Constant phlegm in throat

[shannonwooten]

For about a year now, it feels like I have phlegm/mucus stuck in my throat and can't completely clear my throat. Also when I cough, its a lil wet and there is phlegm.

When I started to have the problem, I went to the doc and he said it just may be sinuses and sent me on my way... but never went away.

I went to the doc while I was in Basic Training in SC... then went to GA for 4 months... back to FL for a few months (where i use to live) and now I am in NC.... never went away so I don't think it has anything to do with sinuses...?

[Renato154]

Eat lots of greens, stay away from all processed foods. All symptoms are a message from your body. Eat a healthy diet. Drink at least 80 ounces of water. Great book. "Your not sick your thirsty" Start to get informed by investigating out side the box.  Check out the Ann Wigmore Health Instute in Puerto Rico. That place will really make you see the impact of eating correctly.

Good luck

[shadow37]

Hello, I found this forum recently, and I am another person who struggles with this wretched problem. I have had it for a year now; the constant post-nasal drip that just collects in the throat. I used to smoke medical marijuana for two years prior, but apart from that never really smoked in my life. I was not as heavy on smoking as many, and for the majority of the time the problem never existed...It seemed to start a year ago, during a peak stress point in my life. I live about an hour to hour and 1/2 away from the beach, though my particular town is rather dry. I had gone to visit some friends in the mountains, where I used to live. I have visited there many times without these problems, but that time was not a good one...We all got sick, and it was a general infection in the sinuses/lungs. After it cleared from my lungs and the infection was gone, I expected the phlegm to go away in a matter of weeks. Allergy season hit, and I have always been prone to allergies, I assumed it was that, albeit rather bad. I figured it would just be gone as soon as the pollen stopped floating around. I did continue smoking weed occasionally as it was the only thing to help a neurological condition I've had from birth which causes a great deal of anxiety and insomnia, etc. Eventually, I stopped smoking weed altogether, thinking it might be an allergy to pot. However, months later, I noticed the problem never went away...I continue to cough out gobs of phlegm that just flow and "fill up" my throat (just as others have said). There was quite a high level of stress and horrible life events persistently hitting me a year ago when all this started, I know it must play a role. That is something I've noticed all of us here have in common...One way or another, something serious set it off.

Nothing will help it go away, Indeed, as stated by Jen176, and quoted by others, "Throughout the day I have phlegm at the back of my throat and all the way down my airways (which is very uncomfortable btw) and it occasionally comes up on its on" this happens to me as well, my experience exactly! I have seen the doctor countless times, two ENTs, and my weight (from around 120-125) recently dropped to a meager 85 pounds! I had become sick and it got EVEN WORSE! I could no longer eat or drink. I had to go to the hospital, of which I have just returned. No obstruction or cancer that they could see in the throat, and of course my lungs are clear. They cannot understand that phlegm is doing this. They had no answers, and simply told me it's psychosomatic, "it's emotional, get over it and just eat food" sort of thing...That is completely ridiculous. It certainly is not emotional. When it's so bad that food gets stuck, furthering the problem... I was a vegetarian, for about five years, now I have become vegan, milk especially will make the phlegm worse. I used to love cheese and milk chocolate, no more of that for me. But it matters not, this crap still persists! It is sticky and thick, the amount of water and hydrating fluids doesn't do a darn thing. I'm in the process of researching the best vegan protein/meal replacement drinks/powders that don't taste like salted cardboard and river sand, as I heard someone say. I will update this with a list of what I find and like, if it will help.

I have always been sensitive to textures, so it makes all of this worse. As of now, there is nothing but dealing with symptoms. No working, doing creative projects, going anywhere, being social, nothing...All my hobbies are gone. My days begin and end with this horrible stuff, all of the time. I just want my life back...

Talak mentioned something, that throat-numbing stuff might help, it's certainly worth looking into. Or it might make matters worse...With myself, I fear it might, due to my small frame and low weight/inability to eat. I wonder the same for others with similar issues to me. The doctor said the muscles in my throat and tongue are now "weak for your age" (I'm 28) from all of the "hocking" and attempts at ridding of the phlegm. Also something he did not mention: the mucus itself is so thick and sticky it weakens these muscles.

If anyone has the answers, please let us know! I will keep you guys updated, so long as I am alive...

[KrcinNV]

Benzonatate 100 mg capsules is all I can think of. They help to relax your throat. Helps with the out of control coughing that leads to gagging.

[sofy6]

Yes! I got a fungal infection in my lungs two years ago in New Mexico. They determined it was penicillium fungus. I'm allergic to penicillin. Great, huh?
Now I clear my throat and cough about half the day. Two pulmonologists haven't been able to clear it up. Any ideas? I'm sick to death (you might say) of this stuff.

[Pookie2015]

i used to have bath breath...found the cure for me...i bought a tongue scraper...every night i scrape my tongue from back to front...there is always a coating of stuff that comes off...dont scrape too hard because you will remove all the bacteria then you will have a white tongue and dry mouth...i also gargle salted water a few times a week before bed..it loosens the phlem in the throat ...the dentist told me we do need a bit of good bacteria on the tongue so thats why i dont scrape too hard...rinse the scraper after each stroke....hope it helps you...PS...rinse mouth well after the scraping.

[friend53]

I have the same issue. My story is this.  I was a smoker and quit when I was 30. After that we moved around in military for yrs. Never a problem with hacking, phlem , nothing, years went by. we retired military and moved to Massachusetts , NOT Boston, but a smaller town . Bought A house. One day I got into a heated discussion  with my bypolar son. He can be difficult to deal with. Hes in his 30's. I strained my throat trying to talk over him to get him to listen. I think  I damaged my throat that day because my throat problem started rt after that . Soon after, I started hacking in the morning, phlem, ritual of clearing my throat etc. that was now yrs ago, and its not any better. However, I also have alergies . And I noticed that When I get up in the morning rt after I drink my coffie, which has alot of CREAM NOT milk or blk coffie, My hacking starts getting worse. Also, we have two woodstoves we use all winter, Pets. etc.  I dont know. I ve never had any problems until I moved to Mass. But it could be any one of those things. And I am a Cheese freak too. But I never smoke or drink , Cold air does make it worse? I do have alot of dust in my house , dusting constantly etc? who knows? I am going to an ent dr next week. BUt I never take meds except tylenol . My mother destroyed her nostrils useing nasal spray yrs ago and her friend and dr told me that nasal sprays are bad news . So who knows?

[jenos67]

I have had this coughing and spitting up foamy white bubbly stuff all my life, it really bugs my partner hearing me coughing spitting and being sick every morning and its starting to bug me big time now too, I start coughing first thing every morning, have to go and sick up all the phlegm, my face and eyes go all bloodshot and then I have to blow my nose and even more comes out, a whole half hour carry on every morning, cant have a coffee untill its all gone or else im sicking up coffee/phlegm, yuck!! It all comes out quicker though lol. Then even a few times a day i have to cough/sick it up again, im going to try taking antihistamines every night now and thinking about getting a hepa air purifier, i wake up so clogged up.I did used to smoke, stopped 2 years ago, Im 47 but i dont think its related to smoking.