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).

[missussim]

I suffer from the same problem which started about three months ago.. i havent been able to shift it..i used to suffer colds and flues but the voice would never be affected that way...this is the first time and its scary to say the least, as Im not sure what to do...i have put off by attending ENTs after reading people's experiences above..but i do follow mom's advice of drinking/sipping water, drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice with a pinch of salt and eating a raw garlic clove, the best natural antibiotic remedy in the world! i am also going to care more for my voice and not abuse by raising it to more than is needed...good luck all..

[Sugarmama1964]

Ok, I have been dealing with this issue for the past two years, and I have gone to ENT, ENT, ENT until I got sick of giving my money.  Test after test trying to resolve this vocal and drainage issue.  Ok, our vocal doesn't like mucus, but it's having the time of its life clogging my vocal chords.  I haven't been able to carry a note since this happened and all the ENT's I've seen, it's nothing we can do...you suffer with sinuses all year round, yes since 1968.

Well, good news thanks to a beautiful lady I know, she's no medical person, strictly banking...she says, ask your doc if he can give you a solution to rinse your nose like you would gargle your throat (saline rinse, harmless). I said, make sense.  Also, purchase a nasal spray to clear your sinuses and sleep upright for two weeks to prevent drainage in my throat...ill be damn, it worked!  

I still do this today, now I can hit a note.

I hope it works for u.

[Irshu]

take care of your throat as you would take care of your loved ones.

I'm still using netipot every morning. You can find it in any Watsons or Guardian pharmacies. If you run out of sachets, use table salt together with baking soda as a saline solution.

[Irshu]

I'm suffering from the same problem. For me, Aircon is the villain. If i sleep with the aircon, mucus will dry up on my throat that i have to make extra effort to be able to speak. So i consulted an Respiratory specialist, she gave me a nasal spray and a netipot. This soothes and flush out the mucus to a great extend.

A month later, i consulted an ENT specialist, she did an endoscopy scanning and found, that my throat was quite dry. She asked me to keep the aircon at 25 degrees, drink lots of water and avoid spicy food, dried food, milk and sugar; anything that triggers mucus.

Its been 2 months, i still have the problem. But if i go through a mucus free diet and an aircon free life, my throat feels much better!!!

But if i break the lifestyle, the problem comes back.

Keep drinking plenty of water, don't let the throat dry out, pineapple juice is a good alternative, it will lube your throat, a lot of musicians drink pineapple juice to lube the throat, it gives them a clear horase free voice.

Also keep your living space hygienic and dust free. Always wash your hands.

I hope someone finds these tips helpful,
I wish you all the best with your recovery.

[kr708]

Gargle with very salty water, as warm as you can handle, 3-4 times deeply. It will help with immediate relief, and clean out the vocal cords for a day or so. I had a vocal cord infection (and a 100-102 degree fever) for over 2 weeks before the doctor had to give me a 10 day steroid dose, all at once, to prevent the infection from spreading down my lungs. I did this method a lot, I was desperate to keep my speaking voice in tack, and hopeful for my singing. I have some slight damage and reoccourance, but nothing major. Honey, lemon, whiskey (as bad as that sounds), and peppermint tea help as well, but I know the struggle of trying more natural methods. I hope this helped!

[Texsaninsa]

I have suffered from Chronic PND since 2010. It started slow, first affecting me only after I ate. Then increased to hacking, snorting, coughing all the time. Working with people around was difficult. I tried to suppress it for periods of time by using cough drops, nose sprays, and medications. I finally went to a doctor who sent me to an ENT. I was tested for allergies, scoped, given sprays, medications, saline to flush. Tried new experimental medication flushes. Nothing worked. Finally the doctor recommended surgery. I was desperate and had Tradition sinus surgery. This was about 65 percent effective. It helped me have some control by reducing the amount of phlegm that was being produced. I was able to not hack and snort as much. But still it affects me.  When I lay down it seems to subside, when I wake it takes a while to clear my throat and sinuses.  It seems to always increase with stress. No Answers yet still looking.