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Coughing up green disc like things

For the past year or so I have been coughing up green colored stuff in a circular shape or disc shape.  It is always the same looking disc-like thing.  When I cough these little things up they are coming from below, not from my nose or sinuses that I can tell.  I don't cough this up every day and sometimes they surprise me.  All of a sudden I cough and one comes what feels like half way up and I sometimes gag on them or they get stuck in my throat and it's quite embarrasing.

I mentioned it to my doctor at my last physical and he said it's probably allergies.
I have this all year round though, not just seasonal.

Any input on what this is that I am coughing up?
18 Responses
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Avatar universal
I often get rings of dried mucus when I have a cold. They’re shaped like a little ear, with a definite rim and a hole or thin spot in the middle. I think they are mucus that collects around the opening to one of the sphenoid sinuses and dries there. If you google “sphenoid ostium” and look at the image results, you’ll see that the sphenoid openings are sort of oval/ear-shaped. Once I feel one of these mucus rings forming, it takes a day or two of dad-type snorting noises to loosen it. When I finally succeed, it rockets down into my throat and I have to hhhock it up. I really should ask the doc about it.
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Avatar universal
I sometimes cough up these booger mucus things that are disc/ring shaped as well. My guess is that it’s a common booger that hardens with exposure to air but it’s a booger that’s forming way far up your nose like almost by the sinus or rather where the nose meets the throat. The reason it’s disc shaped is because it’s not a booger that is on the side of the nose but every time you inhale air a passage way for the air is forced through the mucus this forming the donut shape. Eventually the booger dislodges and as u inhale it moves up and down your throat which is when you cough it up out your mouth. I wouldn’t worry it’s just a booger but the way it forms inside your body and the peculiar shape can freak people out.
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Avatar universal
Same here but every single time my voice is altered to the point I almost lose it for up to a month at a time, it happens on average twice a year and the green disc looking stuff almost looks like a salad leaf  too....... Anyways  I hadn't been to doctors yet because they never seem interested and just send me home with pain killers.
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1 Comments
Hello and welcome to the forum.  Green mucus from the nose is often a sign that bacteria is present. The theory behind the thickness and perhaps "discs" that you see as you describe them is that it blocks the bacteria from going further in the body. My suggestion is to go ahead and see a doctor the next time this happens as you may benefit from antibiotics. And if it doesn't happen prior to your next physical, describe the symptoms to them.  They shouldn't just send you away with pain killers.  They do see a lot of infections but a good doctor wants a situation that plagues their patients to resolve.  If your doctor isn't good, perhaps a change in doctors would be in order. Check with your insurance if you have it or health care system for who you can choose from and then ask people you know for references.  This is sometimes a good way to find a healthcare provider you may like better. Here is some general information on mucus as well.  https://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/the-truth-about-mucus Let us know how it goes.
Avatar universal
Nope, they aren't tonsile stones. They look different. And i got tonsiles removed..
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Avatar universal
I've had this for 3 years. Ever since I cleaned out some dusty houses. I also have Mal de Embarkment Syndrome. I was wondering if the two are related.
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Avatar universal
I am so thankful, not that anyone else has to suffer, but that I am not alone.  I cough up theses little hard mucous disks on a daily basis for months at a time, with a small maybe week long break in between episodes. They, too, also come from my lungs because I have to hack them out.  I have not noticed a foul smell but my husband is encouraging me to get them analyzed.  They are more dark yellowish brown rather than green and are sometimes streaked with very small amounts of blood. they are usually about the same size each day, about the size of a dime but can get as large as a nickel.  I have not heard of anyone experiencing this on a daily basis.  Wondering if I should be concerned.  With no insurance it's hard.  
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Avatar universal
I am so thankful, not that anyone else has to suffer, but that I am not alone.  I cough up theses little hard mucous disks on a daily basis for months at a time, with a small maybe week long break in between episodes. They, too, also come from my lungs because I have to hack them out.  I have not noticed a foul smell but my husband is encouraging me to get them analyzed.  They are more dark yellowish brown rather than green and are sometimes streaked with very small amounts of blood. they are usually about the same size each day, about the size of a dime but can get as large as a nickel.  I have not heard of anyone experiencing this on a daily basis.  Wondering if I should be concerned.  With no insurance it's hard.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
did anyone find out what the little green disc like things are they are coughing up?
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Avatar universal
did anyone find out what the little green disc like things are they are coughing up?
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1 Comments
tounsil stones
Avatar universal
Any luck finding put what this is??? I have had EXACTLY the same thing for at least three years (AND my ex had stage three lung adenocarsinoma!) the shape is always flat- like a pancake... It smells SO bad. I always examine for blood- sometimes it looks streaky- maybe green and brown. I also have to cough and hack... Hard- to force it out!!! Help!!!
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Avatar universal
It has been awhile since you posted your comment about coughing up little green bits, so hopefully you will get my post.  Did you ever find out what they were?  I have exactly what you described.  I'm wondering if they are coming from my sinuses.  Would love to hear from you. Thanks!
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Avatar universal
I have had the same things the first couple of people were talking about- Round, Hard disc shaped, flatish… very foul-smelling and always come as a surprise. They are NOT tonsil stones. At least mine aren't. They are definitely coming from my lungs, because I have to almost "hack" to get it to come up, when I feel it. I usually know before it happens because I almost wheeze on deep inhale/exhale. It smells HORRIBLE. My Dr ordered a chest x-ray… and of course it came back normal. (but so did my boyfriend's x-way, four days before he was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer- only a CT scan showed the tumor) We have not been able to get a sample to send in, because it's not predictable. It's literally the shape of a frisbee. Anyone else have this or know what it is???
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4 Comments
definatly tounsil stones
i have this issue too! it’s not tonsil stones because i got my tonsils removed.
Exactly this. I think it began around the 2nd year of college for me so about six years of a somewhat daily occurrence. My friend back then told me that hacking stuff up was normal and that it was just phlegm but mine seemed a bit more serious that that.

