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Excessive Phlem

Posted by rejlocal22 @rejlocal22, Mar 23 12:55am

I have to seen three doctors in the past two years. Two of them were my PCP's. the other was a ENT specialist. The PCP's recommended otc drugs which were not effective enough. The specialist did not listen properly to my complaint of excessive phlem in my throat because I mentioned that I believe this condition has effected my hearing. So he talked me into getting a hearing test which resulted in me purchasing hearing aids. This did not solve my phlem problem.
I am a 85 year old male and my problem started about 2 to 2.5 years ago. I asked my second PCP about taking a sample of my phlem to send to a lab for diagnosis and he stated he does not take samples.
Well if it's an allergy that causing my problem, then why did my PCP refuse to take a sample. I am looking for a solution to my problem and not a continous treatment with drugs.

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covidstinks2023 | @covidstinks2023 | Mar 23 7:01am

rejlocal22, Hey There! Have you had COVID? Are you a long hauler with COVID?

The reason I ask, several on here have posted having extra phlegm with COVID and kept having it after having
COVID and most of them (me included) could not get answers from doctors. I had it for 2 years after having
COVID. I would get choked on it at night.

Please ask your doctor before trying these things that helped me.

Salt water rinse, NeilMed Sinus Saline Rinse, Coconut Oil Pulling, NAC (Supplement), Guafenesin (Mucus thinner) & Baby dose of Children's Zyrtec (Antihistamine) 2.5 at night. I know you don't want to use meds, but, honestly, I tried everything and the NAC supplement was the greatest help. You must drink a lot of water with it, or it can be too drying. I would not recommend taking the NAC, Guafenesin & Zyrtec all in the same day.

I wish you the best. I went to 5 doctors and none of them knew what to do. I had excessive saliva with mine as well. I believe COVID attacked my mucosa & salivary glands.

Blessings & Prayers....

REPLY
1 reply
gently | @gently | Mar 23 9:09am

rejlocal22,
the one thing that works for me is pseudophedrine (sudafed). You have to ask for it at the pharmacy, even though it is over the counter--no prescription. The dose is two pills, but I only need one. Anyway, it's worth a try.
It is almost impossible to get a doctor to take a sputum sample. My mom took a sample in a sterile cup. The doctor threw it away and gave her an antibiotic. She told him how much harm the wrong antibiotic could do.
After three days the doctor called and changed the antibiotic. He'd retrieved the sample from the trash and had prescribed an antibiotic that was not effective against her bacterium.
For my dad I'd call around to those rapid care clinics until I found one that would ask the doctor if he would take a sputum sample. Usually it's the older physicians that will.
We have so many bacterial types in our sputum that any,, or many of them might grow after days in a petri dish.

REPLY
1 reply
rejlocal22 | @rejlocal22 | Mar 23 10:27am
In reply to @covidstinks2023 "rejlocal22, Hey There! Have you had COVID? Are you a long hauler with COVID? The reason..." + (show)
@covidstinks2023

rejlocal22, Hey There! Have you had COVID? Are you a long hauler with COVID?

The reason I ask, several on here have posted having extra phlegm with COVID and kept having it after having
COVID and most of them (me included) could not get answers from doctors. I had it for 2 years after having
COVID. I would get choked on it at night.

Please ask your doctor before trying these things that helped me.

Salt water rinse, NeilMed Sinus Saline Rinse, Coconut Oil Pulling, NAC (Supplement), Guafenesin (Mucus thinner) & Baby dose of Children's Zyrtec (Antihistamine) 2.5 at night. I know you don't want to use meds, but, honestly, I tried everything and the NAC supplement was the greatest help. You must drink a lot of water with it, or it can be too drying. I would not recommend taking the NAC, Guafenesin & Zyrtec all in the same day.

I wish you the best. I went to 5 doctors and none of them knew what to do. I had excessive saliva with mine as well. I believe COVID attacked my mucosa & salivary glands.

Blessings & Prayers....

Jump to this post

Thanks,
I am presently taking a expectorant and cough suppressant containing Guaifenesin 1200 mg with Dextromethorphan HBr 60 mg. All it does is slow down the production of phlem.
I also suck on strong cough drops to keep from getting a sore throat. I have not caught Covid.

REPLY
rejlocal22 | @rejlocal22 | Mar 23 10:33am
In reply to @gently "rejlocal22, the one thing that works for me is pseudophedrine (sudafed). You have to ask for..." + (show)
@gently

rejlocal22,
the one thing that works for me is pseudophedrine (sudafed). You have to ask for it at the pharmacy, even though it is over the counter--no prescription. The dose is two pills, but I only need one. Anyway, it's worth a try.
It is almost impossible to get a doctor to take a sputum sample. My mom took a sample in a sterile cup. The doctor threw it away and gave her an antibiotic. She told him how much harm the wrong antibiotic could do.
After three days the doctor called and changed the antibiotic. He'd retrieved the sample from the trash and had prescribed an antibiotic that was not effective against her bacterium.
For my dad I'd call around to those rapid care clinics until I found one that would ask the doctor if he would take a sputum sample. Usually it's the older physicians that will.
We have so many bacterial types in our sputum that any,, or many of them might grow after days in a petri dish.

Jump to this post

Thanks,
It appears I'll have to look for another PCP that will take a sample of my phlem.
Maybe I may have developed an allergy in my senior years that could be the cause.

REPLY
Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Mar 23 1:10pm

I use an antihistamine that targets non-allergic and allergic rhinitis, Azalastine. OTC it’s called AstePro Allergy, by Bayer pharmaceutical. My issue is not my nose/rhinits but clogged sinuses. If this reduces the mucous in my sinus, it may reduce the mucous/phlem in your throat. I’m 70 and this just became a problem just over a year ago. I’ve never had allergies.

I don’t like taking drugs, but this one is pretty mild compared to others.
I have the prescription version that insurance helps pay for so it’s very cheap.

REPLY
rejlocal22 | @rejlocal22 | Mar 24 9:04am

Thanks,
I will look into getting a RX for AstelPro Allergy. The only problem I see is if I want to afford it.
Can you tell me how much it cost with your medical coverage to help?
Also I am getting the impression that this problem seems to afflict the elderly mostly.
I will post another question about that.

REPLY
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