Excessive Thick Mucous in Throat-- HELP!!!

I am a 32 yo female. Have had these symptoms on and off for the last several years, but this year they are have incresed and presistent. I have a feeling of thick sticky mucous in my throat that wont move up or down. When by a miracle I CAN get something up, it is clear, sticky, thick and gluelike. The abundance is cyclical througout the day- some times worse than others. Seems to be worse when I eat (anything) and also when I cry or yell. I feel like I constantly have to clear my throat, which is unproductive. Sometimes it feels the mucous is sitting on my gag reflex and It gags me. Sometimes the sensation of the phlegm makes me so nervous because I fear it will block my esophogus and I cant get it up or down. I already drink 3 quarts of water a day and nothing works.

Also: I do NOT have any noteworthy nasal symptoms, no runny nose or congestion, no chest congestion and no cough. This all leads me to believe its not sinus related.

I feel like i am losing my mind. Its affecting my quality of life. Any advice would be helpful. And some reassurance that the mucous wont block my esophogus? Any ideas what this annoyance could be??? Thank you

[National Jewish]

This is a fairly common problem with people who are experiencing post nasal drainage.  This can be from an allergic or infectious condition. When this phlegm is thick it can feel stringy and stick to the walls of your throat.  It can be difficult to move this phlegm by swallowing, coughing, or throat clearing.  Thinning this phlegm will help it to move easier.  As long as you are not on a fluid restriction, drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses, about 2.5 quarts, of non-caffeine fluid each day will keep this phlegm thin. It sounds like you already have a good water intake!  Another option to discuss with your doctor is trying a medicine that thins phlegm such as guaifenesin.  A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses.  Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique.  Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.  A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses.  This may prevent the postnasal drip.  A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms.  It may need to be used every day for several weeks to months for it to help.  Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, a decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the Atrovent

[Despo]

You just described exactly what I have... In addition to the above, I have really bad breath that seems to have something to do with AC or cold weather. I'm ready to put up with the constant need to try to swallow. But, bad breath is something I need help with. I'm sure that the b.b is due to the mucus because it gets better when I am out in warmer surroundings.

[Dave L]

For over two months, I've been suffering with a condition that I have never experienced before. It began with a mild case of bronchitis. This was around Thanksgiving. It then turned into a continual post nasal drip condition. The worst part of this is the waking up in the middle night gasping for breath. That has happened about a dozen times. It has also happened during the day. The ER doctor as well as an internist that I've been to attributed this condition to my epiglodis closing due the drip. They said that it is the body's way of preventing any type of liquid from entering my windpipe. What I don't understand is that I've had numerous colds, coughs, sore throats, etc throughout my life and I've NEVER had the situation where I could not breath. It is quite scary. I've had chest x-rays, which showed that my lungs were clear. My oxygen saturation also was around 99%. I've been dealing with excess mucus, especially after I eat. I've never had any type of respiratory problems in the past. I am 45 years old and I am relatively healthy. I would appreciate comments from folks that have had this condition and of course, any medical professionals out there that have any ideas as to what may be causing this.

Thanks,
Dave L.

[yoobb]

I have a thick, clue, stringy mucus draining from my nose into my mouth and throat.  When I swim or use a neti pot to wash it out, it comes out as a glob of clear, thick, sticky, slimy mucus with a creamy white suspension.  The consistency is something between gum and hair gel - it's slimy like hair gel, but stretches like gum.

[cats8398]

Has anyone here had any diagnoses or luck with treatment? I posted yesterday with similiar problems.  Any information would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[2coatsofpaint]

Man, was I relieved to find people with the same problem as me. I also am a 45 yo male in good health. I have had 3 nose surgeries to try to correct the problem. The ENT doctor felt that my abnormally tiny nostrils were preventing adequate air from entering the sinuses and therefore not providing enough airflow to carry away the secretions. He explained that the discharge is a normal function of the body to moisten the respiratory system. I just wasn't getting the proper airflow. Well, 3 surgeries and a badly scarred nose later, I suffer worse than ever. I drink at least a gallon of water each day, constantly chew gum. The condition has caused me to put on a few pounds - just a little overweight - because eating is therapeutic. It actually tends to ease the throat problem. I don't think my GP would let me stay on inhalants or steroids very long. We've got to find a long term solution. First one of you that finds it gets my stash of chewing gum - about 5 pounds. I'll work on it, too.

