Phlegm Constricted In Throat:

[Mare1207]

I am on a steriod spray, breathing treatments, advair and rescue inhalers.  I have been dealing with acute phlegm blockage for two months now.  I have also been taking mucinex and a non-drowsy decongestant as well.  There is so much mucous that is getting caught in my throat all the time. I cannot speak or swallow medications at times.  The various doctors I have been to, including E.R. doctors, do not seem to be bothered by this.  This is a problem as I cannot speak with this up and down motion of phlegm getting stuck consistently.  I'm consistently blocked and cannot speak with my job.  Is there anything that can be done to get this out of my chest.  i stand in hot showers and cough as much as I can to get this out to no avail.  I do not know what else to do.  I had originally been put on antibiotics that ended up in a serious of four different kinds back to back with the last being levaquin and a pill steriod for 4 days which is theonly thing that seemed to loosen anything up, but I'm still getting it stuck.  Please advise.  I also take ivy extract on my own as an added phlegm producer and lots of water and fluids.  PLEASE HELP.

[National Jewish]

It is unlikely that the problem you are describing is coming from your lungs.  With that type and amount of mucus in your lungs, you would be coughing and having significant breathing problems, particularly during the night.  It is much more likely that this is from your upper airways, and probably the sinuses.  It may or may not have anything to do with an infection.  The fact that steroids were effective would suggest seeing an ENT or allergy specialist and most likely trying a course of inhaled nasal steroids.  I would speak to you family doctor about these suggestions.

[SusanTRM]

I have the same thing. I would also like to see the responses received to Mare's phlem issue as it is disconcerting when you are trying to work and around others.
Susan

[Excess Mucus Tonya]

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

[luluair]

I to have had this problem for about a year. I have been diagnosed with vocal cord dysfunction to anxiety. I seen a pulmonary specialist last month and had a pulmo test done. It sounds identical to what you had. Is medrol short term? I have been on prednosone 2 times and only once did it somewhat help. So i will get the results back from my dr. on the 16th this month (march). Sometimes i cough nothing comes up. I have shortness of breath. When i do get something up its extremely thick. Thanks for your post. If gives me hope that its something somewhat minor but very scary and annoying.

[ikea]

Excess Mucus Tonya,  
Did you have problems after eating every meal?  Did you have problems with most foods, even water?

[littlevicko]

sounds similar to what my 9 yr old daughter does,she has excessive coughing and phlegm,for about 4 mnths now ,in dec,got so bad she dehydrated from throwing up mucuc so much she was hospitalized for the dehydration,the white of her eyes were red from broken vessels from coughing so hard and so much,shes suppose to have some asthma and no allergies,dont make much sense,but she has even seen an ent,ct scan showed a polyop/cist on left sinus but he said nothing to worry about,shes been on so many antibiotics im not sure they even work anymore,shes on inhlers,steroids half the time which causes weight gain and puffy face,nose sprays you name it,her asthma doctor wants her to see a stomach dr and get a sweat test for cyctic fibrosis,dont none of them seem to be able to give me a clue whats going on,last july she had her toncils and adnoids out,they said oh she wont hardly get sick now but to be honest,a few mnth after that is when all this began so i dont know what to do next,anyone have any advise??help

[Tes1970]

I am frustrated also with the doctors.  They just refer you to ents, pulmonary specialists, there is so much that is truly unkown by the doctors. They give you medications that really don't seem to help.  It's just a guessing game. It's all in who you want to take your chances with. All of the symptoms lean towards  allergies and asthma, so it seems this may be why they can't determine the exact illness.  I have been suffering for the past two years with chronic phlegm build-up.  Some days are better that others.  I always seem to have lower back soreness and when I take a shower I have to hit my chest to make the phlegm come out.  I can't generate enough force during a cough to force the phlegm out.  When I brush my teeth in the morning I get sick because of so much phlegm throughout the night.  I feel like I don't get enough oxygen.  Since this occurred, I have gained about 15 lbs.  I just don't seem to have as much energy. I use to very active, working out 5 days a week, I'm lucky if I can last a 1/2 hour.  I tried running one lap of the track and shortly there after I started coughing. Throughout that night and that next day I was coughing up yellow phlegm.  I'm not sure what this means, but I really don't want to go to the doctors and waste my money.  They'll just give me some nose spray, inhalers and send me on my way.  If anyone can help please feel free to email me at tes_scott***@****   Thank you.  Good Luck Everyone!

[Tes1970]

I am frustrated also with the doctors.  They just refer you to ents, pulmonary specialists, there is so much that is truly unkown by the doctors. They give you medications that really don't seem to help.  It's just a guessing game. It's all in who you want to take your chances with. All of the symptoms lean towards  allergies and asthma, so it seems this may be why they can't determine the exact illness.  I have been suffering for the past two years with chronic phlegm build-up.  Some days are better that others.  I always seem to have lower back soreness and when I take a shower I have to hit my chest to make the phlegm come out.  I can't generate enough force during a cough to force the phlegm out.  When I brush my teeth in the morning I get sick because of so much phlegm throughout the night.  I feel like I don't get enough oxygen.  Since this occurred, I have gained about 15 lbs.  I just don't seem to have as much energy. I use to very active, working out 5 days a week, I'm lucky if I can last a 1/2 hour.  I tried running one lap of the track and shortly there after I started coughing. Throughout that night and that next day I was coughing up yellow phlegm.  I'm not sure what this means, but I really don't want to go to the doctors and waste my money.  They'll just give me some nose spray, inhalers and send me on my way.  If anyone can help please feel free to email me at tes_scott***@****   Thank you.  Good Luck Everyone!

[rellsper]

You might want to try surgery to open up your sinuses.  I had it done and it helped a little, but I still have problems.  It may help you more than me, who knows.  It is a very easy surgery.  There may be other surgery, I am going to find out.  An Ear Nose and Throat doctor should be able to help you out.

[phoenixia08]

A related discussion, Phlem in throat was started.

[karenh11]

A related discussion, hearing problem was started.