New question regarding sputum and secretions

Posted by doberdoo @doberdoo, Feb 9 3:14pm

At this point I get a lot of secretions and mucus from my nasal passages and throat. Oftentimes I don’t have anything to spit it into so I have to swallow it. Is it going down my esophagus instead of the trachea and then out through my stomach? Or is making its way back to my lungs?

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Feb 9 8:29pm

@doberdoo It’s going through your stomach and other- no worries.

blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Feb 10 8:30pm

In reply to @sueinmn "@doberdoo It’s going through your stomach and other- no worries." + (show)

If anything this BE, Bronchiectasis sure gets one back into bringing up Anatomy 101.

I personally have been clearing all "sputum/etc." into the clear solo cups that I keep in several of the rooms in the house or in a short stout medical sputum vile with cap when out of the house, as in public. I do however give in and swallow it, if I have to, when with others and especially in restaurants etc.
The thought of not being able to see what I am bringing up or just letting the plugs and all make its way out of me " through the stomach and other" has not been something I have wanted to do. As we all say, we are all different. My PCP early on thought it was best to not swallow it. So all different philosophies.
Yes the pulmonologist has said "Just swallow it". Maybe down the line I will do that when I fully understand I am doing right by myself with my Air Way Clearance Routines etc. and clearing the plugs out each day.

For now per my pulmonologist with her moving onto NIH said this week,.... with my not having started the antibiotics,.... I don't have to take them after our detailed telephone conversation that gave us much more time to go over everything...C Scans, blood work, sputum test results, my routine for BE, lungs, airway clearance etc. Good news for now.

I may have to face up to the long haul of going back up to NJH for continuation of care. No BE specialist in my local area. Working all that out in the next few months.

Sue, sorry to hear you had to deal with wound infections this past year. Here's hoping 2025 allows for less dealings with health concerns.
Barbara

jassa | @jassa | Feb 19 8:22pm

I always carry lots of napkins or tissues with me. That way I'm always prepared to spit. If I'm with somebody, I just excuse myself and walk away then spit in my napkin. I never swallow. Your sputum color and texture give you a clue on how your lung is doing. So I continually watch. I'm not saying you can't swallow, but that's how I take care of the issue.

blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Feb 20 11:52am

In reply to @jassa "I always carry lots of napkins or tissues with me. That way I'm always prepared to..." + (show)

Yes for me also, I prefer to see what is needing to be cleared out. For me it allows me, at all times, with the clear solo cups at home and the clear stout sputum vile w/cap in public....to see and keep track of what is and is not coming up and out. Both easily cleaned with dish detergent soap and water. Tissues always with me also.
Yes, hope we all find our ways, hopefully, to "take care of the issue" or issues.
Barbara