[Excess Mucus Tonya]

Mine was thick and produced a STUCK feeling.  I also had a whooping bark (cough).

I finally worked up enough courage to go to the doctor.  I found out that all of my excess mucus was about disease of the airways.  I was given MEDROL 4 Mg. Dosepak and told that THIS Is the ONLY, ONLY, ONLY, thing that can cure it.

Prior to going to the doctor, I tried to diagnose MYSELF.  I used various antibiotics to try and cure this ailment but NOTHING was successful.

Nevertheless, I'd taken MEDROL before YEARS AGO and it worked WELL.  

I was also given zrytec and an albuterol pump. In the missed of this ailment, (disease of the airways)I was said to have allergies AND asthma.

Asthma tends to develop in a lot of people with allergies.  The cause is unknown.

I went to the doctor on 2-19-04 and got what I KNEW I needed all alone-MEDROL dosepak 4mg.

Good luck to you all and do not be afraid to go to your doctor or to talk with him. Also do not be afraid to make suggestions.

Talk to your doctor and ask them if you have disease of the airways and asthma.  Then ask them if Medrol would be an option for you.

I know how you felt because after every meal and many times before, the fluid would bubble in my chest until I coughed it up. Many times I had an ongoing cough because my airways were infected/inflamed.

This is my 3rd day of taking the medication and I feel a HUGE change. My coughing has been so minimal.

Also, when I first notice having it, it felt as if there was a HUGE ball of dough in my chest. The mucus was thick and foamy and pinkish when I spat. Also at times it felt that something was in my chest.

I figured I'd eaten too much bread, so I cut the breads out and the problem lessoned but it was still valid.

Anyway, if you have a JPS (John Peter Smith) CLINIC near, go there.  

By the way, medrol is a corticosteroid.  Again, it is the ONLY, ONLY, ONLY, thing that can help, per my doctor's advice and learned but once forgotten experienced.  I had not recognized this reoccuring ailment because it was so much worse.  

Due to the length of time between illnesses, I forgot the symptoms.  

However, THIS time seems to have been WORSER for I waited about 2 years before treatment because I was afraid of hearing the results.  

Disease of the airways, is a temporary condition of inflammation in the airways that is briefly cured with the proper medication, MEDROL 4mg Dosepak of 21.

When you take this medicine, be SURE to drink LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of water.  You need the water to help flush the FLUID out.

Perhaps you should drink 1/2 your body weight in water or 1 gallon.

All should clear up TOTALLY in 6 days.  Your medral pack is for 6 days.

May God Bless and Keep Us All

LESS-Excess Mucus Tonya

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[kriissfak]

I'm 15 and I've had the same problem for alittle less then a year now. I probably shouldn't mention this but I used to smoke a lot of pot as it helped me relax and think. Now I can't even smoke because my throat feels like its closing up and I spend 4 hours trying to get that nasty mucus out of my throat. Sometimes its pinkish(this scares me) and sometimes clear... its a scary thing to have and it deffiently does bother me a lot. I went to the doctor and was told I have post nasal drip. They just told me to drink a lot of water and didn't give me anything for it.

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[Susie03]

To anyone ever researching the mucous in their throat that they can't get rid of or tightness I'm chest where it's difficult to breathe. I have suffered for 3 years with all of the same symptoms, saw all the doctors, been put on all the medications, and thought I had to just live with it! I went to see a homeopathic doctor the other day and told her all my symptoms. She gave me a bottle of Grapefruit Seed Extract ($6) and TruFlora probiotic cleansing formula ($40). Sounds expensive but it's a 4 month supply. My symptoms went away within 1 DAY! I never thought it would work in a million years after dealing with this daily for so long. I've never posted on a board like this, only researched what I've had but if I can help just one person end their suffering I I'd be so excited. I drink about 8oz water with 5 drops of the extract and take the probiotic pills. It's been a week and no more trying to clear my throat, tightness in chest which got really bad at night, coughing up mucous in the morning, being afraid to eat foods that would make it worse like ice cream, chocolate, or oily foods. Now I don't always eat like that, in fact I run 5 miles a day and surf quite a bit. I usually avoid those types of foods but they no longer have ant affect on me. Please try this remedy if you have struggled with this issue that doctors can't seem to fix with medication. Aloha