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Thick sticky mucus in my throat

Reposting ..hoping for some help

Hello .. I have been suffering from thick sticky mucus .. clear but sometimes white . Its hard to get rid .. wont move . So thick and very distressing .its really effecting my quality of life . I forever howking up to try and move it ..but however much I do so and manage to get up ..theres always a ball of it just stuck at the back of my throat . Sometimes I can grab it and drag it out from the back of my throat .. thick and stringy .. and could almost tie it in a knot . Gross eh :-(

Ive tried steam inhalation .. gargling .. drinking loads of water . . and still its the same . Had this problem about three years now . Is there anybody out there that help me please .

Thank you
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Avatar universal
Hello. I was suffering the same thing. My sorrow goes out to all who suffer from this. Its terrible, all the throat clearing, and sleep interuptions.
I have found something that works. For me.
First.
If you are smoking, NOTHING will work for you. Lungs put out mucus to protect themselves from any and all smoke.
If you don't stop, you will die a horrible death, and this mucus thing is one of the first symptoms.
If you cant stop, then good luck, cause this is the least of your problems, which will end in hospice.
Sorry for the bluntness.
Now, what has worked for me, a non smoker with symptoms of heavy mucus in my throat, that chokes me sometimes when I sleep. (A gross, disgusting, habitual, nightmare)
One, I bought, NAC N_Acetyl_cysteine 600 mg.
Next I bought, Guaifenesin extended release tabs 600 mg.
Next I take a nexium.
OMG! Taking  those things twice a day has done wonders and have relieved my symptoms by 80%!!!!
I am not a hysterical person, and I am very in touch with my body.
These things worked for me, and I feel much better.
In closing. If you smoke anything including pot, stop now, or deal with the mucus.
If you don't, please try these things I have explained. They are relatively cheap, mostly harmless, and the Worked for me!
Good luck everyone.

Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I hope this thread is still active.
I have had this issue for ~5 years. It is definitely taking its toll on quality of life. Mine is, as my ENT says, like rubber cement. I am not allergic to anything, diet changes are of no help, climate changes- 2 weeks at Oregon coast, 2 weeks in Hawaii, a week in the mountains: No help.
Has anyone else been diagnosed with Sjogrens Disease? A (mostly) Norwegian syndrome. Are you Norwegian?  Do you also have EXTREME fatigue, aches, pains, dry eyes & mouth, trigeminal neuropathy (sharp, shooting, short, repetitive pains in your head intermittently?
Would love to figure this out!
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1 Comments
Just reading this and odd you would mention the other symptoms.  I have the symptoms of Sjorgens but two biopsies were negative but I have read they can only be 40% accurate.  I have constant dry mouth and throat, lips always dry.  I have to drink something constantly or chew sugarless gum.  Yes, suffer joint pain and was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy in my feet.  I am very hoarse daily.  Get scoped by my ENT every 6 months.  Admittedly, I smoke but this is beyond a smoking issue.  I will,at times, have pain in my ear and my face.  Nobody has an answer.  I will tell you to take care of your teeth!!  I just had $12,000 of dental work done as gums were re ending and top teeth loose all from the dry mouth.  Ask your dentist for Prevident for dry mouth and use it daily.  Floss daily.  People with dry mouth cannot wear a regular denture.  
974371 tn?1424653129
Is this thread still active?  I have been suffering for years too. Always feel like there is something stuck up behind my nasal cavity. Spit up clear, jelly like crap. Always feel like something stuck in my throat. I also have very dry mouth and throat.  My voice is very hoarse and sometimes cannot soeak at all.  Seen a few ENT dictirs and get scoped every few months. Just told my vocal cords are irritated.  Embarrassed to even talk anymore.  Miserable 24/7.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Same here. I've been suffering for more than 10 years. Last year they removed my tonsils and it did not help. I went to the allergist and I am allergic to nothing. I'm miserable all day because I can't swallow because the mucous is so thick. Have you found any relief?
Sorry I have not followed this thread.  No, I have found no relief.  Been told my vocal cords are swollen.  ENT says it is post nasal drip. Pulmonologist said it is from my lungs.  So, no answers.  
Avatar universal
Hi. I discovered that I am allergic to concentrated orange juice or any concentrated drinks--slushes, snowcones bc the syrups come from concentrated juices.  also--cant have any chili pepper in anything. ill get a sore throat--on fire--then mucus starts up for days.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i believe, just by avoiding nuts and dairy products, we can get rid of this problem, going to try it
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I am suffering from the mucus problem too.  I know that I get it when I drink concentrated orange juices or slushes, or snowiness that have concentrated juices in it. Also, Sonic drinks with the concentrated added juices.  Chili powder in anything---will produce this mucus in me.  i first feel a burn in my throat then i know--oh great here it comes. Within 12 hours I have an extremely sore-on fire-throat, and then the mucus comes-out of nose and throat.This happens for days--
Avatar universal
Has anyone had success with introducing Lactobacillus sakei or other probiotics into their sinuses to re-balance the sinus flora?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have had and do still get some of these symptoms. A history of problems with my sinuses, migraine, suddenly overheating and sweating whilst feeling there was a problem with my stomach and ear, eustachian tube problems. I have found that GIVING UP WHEAT and gluten, certain other foods and,most importantly, any DAIRY has helped a lot of these symptoms considerably.
Dairy was the number one culprit of sore throat, sinus blockage and ear problems. They do come back occasionally, but it seemed like dairy would constantly inflame an old weakness. A lot of people can't take dairy beyond childhood, and don't even know it. Same with wheat. I did a food diary, there are phone apps too, boring but it helped, looking at anything I had eaten or drank 24 hrs before the problem. Gluten and dairy intolerant. Starting to get the symptoms under control a bit more. Also take very dilute apple cider vinegar as a gargle or tiny drink to clear the throat. Or a salty water gargle. Also found that eating sugary things starts it up again. I am now an egg eating vegetarian. Drink rice milk and almond milk. Don't touch cheese, found lots of replacement spreads, hummus, olive tapenade etc, You may also find the problem is food. Good luck.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Have had this for over 26 years. Affects quality of life badly. I've tried so many remedies, all band aids to underlying issue. Starting to think it's some sort of bacteria or virus causing it. Sinus gets inflamed and produce mucus. I started taking black seed oil, seem to help inflammation a bit. Hope we find a better cure.
Hi. I discovered that I am allergic to concentrated orange juice or any concentrated drinks--slushes, snowcones bc the syrups come from concentrated juices.  also--cant have any chili pepper in anything. ill get a sore throat--on fire--then mucus starts up for days.  
Avatar universal
I also have this scenario when I consume dairy. I've tried all different forms, raw dairy, pasturized dairy, just cheese, etc, etc, but regardless, when I stop eating all dairy, my symptoms slowly clear up. Before I realized the dairy connection, it' had gotten so bad that I'd had to take Mucinex round the clock for weeks at a time, and sometimes the area surrounding my eyeballs would swell up so bad that I'd lose part of my vision. That would usually happen after I would blow my nose or sneeze really hard. Once I realized that the dairy was causing my chronic sinusitus, I stopped eating all of it and resumed a steady consumption of Mucinex to dry it all up. After a month or two, most of it had come out, but I was still attempting to get the rest out, and it would slowly come out occasionally  in thick, gluey, sticky yellow globules of snot when I would blow my nose like 25 times in a row. Doctors will try to tell you that dairy does not cause mucus, but I've known many people to can attest, firsthand, to otherwise.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've  had the problem for a long time too and it feels like it gets into my left lung. Dr's say they don't  know what it is causing  this problem. You might want to check for SIBO and candida yeast in the gut. Also H-Pylori will cause these types of problems. COPD and emphysema cause these problems too. So check for these problems. Check gerd and esophageal reflux
