excessive thick mucus in vocal chords

[bowerpower]

I have tried everything it seems for several years to get rid of this thick mucus that comes and goes in my vocal chords. I went to an ENT again and they went down my throat with a camera and were able to show me on film the thick stringy mucus in my vocal chords. Both ENT's said they thought it was acid reflux and so I have been on Prilosec for 3 weeks now(also called omeprazole-20 mg) and yet no change yet(I have had  hardly any symptoms of acid reflux, but just recently have had little burps of gas come up from time to time but very infrequent).
    Is there anything you can take just to get the thick mucus in your vocal chords  dissolved so you can speak.  I am a professional actor and am desperate. Anybody have any luck with solving the basic problem of the mucus in the vocal chords or have any idea once it is in the vocal chords how to get immediate relief from it.  It is so discouraging that I cannot to date find a doctor who can help this problem. It seems someone should have an answer. Thanks for any help you can give me. PS  I cannot sing anymore with this problem which is devastating to me and of course has hindered my acting career(musical theatre).

[efbeyer]

You had mentioned not drinking milk as it was an issue but missed it with cereal.  I eat cereal using vanilla soy milk and it tasted great.  Maybe you could try it also.  Good luck.  :-)

[Nojo1]

I'm an actor who's "suffered" from the same problem. The phlegm became a nuisance and also undermined my speaking confidence, thereby creating an additional challenge. I "suffered" for years. Here's what helped immensely, some of which is stated in above threads.
1) CUT THE COFFEE, AND THE MILK THAT GOES WITH IT. I substituted with green tea, which has caffeine, but not the same kind as coffee. I add 1/4 teaspoon of organic honey.
2) Speaking of milk, try cutting as much dairy, and the foods that go with them, as possible. I've been drinking almond milk instead, especially with cereal.
3) Speaking of cereal, try gluten free. I'm not allergic to gluten but buying g-free cereal, bread, pasta and snacks has, I think, had a benefit.
4) Eliminate chocolate, thereby getting rid of the "bad" kind of caffeine and milk products.
5) I've read bananas (which I love) and other starchy veggies and foods create mucus.
6) General diet no-no's: Soda; pizza; greasy burgers and fries, fast-foods, junk foods, Mexican or Italian or anything with too much cheese and grease.
7) Use Olive Oil when cooking.
8) Hydrate with water.
9) THIS IS ANOTHER HARD ONE: Stop clearing your throat when you feel the phlegm. Drink sips of warm water instead. The nervous system is a delicate things. After all these years of clearing my throat constantly, I not only damaged my chords, but TRAINED my larynx to regard constant throat clearing as a normal function. We have to retrain our nervous system to NOT clear.
10) Other helpful items: unfiltered organic apples cider (really tart, add a tablespoon with half-glass warm water; sip)  air purifier; foods and vitamins with omega fatty acids like FRESH fish .  
11) I cleanse my nasal cavity only when I have mucus buildup with Arm & Hammer Saline Nasal Spray which you can get OTC.
12) Find a vocal coach (speaking or singing) who understands the problem and take some more lessons. And remember not to clear your throat from phlegm and to sip water instead. This is the part that takes the most time.

[Lilgems]

Do you drink soya milk by any chance? I've switched back to dairy from soya and my voice seems to have improved although it's early days.  Saying this I've read that other people find soya better than dairy.

[Margot49]

I have probably posted here in the past but ended up here again doing a Google search, yet again, because I am miserable!  I am having such a pribkem with chronic dry mouth and throat, hacking up, or trying to hack up, thick mucus.  I am very hoarse and some days can barely talk.  Cannot sing at all, which is very depressing. Cannot count the number of doctors I have seen, even one at Stanford.  I was told my vocal cords are inflammed and could possibky try laser surgery.  I do take meds, Gabapentin being one, actually for GI issues. I have seen that it can cause hoarseness. Mentioned it to the GI doctor at Stanford but she said she had never heard of that and kind of dismissed it.  This is not a med I can just stop taking.  This is horrible and I can't get any answers.  I have been tested for Sjorgens and had two biopsies that were negative.  Unfortunately, I am a smoker but this is beyond the effects from smoking.

[JFreckles]

I have had a sinus infection going on 3 weeks after being exposed to a good dose of moldy clothes.  I have just finished round number 2 of very strong antibiotics due to the severity of the sinus infection. One of the sinus cavities was completely occluded.   I've had the same mucus on vocal cords you all are talking about.  It started out green along with my sinus drainage being green (before antibiotics) but is now just clear to white.  It is thick and sticky.  I clear my throat continually.  I finished my last antibiotic and prednisone steroid just yesterday.  Today, i have a sinus headache and sore neck.  I am afraid that my sinus infection isn't gone. I suspect that it is fungal and that is why the mucus is continually on my vocal cords.  Antibiotics don't kill fungus but doctors said most  people with normal immunities shouldn't have any problems with this.  I had this happen years ago but not to this severity.  It took months (almost up to a year) for the feeling of something in my throat and constantly getting mucus up from my vocal cords to eventually clear up.  But I had to get air purifiers with hepa filters for a clean environment to help keep irritation down on my vocal cords.   Has any of your ENT's said you could possibly have a fungal infection in your sinuses? It does seem like an ongoing sinus probelm.  you really need a CT scan of sinuses to see the infection.  and to verify it, they have to get a sample of it.  mine is in a spot they cannot reach without surgery.  so, I will see how I do for the next few days and go from there.    I have my air purifiers running, which does help.  But I am dismayed that I still have the feeling of something in my throat all the time.  I love to sing at church also, but I cannot sing now as it is.  I hope you all are healed of this horrible condition.  I will try the robitussin and the vitamins. If I continue to feel badly, I guess I will go to an ENT.  If anything helps, I will update this post.  thanks!

[JFreckles]

oh, (to add to my comment above) and  I've been using the neti pot daily but it doesn't relieve the mucus on the vocal cords.  but it does help with the mucus in my sinuses.  

[rubato1]

Wow. You sound like me. I'm a singer...have been singing all my life. I'm a church worship director. I accompany myself on piano. The combination of the two has been my life. For the past three or four years..my voice has gone down the tubes. I came back to the south..where there's lots of humidity etc. and I feel like it's maybe allergies. But. The way you described it is so simlar to my problem. I'll try to place a note, vocally...like maybe an interval such as a 6th...and it sounds awful. Strange vibrating...like I'm singing through liquid...and can't match the pitch!! I've sung all my life!! I've made a living singing and playing. I also feel the congestion in my head...all the time. It's in my ears and between my ears. I sing while I'm leading others...and that's not as bad..because I'm not by myself. But. Singing solos has become a NIGHTMARE for me. I need to sing something tomorrow morning. A song that needs to be in the service..and I have no one else to do it. I'm stewing and worrying about whether I should try to open my mouth and attempt it. I'm going to pray...There are times when I say, "wow...I kind of sound like I used to" ....but I never know when those times are going to come. UGGGHHH.