Mucus won’t clear: Does saline spray help? Saline rinses?

Hey Logi,
I’m 9 years out from Stage IV treatments and still dealing with with mucus and dry mouth!
Nothing worked for me but what I do is: first thing in the morning I rinse mouth with as hot water as I can stand, sip a bit and hack and spit, repeat until clear. Then I brush with whitening pastes, then brush with prescription paste and Sensodyne.
I repeat this throughout the day as needed and after each meal if I eat.
Things that I tried:
Muscinex, Xylimelts, air moisturizer and sprays.
Best of luck to you
MOJO

@logi , Yes, Mucinex can help thin the secretions to enable easier clearing. Staying well hydrated is also important. Very warm saline rinses or even spray can help to cut mucous. Check out the Neilmed line of OTC products for easy to mix saline packets.
A relative was recently hospitalized during throat cancer treatment for dehydration and was taught to use a suction machine to remove mucous. That was helpful and he was discharged with orders to use one at home. That could be a discussion with your medical team. He also finds that carbonated flavored waters help cut the mucous better than anything else he tried.

@logi , Yes, Mucinex can help thin the secretions to enable easier clearing. Staying well hydrated is also important. Very warm saline rinses or even spray can help to cut mucous. Check out the Neilmed line of OTC products for easy to mix saline packets.
A relative was recently hospitalized during throat cancer treatment for dehydration and was taught to use a suction machine to remove mucous. That was helpful and he was discharged with orders to use one at home. That could be a discussion with your medical team. He also finds that carbonated flavored waters help cut the mucous better than anything else he tried.

@sepdvm YES! carbonated flavored waters help about as good as anything. My ENT told me that my body treats the scar tissue left by the radiation as something that needs to be healed therefore the constant production of mucus. Not much one can really do about it.

Thank you, figured as much. So tired of it.Hope you’re further along than me.

@logi Twenty-five years of it. Still looking at the green side of the grass. This is our lot in life to remind us that everyone carries a bag of hammers.