Excessive mucus production in the upper respiratory system and throat.

landrover90, Bless you John. You really had a bad case of COVID and I am so sorry.

I had double pneumonia with COVID the first time in 2022. I know this is different that the severity of what you had but, it left me with so much mucous in the back of my throat that I would get choked on it at night. It also made my saliva mucusy and I had to scrape my tongue daily to get it off. It was thick. I went to 5 different doctors and they all didn't know what it was. I also had a lot of thrush with this due to antibiotics & steroids for asthmatic bronchitis, sinus infection along with COVID pneumonia. I had to use the Nystatin mouthwash for the thrush. I begged one of the doctors to swab my throat and mouth and it came back as normal mouth bacteria. It was anything but normal to be honest. I used coconut oil pulling, salt water rinses, Colgate peroxdyl, etc.,,,,it barely touched this thick stuff. Yes, I have acid reflux, but, this was not acid reflux causing this thick mucus.

Please ask your doctor about you trying either NAC (supplement) which helps with inflammation and dries up mucus or Guafenesin (Mucinex without "D" in it) a mucus thinner. If you do too much of the NAC it can dry you out too much. It took 2 years before I finally got results and this went away. IF I get a sinus infection it starts all over again and once the sinus infection is cleared up, it goes away. I believe COVID attacked my salivary glands and ramped up the mucus in the back of my throat. COVID can do some strange things to us.

Have you been diagnosed with Long Covid by chance? I was and I am on a lot of supplements.

Praying for you John to get better. I am so sorry you are still battling this since 2021.

I also had post covid excessive mucus production w coughing. Saw 6 ENTS. Had 2 procedures which didn’t help. #6 prescribed Singulair and Budesonide nasal rinse 2x daily. Tremendous improvement!!!!

I had covid in Dec 2023. I have coughed ever since with enough mucus by times to choke a bull. I gag and throw up. I also have acid reflux so sometimes I lose what I have just eaten. The coughing is severe. I have been taking Nac but not regular enough. Since I read here what it does I am going to be more diligent. I plan on staying on Nac long term...especially after reading what you wrote here. Thank you. My doctor prescribed Sandox-Moxifloxacin for the cough. I did not take it. The side effects are scary and can be very serious. Has any antibiotics helped this condition? Are there any other supplements that you believe would help me?

desertstorm, Thank you so much for serving our Country by your user id. God Bless You.

I used 1/2 a NAC (this works like an antihistamine and it reduces inflammation). I am ultra sensitive to medication so I have to take a baby dose. You have to be really careful because you can dry yourself out TOO much and that can cause other issues like dry mouth which can cause dental issues.

Have you been diagnosed with Long Covid by chance?

Also, I have taken Guafenesin (Regular Mucinex) on rare occasions if I have a sinus infection with thick mucus. It is a mucus thinner. You cannot take all of these mentioned over the counter meds together. I did not take this one for the COVID mucus issues. Please talk to your doctor before trying any of the things I mention and ask him about supplements to boost your immune system such as Vitamins C, D & Zinc.

I agree with you about Avalox (Moxifloxacin). Do you have a sinus infection is why he put you on an antibiotic?

Irrigating my sinuses helped as well to thin out the mucus with NeilMed Sinus rinse. I would choke on it and night and it would wake me up. It took 2 years to get over the stuff. My Gastro doctor told me to take Pepcid AC at night 20 mg for the backup reflux. He also upped my Protonix (Prescription) for several months. That helped. I am now only on 20 mg of it.

Gargling with warm salt water helped, but was temporary. Peroxdyl by Colgate rinse also helped, but, was temporary. I went to 5 different doctors about this stuff and no answers.....Primary, ENT, Dentist, Infectious Disease & Dermatologist. I truly think COVID affected the salivary glands and thickened the mucus and it had to run its course. Strangely, if I get a sinus infection, I will load up again until the antibiotic kicks in and then I clear up.

Praying for you to get better. It's miserable stuff to have and I am so sorry you are dealing with this.

Glad to know that regular NAC is helping - my best advice or encouragement: Get on the NAC!

If your body is not making enough cysteine to regulate mucous production, take the form that absorbs via the digestive tract. I regularly take 1 600 mg NAC capsule at night and since second bout of COVID start the day with another. If not, I suffer. Recently I got a bronchial virus has been going around where I live; for me it triggered the full range of COVID symptoms. Upped the NAC to 3X/day.

Also: Vitamin D3 - 2,000 units/day in summertime, up to (present) 10,000/day when housebound, zerfo sun exposure.

Final word: You want that cough, triggered by post-nasal irritation, to be productive so your body will make it quit. Guiafeninsen. Get on it. Mucinex is the tablet form, Robitussin is the syrup - generics are just as good and much cheaper.

Right now I am on an antibiotic Sandoz-Moxifloxacin....in case I now have Bronchitis. My bottle of Nac 600 mg says to take with a protein containing meal....do you eat when you take it? It sure would be easier to take without food. I have tried cough syrups even Buckleys and I still cough. ...Is Robitussin better? I have to take ones that won't jack up Blood pressure. I have ones for phlegm, chest congestion and cough....are they ok? I do not take cough syrup regularly...just at night. I need to up the NAC for sure.

desertstorm, Not sure who you are replying too, but, I take NAC with food and you have to drink a lot of water with it during the day as it can dry you out too much. Stay hydrated.

Having Blood Pressure issues as you do, stay away from products with "D" (Decongestant) as it can heightened blood pressure. You can take regular Robiutussin, but, not Robitussin D. Make sure it does not have pseudoephedrine in it which is the decongestant or the word decongestant or "D" on the bottle.

If you have bronchitis, that would explain a lot of extra mucus. Are you coughing up green mucus or clear? I am prone to bronchitis since COVID. Either Augmentin 875 mg or Z-Pak (Azithromycin) are both good for bronchitis. In fact, with the flu & double pneumonia that is going around right now, both of these meds are being prescribed per my Primary Doctor who has had it.

Praying for you. Blessings....

Thank you so much. I did not know about drinking lots of water with NAC. I did try the Z pac for this horrid cough in January. It helped a bit but as soon as the 10 days were up, I was right back to square one. The phlegm is clear but oh so think...thick enough to choke a bull. I coughed so heard last night getting rid of horrid amounts of phlegm over and over until the coughing finally eased. I managed to sleep for 4 hours without coughing but was right back at this morning. Today will be day 3 of the antibiotic. I am going to be more religious in taking the NAC. I am horrid about remembering to take it when I eat. (Senior moments) LOL.
Thanks so much for replying and have a great day.

desertstorm, I so empathize. Thickest mucus I have ever had was with COVID and it lingered. I did have a horrible sinus infection with COVID that took a while to clear up as well.

I will continue to pray for you to get better.

Did you ever get better or do you still have cough with phlegm?