Chronic Throat Clearing

15 months ago I had a moderate fever and wheezing - prior no health problems at all.  It took three weeks for the wheezing to stop.  Thick clear mucous, dry cough, and a sick, raw sound when I clear my throat still continue.  I think that it has improved but not much.  I have recently tightness in the chest and sometimes I cough up foul-smelling, pasty yellow matter shaped something like a small peice of pensil lead.   Throughout the process I've tried Advair, expectorants, PIP, and bronchialators but they don't seem to have any effect even after several months.  I've had two lung funtion tests Feb 05/Sept 05: VC: 6330 / 6120 cc; %VC 146/142; FEV1 4730/4710 cc; FEV1%  81.9 / 79.5.  I've also seen an ENT specialist (exam and nasal CT = not causing my cough) and Gastroenterologist (endoscopy w/ negative biopsy of polyps = mild GERD but "probably" not causing my cough).   Sputum culture showed mild inflamation (inflammation) but nothing else. Chest CT and film are normal.  Arterial blood gas = 96.7%.  I can exercise vigorously without losing my breath and it provides me rare relief from the chest tightness.  What's got me concerned is how terrible my chest feels, how much mucous I cough up, and how little progress I've made after 15 months.  I'm 42, have smoked in the past, and lived in bad-air areas most of my life.  Is there anything else I can try?

[National Jewish]

Based on the lung function test results provided your lung function is pretty good.  The details given suggest you have some type of chronic lung problem, despite your normal chest CT scan.  You

[hackhack]

Hi Run4Fun.  I'm sorry to hear about your ailment.  I too have chronic throat clearing and am trying to find the answer.

I'll tell you what I've tried so far.  I developed this horrible post nasal drip / throat clearing in Irvine this summer.  I'm 27 and have never had this problem or allergies.  I originally went to an ENT who took one look in my nose and throat and said "allergies".  He gave me Bromafed, an older antihistamine/decongestant which made me very drowsy throughout the day even though I took it before going to bed. I went to another doctor upon returning to Chicago.  He gave me Allegra and Flonase, then Zyrtec and Flonase, and I would soon add Mucinex.  But while the symptoms did get slightly better, it was still a terrible distraction and kept me awake at night.

I went to another ENT who had me try antiboitics.  After that failed  I had a CT scan which showed that my sinuses were fine.  That's where I'm at now.  I've also tried doing nasal irrigation (which doesn't produce much).  I constantly am sucking on cough drops and I drink gallons of water.

The ENT took some blood and I am waiting to hear back on the allergy tests.  I've also started taking one 40 mg capsule of Nexium every day.  I believe the doctor suspects LPRD.  I do have the PND, throat clearing, etc.  I'm also overweight (though losing weight and almost back to normal) and do have a lot of stress within the last 6 months (this developed in April).  However, when the doctor scoped my nose and throat, my larynx / vocal chord area, while covered with some phlegm, did not look irritated.  I also have the PND phlegm which is a clear ariated mucuos.  

I've read that a lot of Dr's will prescribe 80mg of Nexium per day and that LPRD may still take up to 6 months to heal, but this Dr. seems to underperscribe than overperscribe.  I guess that's a good thing.  In my research of LPRD I've found that Zantac and Antacids like Tums can help, so I'm also taking a 75mg Zantac before breakfast and a 150 before dinner (I take the Nexium before lunch).  I follow each meal with some Tums.  

We'll see if this helps.  Not sure your cause is the same or not, but I'm hopeful for both of us.

[hackhack]

Oh yes.  I've also noticed that I produce a lot more mucous almost immediately after eating and feel a lot more phlegm around my voice box in the evening.  Have you notice any time of day differences?

[mucousJim]

I have a similar thing going on. After almost every meal i clear my throat for 30 minutes or so. Sometimes i start clearing my throat before i'm finished eating. I have had this problem for probably about 10 years. I am 26 now and tired of this.
I also have problems breathing at times. It seems to be random times that this occurs, but i have noticed that many times it co-incides with my high amounts of phlem.
I was told i had allergy induced asthma 5 years ago and nothing i was prescirbed made any significant differece.
I tried Claratin, Singulair, Flovent, Albuterol, etc. (Waste of money!)
However, my breathing problems became worse around June this year. I went back to the allergist (same one, my mistake) and he prescribed me advair which just made me jittery and Nasonex. No help with these either. I finally tried another Allergist and he ruled out asthma. Now I am taking Protonix (similar to Nexium) for GERD. Apparently GERD can and does cause asthma. I found several articles on it. http://www.webmd.com/content/article/26/1728_59778.htm
I have only been taking it for a few days and i will see if this helps in a month or two i am told by the doctor. I was told to cut out Coffe, Alcohol, Tea, onions, garlic, and tomaotes. i'll fill you in when i see how the GERD treatment goes. Thanks!

