Excessive Mucus, Shortness of Breath

[MarloLC]

I have been diagnosed with asthma, however the typical asthma treatments don't seem to help me. I have been to so many doctors including herbal doctors, and no one seems to have any answers.  I usually am clearing my throat all day and have had to start taking Mucinex on a daily basis to keep the mucus somewhat under control. I can't ever seem to get anything up when I clear my throat. I have also noticed in the past year that when I start to have an asthma attack (or at least what I think is asthma, I'm still questioning these attacks), my stomach will get nautious and I get extremely fatigued. I notice that during these attacks, the mucus won't move around.  It seems to just get thicker, and no matter what I do I can't get anything to come up. My attacks usually last about 3 - 4 hours.  When the mucus starts to finally move around, then I gradually start getting better. Because I have been to so many doctors and their treatments don't help me, they start looking for other alternative answers such as panic attacks. My question always is - explain the mucus then! Why does the mucus change when I get into these attacks? Why does the mucus change again and start to move again when the breathing attacks start to cease?  There does't seem to be a pattern either. I get these attacks at any time of year. Sometimes they last off and on for months, and then I can go months without them. It almost ALWAYS happens at night when I lie down to go to bed. I can usually tell when I'm going to have a breathing/mucus attack in the evening or early afternoon.Lead me in the right direction!

[likeadoc]

A related discussion, A bit more info was started.

[sandy613]

A related discussion, my problem too was started.

[siemaskoa]

A related discussion, shortness of breath was started.

[valj1433]

I cannot believe I am reading all these posts - I was beginning to think I was nuts - I've always had sinus, allergies, allegedly asthma - problems sometimes really awful bouts of it - but it's been relatively under control. -until 2 years ago when I started to feel like my inhaler wasn't working anymore and I was becoming increasingly short of breath and and a throat full of mucous almost always..having to spit excess up often,  coughing literally until I threw up (sorry bout that) - changed inhalers, had nebulizer treatments - my family doc kept saying my lungs were clear and I kept telling him I couldn't breath it felt like my throat was plugged shut... after he prescribed xanax for me (because he felt It was my imagination) i guess, I tried 6 other docs - I have been on everything from 4000 mg. of amoxil a day (yes I said 4000), nebulizer with cromylin, cortisone and some other form of albuterol, all of which fried my throat and I couldn't talk for 6 weeks, the only thing that seemed to relieve it was oral cortisone - when I was on it I felt relatively normal - I've been to an allergist and had all the tests again and she got mad because I wasn't getting better, my ENT gave me the prednisone and I even had an endoscopy to rule out reflux - and had what they call Schatzke's ring which was stretched - but only a slight inflammation of my airway.. ANYWAY  - this has gone on for two years and I became seriously ill in Aug. 2005. I was in the hospital for four days and some of my treatment was heavy duty doses of steroids - when I was released from the hospital the problem seemed to be gone.. honestly gone - for 6 months I didn't eve touch my inhaler and I thought I was over it - until about March when the mucous thing started again - it is gradually building up to the point of where I am short of breath and hacking up mucous constantly as well as coughing even when I'm trying to speak with somebody.. i'm doing sudafed which helps marginally but singular makes me cough until I can't stand it, allegra helps some but it seems like there's even more mucous with it - I carry a bottle of cough medicine with me constantly as well as my inhalers which open me up some but make me cough more and I can tell you it's depressing to read some of you guys have been going through this for more than 6 years....and I feel bad for ya, but . I'm glad to know I'm not alone.. and then again.. I'm not so glad to know  nobody seems to be able to figure this thing out.
I hope we all feel better soon.

[breathing]

I just want to suggest reading about hyperventilation syndrome (HVS).  It might not make sense at first, but I have been having excess mucous and chest tightness for a year or so and now everything makes sense to me.  My doctor thought possibly asthma, and the inhaler opened up my lungs, but my throat was still clogged.  I had basically no other symptoms and today I googled "chest tightness, no other symptoms" and found that thread in this forum.  Within a day everything makes sense.  You can chronically hyperventilate without knowing it, and it can cause asthma-like symptoms such as I was experiencing.  I was using Mucinex too.  But asthma treatment including steroids didn't work and also didn't explain tingly arms and lightheadness.  And the mucinex didn't feel right.  With HVS, you basically breathe with just the top part of your chest and it causes all sorts of potentially spiraling problems.  I started trying to belly breathe more today and the mucous started coming out.  Check it out.  Good luck to all of you.

[B Brill]

Hello,

I have had a similar condition and have had it for 6+ years. Mornings and various times throughout the day, I have what appears to be a thick light-yellow mucous "string" that sticks to the back of my throat.  I can feel it when I swallow and it does not move.  It looks like a pasta noodle. In 2001, I was trying to clear my throat so vigorously that I literally injured my throat and it felt like I had lacerations down my throat.  It became so painful that I was not even able to swallow my own saliva secretions or the thick mucous.  Eating or drinking was painful.  Warm water was the easiest thing to consume.  Eventually, an infection developed in my throat and I was placed on an antibiotic and a steroid.  This happened three times followed by a severe rebound & recurrance each time.  Finally, my ENT placed me in the hospital for IV antibiotics and steroids and the infection and injury resolved.  I was in for three days.  

I still get the problem of the post-nasal mucous, but instead of clearing my throat, I reach into my throat with a hemastat (scissor-like instrument with a blunt end that functions like a big pair of tweezers) and pull out the mucous "string/pasta noodle."  This has become a part of my morning routine and I don't injure my throat by clearing so vigorously or "hacking."  I have learned to not gag on this procedure.  When I remove the thick mucous, the discomfort goes away almost immediately.  I just wish there was something that I could do to treat the problem.  I have tried antihistamines, ibuprofen, tylenol, and had a complete round of allergy testing (results negative - no allergies).  I am a healthy female in my thirties and I enjoy keeping physically fit by running and biking.  I just don't understand why I have to put up with this condition chronically!