer as well.
Also – I had been on a zPack the 2 weeks prior to the Levoflxacin. It did change the frequency of the scabs, but it came back as soon as I was finished with the zPack … you need the right antibiotic for an extended period
how are you doing now? Have the scabs stayed from forming? This is such a mystery to Dr's it seems so we have to try to help each other all out. Thanks for posting.
Good afternoon everyone! I posted on here a while back about my journey with these frustrating things. The ENT looked into my nasal cavity and noticed they were attached to my adenoid. He scraped it off and said the adenoid underneath looked normal. However, the presence of this clump of mucus was NOT normal. So the ENT had me flush with a nasal rinse twice a day, use Flonase twice a day and added Azelastine twice a day. I did this for almost two months (November – December) last year. It did reduce the frequency of these from about one a day to about one every ten or so days. It also made them a little bit less thick in consistency. Needless to say this did not solve the problem.
When I went back for a follow up my ENT recommended I get my adenoid taken out and have some biopsies done. So we did that at the end of January. My biopsies came back normal however I did have a positive culture for staphylococcus aureus. He prescribed me clindamycin. After some surgery complications and finishing off my antibiotic these things came back with a vengeance and were happening every day again. In fact they were now far larger than before, I am guessing they were filling the area where the adenoid was. So my ENT ordered a CT scan of the sinuses. That too came back normal. The one thing my ENT did say before and after the surgery and CT was that I have an area near my adenoid that sticks out a little. He tried to flatten that out the best he could when he took my adenoid out but couldn't reduce it completely. My ENT also told me that he expected the biopsies were going to come back with some issues. When they were clear he was somewhat surprised as he hasn't seen this kind of thing before. As time went on my scabs got less in frequency and size until they were almost nonexistent. When I went back for a two and a half month follow up my ENT said everything at that time looked good. There was no scab and honestly I hadn't had a scab for a few weeks at that time.
Now fast forward to now. The scabs are back and they occur anywhere from every day to one every few days. They are still alot smaller than what they were when this journey began. I have been racking my mind trying to figure out if there is an environmental connection. I have changed soap, deodorant, toothpaste. I've stopped taking supplements and vitamins for an extended period to see if that did it and so far no connection. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps it is my indoor AC/Heating. I say this because when I had very few scabs for that time period before my follow up…our AC had been off because the weather was nice. With it being much hotter since then…our AC has been on almost every day. So perhaps there is a connection there. We always change our filters and keep our vents clean so maybe it is something else related to the AC?
Here is a little more info that may be related to this and that perhaps might be a common theme amongst all of us? I take the following prescriptions: Pantaprozole (Proton Pump Inhibitor) for GERD since 2007, Nortryptiline for IBS since 2007, and Metroprolol since 2013 for high blood pressure. I am not overweight. I exercise at least four to five times a week; both strength training and cardio. I am in my early forties. I don't smoke and don't drink. I did have a period of almost three years where my liver enzymes were slightly elevated. I went through all kinds of tests, including a liver biopsy and all came back negative. Those values returned to normal about two years ago and the last time I was tested (six or so months ago) one of the values was just a few clicks above normal. So who knows what that is all about or if it even ties in to this…
In short, after all of that, this is what the doctors have concluded at this point in time: THEY HAVE NO IDEA. They have told me the same thing they told me about my elevated liver enzymes…this is a new "normal" for me.
Thank you for your detailed post, & so sorry for all you've been through ! We are among the mysterious i guess. Seems like it should be simple thing to figure out yet after your experience seems dr still do not know. Keep going and searching and in meantime we have to live with it best we can. It is unreal how difficult this thing is to figure out.
Erika, Connect Moderator
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nrd1
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jea1- Hi. I wouldn’t classify yourself as this being a mystery. That will make you feel as if you have something really wrong with you. Bodies are amazing and complex at the same time. If this is not causing you real issues other than annoyance and started in your twenties. It’s most likely an area in your nasal cavity that for whatever reason causes an inability for mucous to clear in that area, so sometimes it may sit there and that’s when you start to feel it. Overtime mucous membranes can dry out which is perhaps why you feel it more and more. This could be something so simple as upping your water hydration, adding humidifier to your room and or making sure your diet is rich in all vital nutrients. Try to load up on more water, and fresh fruits, vegetables and a low inflammatory diet.
Liked by catstx
@jea1 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It must be concerning and frustrating to not have answers. I'm wondering if you have considered traveling to see a specialized provider?
I've seen 5 ENT drs. Much like others here, dr has never seen or heard of such thing and just dismiss it as no problem. Essentially I suppose it isn't a problem but it sure is awful to do every 2 days. Like others here sometimes trying to hack it out is quite difficult and uncomfortable, horrible hacking to get it unstuck sometimes and occasionally you do start to choke on it a bit trying to dislodge it enough to cough it out. I've had to lean all the way forward so it doesn't choke me while I'm hacking away. I get chronic sore throat every few months of unknown reason as well. Just would be nice to not have to live with this issue. Not sure what other specialist to see for it.
jea1- Hi. I wouldn’t classify yourself as this being a mystery. That will make you feel as if you have something really wrong with you. Bodies are amazing and complex at the same time. If this is not causing you real issues other than annoyance and started in your twenties. It’s most likely an area in your nasal cavity that for whatever reason causes an inability for mucous to clear in that area, so sometimes it may sit there and that’s when you start to feel it. Overtime mucous membranes can dry out which is perhaps why you feel it more and more. This could be something so simple as upping your water hydration, adding humidifier to your room and or making sure your diet is rich in all vital nutrients. Try to load up on more water, and fresh fruits, vegetables and a low inflammatory diet.