[johndan]

well i was wondering if you guys can help me with a throat problem that ive been having for like two years now, i have been having this white phlegm in my throat and green mucus, sometimes i spit a little bit of it out but i cant quite get all of it out. ive gone to the doctors about two times and they said my lungs are fine and i dont have anything serious but im not sure about that theyve also given me antibiotics that dont seem to work they gave me something called amoxycillin and guifanesen or something like that. but they havent really specified what i have can you guys tell me what i might have???! im really worried about this because it just wont go away. please tell me what to do about this.

[tamncam]

I  have constant mucus  in my throat, mostly white or
clear, sometimes in the morning might be a little brown and dry.
i feel like the mucus is coming from my sinuses, because i am always having to suck from my nose and spit from my mouth, i also have a dry non productive cough and clearing my throat for about 11 months now. ( all symptons for 11 months ) . i also have some occasional wheezing when i take a deep breath in (not all the time but maybe 5 or 6 times a day ). and also, sometimes when i breathe in real deep or cough it causes pain in my upper right back ( that sympton only for about 4 to 5 weeks maybe, and may also be related to something else , i pulled a muscle in my lower back, and about that same week my upper back had pain when breathing and coughing). in feb. 05 went to dr. he dx'd me with bronchitis, gave me augmentin, steroids ( prednisone ), got somewhat better, but still coughing and clearing throat and drainage, went back to dr. in may 05, same symptons, gave me
clyndimycin, nasal steroid, and saline nasal spray, i took all and still no progress. in october 05 saw an ENT specialist, he looked at my nasal and sinuses and throat with a camera, said everything looks good, but sent me for a B A swallow to see if i might have GERD, that came back negative.

In november, i got the pulled muscle and the upper back pain when i breathe in ( not to mention above symptons are still existing) i was hurting so bad, i went to a local urgent care center and the nurse practitioner ordered a chest x ray, said it looked good,  gave me flexeril for pulled muscle and steroid for plurisy, i felt a lot better upon taking medication, but after a while the pain from breathing in still was here.
In december 2005, made an appointment with a new physician, still for the symptons of drainage, dry cough and clearing throat, and  wheezing, and  now also for pain in upper back ( while breathing in deeply),, she gave me a TB test, ( came back negative) i had another chest x ray ( dr. said looked clear ) gave me levaquin antibiotic, zyrtec D, and flonase, and advair inhaler, I now feel somewhat better, but all of the symptons are still here, just a little better.    WHAT SHOULD I DO? HAVE NEVER HAD ANY MEDICAL PROBLEMS, AND WOULD LIKE TO BE FREE OF WHAT PROBLEMS I DO HAVE NOW??????????

[Inanga]

your guy's problems sounded so similar to mine that I thought I was reading one of my own posts. i had bad post nasal drip, cough, gravelley voice etc for many years. Docs treated as hayfever since it got worse in the pollen season. I cetainly do get hayfever by the mucous problem is all year around. I eventually related it to eating. i have nailed it down to corn products now. Bread wihtout corn starch is fine, with corn stach gives me mucous and cough after a couple of bites. I used to wake up choking all through he night when I was eating pasta sauces thickened with corn thickener. I went though every antihistamine and steroid and nothing helped like avoidance of the allergen. Please investigate food allergies. My doctors didn't think food could be the problem but it was. You are more motivated to solve this problem than your doctor so don't leave it to them and don't give up searching. My life was heading down the gurgler but now I'm back to normal - it's been a long hard road but I'm though the other end. Unfortunately even the most regarded allergist in the country here didn't even listen when I told him I suspected food. He just took my $500 and told me I had a pollen allergy, which I already knew. good luck

[MickS]

I've had continual mucus in the lungs and throat since 15, now 23. It's severely impacted my relationships, work/study life and general attitude towards life. I have that much trouble speaking most of the time and clearing my throat that I've withdrawn from life a lot.

Tried everything, even elimination diets of which did nothing. Currently taking some anti-depressant meds to see if it's somehow manifested itself from anxiety, but hasn't really helped. Certainly it's worse after eating and my blood shows an allergic reaction to something, but finding out what, is proving a nightmare.

I'm still young, so I must keep trying.

[Inanga]

I felt like giving up lots of times, but I got there in the end. There are so many possibilities for allergies: pollen, mold spores, chemicals (in toothpaste, soap, shampoo, cleaning fluids), pets, foods (many of these), etc. I find I have trouble with a certain dishwasher powder - I need to carefully wash off the residue before using a cup. If might appear like an obsessive/compulsive thing but I find I get mucous if I don't rinse. I was better off before we got a dishwasher because I always rinsed the soap off carefully. Kepp trying mate.

