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Thick Mucous in the Throat

Dear Andryrox,
   So you don't feel alone, I am a 54 year old female that has the exact same mucous in the throat problem.  My doctor sent me to National Jewish Hospital for 10 days in 2001 to try to find out what the caues was.  It is seven years later and I still have the problem!  Allergy testing revealed some allergic causes, but not a total cure.  The violent problem is still here and this month, July 2008, I almost choked to death because of it.  This is a serious problem and I am praying that God reveals the source.  I have had this problem since 1995 and no doctor has an answer.  I tried everything that National Jewish has suggested to you and it has not solved the problem.  My medical bills have been 10,000 a year for 12 years because of it.  I hope a cure is found soon.  God bless.  Colleen/Costa Mesa, California



Excessive Thick Mucous in Throat-- HELP!!!
by andyrox

Member since Dec 2004  



, Dec 27, 2004 12:00AM
Tags: mucous, respiratory, airways, mucus
I am a 32 yo femaleCondoms
Female condoms
Female sexual dysfunction. Have had these symptoms on and off for the last several years, but this year they are have incresed and presistent. I have a feeling of thick sticky mucous in my throatCancer - throat or larynx
Throat swab culture that wont move up or down. When by a miracle I CAN get something up, it is clearClear by design
The abundance is cyclical througout the day- some times worse than others. Seems to be worse when I eat (anything) and also when I cry or yell. I feel like I constantly have to clearClear by design
Sometimes it feels the mucous is sitting on my gag reflexBabinski's reflex
Urge incontinence and It gags me. Sometimes the sensation of the phlegm makes me so nervousAged nervous tissue
I fear it will block my esophogus and I cant get it up or down. I already drink 3 quarts of water a day and nothing works.   I do NOT have any noteworthy nasalAllergic rhinitis
no runny noseNose fracture or congestion, no chestAcne, cystic on the chest
no series congestion and no coughCough This all leadsLead poisoning me to believe its not sinus
I feel like i am losing my mind. Its affecting my quality of life. Any advice would be helpful. And some reassurance that the mucous wont block my esophogus? Any ideas what this annoyance could be??? Thank you



Doctor's Answer

by National Jewish


  
National Jewish  
Female
Member since Sep 2001  



, Jan 02, 2005 12:00AM
This is a fairly commonCommon cold problem with people who are experiencing post nasalAllergic rhinitis
This can be from an allergicAllergic conjunctivitis
When this phlegm is thick it can feel stringy and stick to the walls of your throatCancer - throat or larynx
It can be difficult to move this phlegm by swallowing.  Thinning this phlegm will help it to move easier.  As long as you are not on a fluid restriction, drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses, about 2.5 quarts, of non-caffeineCaffeine
Caffeine-ergotamine fluid each day will keep this phlegm thin. It sounds like you already have a good water intake!  Another option to discuss with your doctor is trying a medicine that thins phlegm such as guaifenesinGuaifenesin
Please read our NasalAllergic rhinitis
steroid spray decreases mucus production by decreasing the inflammationAnemia of chronic disease
This may prevent the postnasal drip.  A nasalAllergic rhinitis
Nasal polyps steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms.  It may need to be used every day for several weeks to months for it to help.  Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, a decongestant, and the nasalAllergic followed by the AtroventAtrovent
steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the postnasal drip from bothering you.  It is possible for a nasalAllergic rhinitis
steroid spray, like BeconaseBeconase aq� (beclomethasoneBeclomethasone
To prevent this possible side affect direct the spray away from the center of your noseNose fracture.  You might try an antihistamine preparation or an inhaled nasalAllergic rhinitis
This problem could be coming from your upper airways (even though you are not aware of any nasalAllergic rhinitis
or possibly from your lower airways.  It is possible that this is due to an allergicAllergic conjunctivitis
It is also possible that this has nothing to do with allergyAllergic rhinitis
If your symptoms persist, seeing a Board Certified Allergist is where you should start the evaluation. It is uncommon for this mucous in the upper airway to actually block it and be dangerous


This discussion is related to Excessive Thick Mucous in Throat-- HELP!!!.
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Avatar universal
It may be uncommon, but it exists, and in my case is life-threatening.  Even the slightest exposure to fumes from vulcanized rubber or asphalt paving (I don't know if the same chemical is involved) cause the mucus in my throat to instantly thicken into a clear, stretchy, latex-like .product that adheres to my airways and can't be coughed up.  