They're not always hard and solid and frisbee/pancake-shaped but I always have to hack them up from my throat. It's horrible when they're stuck there and you have to keep on hacking forever to get them out (the other option is swallowing them back in but no thank you). Sometimes it'll happen out of nowhere and sometimes you just know it's coming. Anyway, I had one today and it was green with a tinge of brown (?) in the middle, about the size of a dime. I had to respond because of how similar your description was. It's relieving to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this.

What sucks is that I still don't really know what they are. I went to the doctor for it about two years ago and I think he told me it was allergies and to exercise more (I'm not overweight and don't drink/smoke btw). But just in case, I also had a chest x-ray done and it came out normal so I've been just living with it for years now. It's definitely not comfortable when it happens (especially if it's outside and I need to spit the thing out but there are no tissues, or there are people around). But ever since the chest x-ray result, no one seems to think that it's serious or cares that much. I wish I knew what it was.
Edit: doctor visit was probably 3-4 years ago. I could never keep track of time but it's gotten worse since covid lol.
Avatar universal
oh my goodness thank the lord I am not alone this started happening to me years ago now not all the time sometimes more frequently than others I just cough up these random light green things not quite the size of a pea or sometimes just little specks...sometimes they will be stuck in my throat gagging me a little...but sometimes it will be months without them so I just forget...but they arent solid they are farely hard but squish if you squeeze them and smell kind of like old cigarettes...I thought maybe it was from when I smoked...I showed my mom today finally after years of it happening and she made me so worried like something was really inside of me but I read the tonsil stones description and it sounds right on though I will still go to my doctor to make sure THANKS so much I can rest a little easier now!
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Avatar universal
I've had these things for years as well but just recently found out what they were.... tonsillioths or tonsil stones. You can look up either term to learn more. They're harmless and most adults that still have their tonsils experience them to some degree or another.
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749036 tn?1233350260
I to have these once a month or so, I've never noticed a smell though (and belief me, I inspect like I'm a scientist!).  I do have acid reflux and have always attributed to that - I think what happens is there is a build up.  I don't know if this is a bad thing or not, maybe this is just a cleansing thing your body does.
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Avatar universal
Hi, I think i have the same and has kept me wondering for years...it happens maybe once a month or less.    I have pressed these things an they smell like hell.  It is a very very strong smell...  is this the same case with you?  it is funny, unless you squeeze them you would not smell anything.   Let me know.
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Avatar universal
I've been coughing up(from the back of the throat and sometimes below the opening leading up to the nose) these thick mucusy things you talk about for 8 years. I had a specimen sent off and it was Staph aureus. So far no antibiotic I've tried has cured it. :(
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Avatar universal
Did he ever suggest getting a culture done? First morning specimens are the best. The specimen needs to go into the lab soon after coughing up, and it must be done into a sterile container. You unfortunately need a doc's order for this. Coughing up green stuff is not normal. Do you have any other symptoms? Why is your doctor being so offhand about this?  Have you had a chest xray???

I personally think your doc is being pretty cavalier about this. You may want a second opinion.

I am a microbiology technologist and have seen every type of sputum known to man over thirty years. Green is NOT normal. Saliva is clear. We reject sputum specimens if they are only saliva. They now must be screened for lack of epithelials (if epis are in the specimen, it means the specimen was not produced from a deep cough and it's mostly spit) and hopefully the specimen will show a preponderance of white cells. Green sputum usually shows lots of white cells, so you probably have something inflammatory going on somewhere.

Good luck.
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