[PAMR]

I HAVE BEEN CLEARING MY THROAT FOR A YEAR NOW.  I'VE BEEN TO THE DOCTOR THREE TIMES TO NO AVAIL.  I HAVE A HISTORY OF A LUNG DISEASE AND I AM AFRAID THAT IT CAME BACK.  I AM 37 AND I AM SICK OF THIS.  I GUESS I AM IN DENIAL.  BUT THE STORIES I HEAR SOUND JUST LIKE ME.  I THINK I HAVE ALLERGIES AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.  I HAVE BEEN ON NASACORT AND I AM WAITING FOR THIS TO KICK IN.  NOT TO MENTION ALL KINDS OF GERD MEDS...  THE CONSTANT DRIP IN THE BACK OF MY THROAT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.  I AM SPITTING UP **** EVERY MORNING.  IS THIS THROAT OR LUNG CANCER?  I AM SCARED.  I COUGH AT NIGHT AND AT WORK.  I AM THINKING THAT IT IS 'SICK BUILDING SYNDROME'.  WHEN I AM AT WORK, I HACK AND CAN'T CATCH MY BREATH.  ANYONE ELSE GO THRU THIS?  PLS TELL ME!

MY EMAIL IS ***@****

[PAMR]

I HEAR YA.  IT IS HARD TO FIGURE OUT A LUNG PROBLEM.  IT TOOK ME 2 YEARS AND I ALMOST DIED.  I HAD A RARE LUNG DISORDER.  PULMONARY ALVEOLAR PROTENOSIS.  NO CLUE HOW I GOT IT AND WHY THERE IS NO CURE.  BUT THERE IS A TREATMENT.  THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT IS, IT CAN COME BACK AND I AM SCARED IT DID.  SO, YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EMAIL ME ANY TIME YOU WANT TO TALK.  

***@****

[dear life]

to those who have similar problems, i feel your pain. i have only discovered this site today (im glad i did!). justlike MickS feelings, i have had negative feelings and it has affected work (especially being a chef)and my young wife and son (i am 27 years young).i thought id write in and tell the members to keep finding answers and share your comments it keeped me alive. my history will be posted soon and ive been told its interesting.

[tupes]

I totally agree with MucosJim. I am so frustrated by this chronic throat clearing it's sickening! I am the same as Jim. I get a lot more phlegm after eating, even drinking sometimes! I am driving my wife nuts! I will keep checking back to see if there is anything new and will let you all know if I find out anything. Good luck to all!

[MickS]

These throat mucus threads seem to run rampant here. They are closed, and then another one starts. All the doctors I've been to talk about me having something "rare", but it seems far from it.

[PAMR]

Now, to boot, I have been feeling this burning sensation behind my breastbone.  Another thing to worry about...  I don't know if it is from the Protonix or the Nasocort.  I have a history of anxiety so this is the last thing I need on top of my stress right now.  Anyone here ever feel this?  I had an EKG not too long ago and everything was ok.  My blood work was ok too except for my 'good chloesterol'.  It should be higher.  Anyway, I think a lot of times I cough because of nerves.  Again, anyone here do the same thing?    Please, anyone who has the same symptons, let me know.

[sonisben]

Hello everyone. Concerning Chronic Throat Clearing - A friend of mine had this and said he cleared his throat a least 100 times a day. He had surgery for GERD where they tied his stomach muscles so the food couldn't come back up to his esophagus
and has not had any trouble since.

His doctors said those who have GERD always have acid going back into their esophagus whether they feel it or not hence continual clearing of the throat.

Mine is bad (maybe 50 times a day) but I'm not ready for surgery yet.

Thanks

[Abnorm]

Nearly every morning and now this evening when I clear my throat blood will appear. It is bright therefore i am assuming that it is a fresh bleed. Not a lot, more like after you have had extensive dental work done, when I spit. Usual before this mucus green and/or dark will come up then blood. I have seen several doctors, I have had a chest Xray where all is normal, Ihave had blood tests and incidently, the H-Pilori test which came back positive (I have been having a number of symptoms related to what a couple of doctors believe to be an ulcer. I am scheduled for a CT scan of the abdomen next February 15th, since I have sharp pains off & on at both the right & left side of my stomach. I am just recently getting over a bad cold, where I noticed bleeding off & on in my nose. I thought that my room my be too dry so I bought a humidifier but i still have blood. My question first although each doctor told me not to worry about the blood since a lot would be similar to say a cup or more of blood, should I try not to get too worked up about the blood? Would CT scans of the abdomen reveal any ulcer if present? Can acid reflux cause the pain, irregular bowel movements, as well as the blood? What else can can I do about the dryness in the apartment?

[Abnorm]

I was treated for the H-Pilori but the symtoms (symptoms) still persist. Would appreciate any information any of you have to offer, thank God for these forums and thank you for your feedback.

[mahony]

A related discussion, chronic throat clearing was started.

[Jagumba]

A related discussion, Has anything treatment come up yet was started.