I don't feel something is really wrong with me, I've lived with it for years, but it obviously isn't common and seems like it shouldn't be such a "mystery" to determine the cause. Thanks for your reply. Glad to at least know some others have the same issue and may be able to help each other out here with their own experiences.
C Elizabeth Clark
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nrd1
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Dried out throat mucus: If I am using fast-acting morphine for heart spams, despite my dental sleep apnea device, my mouth dries faster. I try to use less drastic medications with less side-effects! Keep hydrated!
@jea1-my apologies if my reply came off as you feeling like you had something wrong with you. That’s not what I meant at all. I’ve actually dealt with what you have experienced. Not as often, but similar. As well as the sore throats. I’ve often thought at felt like had a sore throat, and I cleared a hard piece of mucous in the very back of my nasal/sinus cavity and my sore throat feel, literally went away. I noticed this more if I was dehydrated, other things in my diet had changed or if I was run down. Keep in mind ENTs are surgeons and unless you come to them with something they feel they can operate on, they will not most likely shoe no interest or just give you an antibiotic. Everyone’s body creates and excretes mucous differently. It’s really quite gross. But I would try with upping hydration or humidifier at night first, to see if you notice a difference. Take care.
I have the same problem, a few times a week for several years. The only thing that I can say changed around the time it started happening was that we got a dog—I’m wondering if a structural anomaly coupled with allergies could be the cause.
Heees an example of one of mine…
Have been reading here and have same symptomps like most have … at least i have the scab every few days and sore throat after its released.
I like to share my process…. and specially the simple solution.
I'm 38, grew up in a tropical country and now live in Switzerland since age 20. (so Humid air, then mostly dry air)
Anyway I went to the ENT to have a check (its a renown ENT here in Switzerland… in 3rd generation
I think that it's just important to do in any case, to check if you don't have any other issues.
The ENT didnt find anything, after checking with camera.
He prescribed me an oil i should put in my nose 1-2 times per day. (at laest once before sleeping)
And to "Noseshower" with saline solution, 2 times per day.
After 1-2 Weeks of use i don't have anymore scabs.
He said it is something that won't go away, but will get better with treatment. (oil and nose shower).
I will try to reduce the use of oil over time, not to let my skin get used to it to much.
The oil he prescribed is called Coldastop (It has allot of Vitamin A and E inside to help heal skin fast, it's used for after operation mostly or strongly damaged noseskin), i hope you all can buy it in your country or atealst something similar to give it a try.
If not can give me a Personal message here, and i will try and get it for you. (unfortunatly will be about 35-45$ for 20ml inkl. shipping)
Product itself cost about 10-15$
Wish all good health!
moreinfo
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Thank you. I agree with your statement. I do notice when we were in Fiji, where there is high humidity, I didn't have a problem. I use a nasal rinse and a humidifier by my bed and that helps reduce how often I get the scabs. I don't know about this oil though. Do you just rub it inside your nose or are you supposed to let it run back toward your sinuses? I will check and see if I can find some. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you. I agree with your statement. I do notice when we were in Fiji, where there is high humidity, I didn't have a problem. I use a nasal rinse and a humidifier by my bed and that helps reduce how often I get the scabs. I don't know about this oil though. Do you just rub it inside your nose or are you supposed to let it run back toward your sinuses? I will check and see if I can find some. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
I lean back and let it run down while squeesing my nose sometimes to let it spread around my nose wall. It has a pipette dispenser… i like the pump one more although you will put to much then. Its quite runny so it will run down throat, and also when you lean back up it will run out of nose slightly.
I checked online a bit to find a product a bit more international. I found this on Amazon "Ponaris Nasal Emolient", i didnt try it but if you read the reviews its used for similar symptoms. Maybe start with this then switch to a "normal" sesam oil for nose like mentioned below.
Can also go to a local Pharmacy and ask for a nose oil, usualy they have ones with sesam oil, im sure they work also, for acute damage i whould try to find one that is in the upper price segment then switch to the cheaper one once you feel like your skin is healed again.
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moreinfo
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I lean back and let it run down while squeesing my nose sometimes to let it spread around my nose wall. It has a pipette dispenser… i like the pump one more although you will put to much then. Its quite runny so it will run down throat, and also when you lean back up it will run out of nose slightly.
I checked online a bit to find a product a bit more international. I found this on Amazon "Ponaris Nasal Emolient", i didnt try it but if you read the reviews its used for similar symptoms. Maybe start with this then switch to a "normal" sesam oil for nose like mentioned below.
Can also go to a local Pharmacy and ask for a nose oil, usualy they have ones with sesam oil, im sure they work also, for acute damage i whould try to find one that is in the upper price segment then switch to the cheaper one once you feel like your skin is healed again.
Thank you!
@jea1
Sorry for gross pic as well. But so glad you posted. I have exact same thing, since I was 25, now 47. No dr will bother to acknowledge the issue. I used to get it about once a week but the last year has it happening every other day. So frustrating to have. Just as you described, comes from nasal into back of throat, it gets sort of caught in between then you have to cough, sometimes violently, to hack it out. Have you had any more help with it at all? Any luck getting more answers? Thanks again so much for posting! I've been looking for years for anyone who had this issue, Dr's all think im crazy , even when I showed pictures they just say it's snot. It is not normal snot, that's for sure!