Doctors don't believe me when I describe my experiences, but independent research has led me to articles on "Airway Mucous Function Disorder".  So this sort of sudden chemical alteration of normal mucous secretions is known, and is often seen in autopsies of diseased asthmatics.  However, I don't personally exhibit other symptoms of asthma.

I've taken to drinking a lot of water, and using mucous-thinning OTC products (tablets and liquid) containing guanifensin  (Robitussin for eg).  I also keep close a face mask rated for organic vapours, but the reality is I can't get it on quickly enough when I encounter road works involving paving.  It's extremely frightening, and I feel as though I am playing a game of Russian Roulette each time I leave the house.

Best of Luck to you.  You're not alone, and I suspect our numbers are growing...

Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Please use lots of hot chillies green ones or red in some soup and food. Or hold a hot green chillie in your mouth bite it and breathe in its hot affect into lungs for few minutes your blockages will clear immediately..your lungs will cough throw out mucus and all that. Just do it every 2 to 3 hours in beginning.
Avatar universal
I can't believe doctors are that stupid to constantly tell us that it is from A COLD AND POSTNASAL DRIP!  What part of YOU'RE WRONG...do they not understand??  It has nothing to do with a cold!!
I am trying the MEDROL PAK 4mg for 6 days and after 2 days it seems to have eased my constant clearing of my throat.  Doctors don't seem to care how long you have endured this.  They never suggest anything except WATER.  Too much water is NOT a good thing either and if you're small in frame, it can be awful to be told to drink quarts and quarts of water a day!  The doctors either know what will help us and don't take the time to do their research in that BIG BOOK they have to look it up, or they are non caring towards their patients.  Do constantly give the 'it's post nasal drip/sinus/allergy and cold" is a total cop-out and shows their true 'colors' as to the care of their patients.  Inexcusable! Surely there is something that will relieve or cure this 'common' condition!  Give us hope and some meds or herbals to look forward to.  
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi. I cane to this website today Sep30th 2018 just to read up and get to know facts first hand by those suffering from various breathing problems. PEOPLE PLEASE ! Do this its centuries old thing people do and relieved and cures by nature lungs and much more. SPICE UP your foods. Eat lots of hot food with green chillies and even red chillies . Red chillies must be cooked. Green can be eaten raw uncooked. The hotness from chillies steams up inside and loosens mucus , phelgum and airways and also kills bad bacteria. THIS is also proven scientific fact. No chemicals no allergic life threatening reactions and great fast recovery. You can add chillies to any drink food soup sakad even on your choclate if you want. Or bite one and keep it in mouth and breathe in its hot fumes straight to lungs..This works the chillies for anyone 100%. I am allergic to all life saving meds and also have bo medical insurance or financial ability. Could not see a doctor but twice since 1987 . Please trust this fact i told you. I have seen at least two people who are on oxygen 24 hours and one of them tried the green chillies breathing in while biting it and in soups and in 2 days this man came back at the workshop to tell me its magical and his lungs can do without oxygen an hour after he takes chillies. And he had just started it couple of days ago. I got diagnosed late with copd emphysema and much worse i cannot afford oxygen or meds and i had been eating hot foods all my life which helped me but now i spice it up much more and i have no mucus or phelgum and my oxymeter shows above 97% mostly and 93 to 95 when i am not doing good. Please try HOT foods with chillies. They also fight kill cancer. Use fresh garlic to bite and breathe in lings. Its the best anyibiotic. I bet my life on these daily for at least 6 years now. My prayers for all who are suffering. imran raja
Avatar universal
I have the same problem, feel like I am constantly clearing my throat. The mucus is thick, stringy, and white - stretches like gum. I feel like I'm chocking. I also have the whopping type cough, probably my bodies way of trying to clear the mucus. I have found drinking warm water with 1/2 a lemon squeezed into it in the mornings provides some relief. I almost ended up with sinus surgury but the day of the surgery the MD cancelled stating it would just be a big mess because my sinuses were full - glad that didn't happen. It's embarrasing to be hacking all the time to clear my throat so I can breathe.
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