this doesnt sound that serious but i could really use help

[dave2]

i have flem (phlegm) stuck in the back of my throat, no matter what i do i cant get it out, i get to the point were i throw up and its still stuck in there now my throat is painfully sore and i still have flem (phlegm) thats ready to come out but just wont, i cant swallow it either, is there anyway i can get ride of this flem (phlegm)???, the longer its in there the more it hurts

[National Jewish]

A common cause of phlegm in the throat is postnasal drip. This is drainage from the nose and sinuses dripping down the back of the throat.  There could be several reasons for this drainage.  One reason is an allergy.  A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold.  A third reason is chronic sinusitis.   You may experience the postnasal drip as a constant feeling of mucus at the back of your throat.  Typically this is worse at night when you lay down to sleep.  Generally this irritation feels the worst when you wake up and gets better as the day goes on.  The mucus may "sit" there, especially when it is thick, and become dark in color and really smell bad.  It may not move with coughing or snorting.  The fat content in dairy products can thicken mucus.  Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful.  Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the mucus so that it moves more easily.  As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily.  Clearing your throat can irritate your throat and make it sore.  When you feel the need to clear your throat sip some water to clear the mucus.  An antihistamine, like the Clarinex® (loratadine), can dry up the postnasal drip.  However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move.  A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and decrease the swelling so it drains easier.  A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both.  Check with your doctor to see if Claritin-D® (loratadine/pseudoephedrine), a combination antihistamine-decongestant, would help you more.  Often an antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad.  It may be more helpful to take the antihistamine and decongestant on a regular basis.  Another treatment that may be helpful is a mucous clearance device.  They are simple to use and produce a cough, which will clear the mucous.  The two devices that are used at National Jewish for mucus clearance are the Flutter Valve and the Acapella.  There may be other good devices, but they are not being used here.  A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses.  This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and lessen breathing difficulty.  A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses.  This may prevent the postnasal drip.  To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash.  A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms.  It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective.  Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering you.  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

[Ellis7]

Another possibility is GERD [gastro reflux] See:
http://www.aboutgerd.org/characteristics.html
Excerpt:
"Chronic heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD. Acid regurgitation (refluxed material into the mouth) is another common symptom. But numerous less common symptoms other than
heartburn may be associated with GERD. These may include:
*Belching
*Difficulty or pain when swallowing
*Waterbrash (sudden excess of saliva)
*Dysphagia (the sensation of food sticking in the esophagus)
*Chronic sore throat
*Laryngitis
*Inflammation of the gums
*Erosion of the enamel of the teeth
*Chronic irritation in the throat
*Hoarseness in the morning
*A sour taste
*Bad breath "