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Excessive thick saliva

Posted by mjbents @mjbents, Apr 17 3:11pm

My spouse has recently finished chemo and radiation for head and neck cancer, HPV related. Since the second week of radiation to the head, he has been experiencing thick, stringy saliva in excess. He has been unable to swallow for fear choking. My question is, has anyone else experienced this? If so for how long? And were there any measures that helped relieve it? Thank you.

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covidstinks2023 | @covidstinks2023 | Apr 18 6:54am

I have experienced this from having COVID twice and it is still ongoing. Nothing has completely taken it away. Here is what helps, Please check with your doctor before trying.

I have tried over the counter Guaifenesin which is a mucus thinner.
I have tried over the counter NAC which helps....BUT, you have to drink a lot of water with it.
I daily scrape my tongue and use Peroxdyl by Colgate to get it to foam up on my tongue.
Keeping your mouth scrupulously clean by brushing, flossing and using Listerine to kill germs
Warm salt water rinses help.
Hot ginger lemon tea helps.
Drinking more water. Water helps to thin out mucous.
An antihistamine helps....but, can dry your eyes out.
If I eat very salty foods or any sweets....it makes it worse.
Run a cool mist humidifier in the bedroom.
I get choked on this at night sometimes.
I use a prescription antihistamine called Azelastine spray which helps greatly.
Use lemon drops. The old timey kind. Amazon has them. Lemon helps to thin out mucous as well.

See if an ENT doctor or Dermatologist will culture his mouth to see if its Candida (Yeast) or some other type of bacteria growing. Mine was normal.

Praying and God Bless.

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