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had this for years. Unfortunately for me the stuff eventually spread around the back of my neck and head causing degenerative disc disease. Ears are completely glued shut. 24-7 pain pressure and blockage all through skull neck and head. Docs are extremely unhelpful for this and what is actually is a serious infection... Sticky glue like mucous like this is Stenotrophomonas or Pseduomonas. These usually start in the lungs and spread up the esophagus and throat, into sinuses, and could eventually spread to neck/head and cranial. They are very difficult to treat and most docs/labs do not culture for these organisms. Usually they are picked up in hospitals. Bactrim and/or Cipro are the ones that could potentially work for these, but my experience is it will ultimately come back.  These are resistant organisms and usually deep infections. A little sinus swab is not going to show it, you need actual tissue needle biopsy. The stuff sticks into tissues and even blocks nerves thats why everyone on here fe. Thats why no on here gets better. For those claiming sticky glue like scant mucous like this is allergy related, you are wrong. That does not create mucous like this for 5 to 10 years ongoing. I have tried everything and even when i make some progress it comes back. Mainly because the stuff is lodged deep in bronchials and tissels like there head is going to explode and some are nauseous. But after seeing countless ENT's and culturing the stuff more than once positive for Stenotrophomonas they have only given me orals and refuse to give IV. Kind of difficult to treat a deep neck space infection with oral antibitoicsues in lungs and throat. My recommendation is to push for a deep needle biopsy culture in your sinuses or throat. But unless you find a smart doc they are not going to give you IV, just assume its not a big deal and give you orals at best.  Whatever the case, do not give up. One day our very ignorant med community will realize this is no joke and serious problem which is becoming more common. Lastly many mention Cystic Fibrosis on here.. and they are in fact correct in many ways because it is cystic fibrosis patients that have chronic pseudomonas and stenotrophomonas infections.  That is precisely who get this mostly and also people with other underlying diseases. Unfortunately for many on here.. we may be a small group that does not have cystic fibrosis but still managed to get this as a chronic infection.  It happens
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yes, I also discovered Oregano essential oils..as I started to incorporate Essential oils in my daily routine from wearing, ingesting and diffusing them all over my house, not only has it helped my mucus overload but my kiddos haven't been sick in over a year. My doctor bills have decreased immensely. The these have made my faily healthier and everyone wants that in their lives, I have witnessed the amazing things these oils can do. If you are interested in embracing wellness contact me at ***@****. You will be glad you did!!!! Good luck to you all and God Bless
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I have had this for years. Unfortunately for me the stuff eventually spread around the back of my neck and head causing degenerative disc disease. Ears are completely glued shut. 24-7 pain pressure and blockage all through skull neck and head. Docs are extremely unhelpful for this and what is actually is a serious infection... Sticky glue like mucous like this is Stenotrophomonas or Pseduomonas. These usually start in the lungs and spread up the esophagus and throat, into sinuses, and could eventually spread to neck/head and cranial. They are very difficult to treat and most docs/labs do not culture for these organisms. Usually they are picked up in hospitals. Bactrim and/or Cipro are the ones that could potentially work for these, but my experience is it will ultimately come back.  These are resistant organisms and usually deep infections. A little sinus swab is not going to show it, you need actual tissue needle biopsy. The stuff sticks into tissues and even blocks nerves thats why everyone on here fe. Thats why no on here gets better. For those claiming sticky glue like scant mucous like this is allergy related, you are wrong. That does not create mucous like this for 5 to 10 years ongoing. I have tried everything and even when i make some progress it comes back. Mainly because the stuff is lodged deep in bronchials and tissels like there head is going to explode and some are nauseous. But after seeing countless ENT's and culturing the stuff more than once positive for Stenotrophomonas they have only given me orals and refuse to give IV. Kind of difficult to treat a deep neck space infection with oral antibitoicsues in lungs and throat. My recommendation is to push for a deep needle biopsy culture in your sinuses or throat. But unless you find a smart doc they are not going to give you IV, just assume its not a big deal and give you orals at best.  Whatever the case, do not give up. One day our very ignorant med community will realize this is no joke and serious problem which is becoming more common. Lastly many mention Cystic Fibrosis on here.. and they are in fact correct in many ways because it is cystic fibrosis patients that have chronic pseudomonas and stenotrophomonas infections.  That is precisely who get this mostly and also people with other underlying diseases. Unfortunately for many on here.. we may be a small group that does not have cystic fibrosis but still managed to get this as a chronic infection.  It happens
Avatar universal
I actually thought of cystic fibrosis. Maybe you're right and it's some new form. I'm tired of always coughing and blowing my nose and trying to unclog my ears.I honestly had no idea so many people have this problem until I typed in Thick, sticky mucus..and found this site.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Im so glad you said this, my sister had cystic fibrosis and so i know the symtoms first hand,i also suffer from thick sticky mucus that makes me so sick in the mornings and nothing shifts it, i sound like my sister did when she was coughing..i totally believe that there are weaker strains of cf and that i show them, i know in America they are looking into this!!!
Avatar universal
After jaw surgery, I had a breathing tube that got clogged with white,sticky mucus. The post op nurse said she'd never seen that happen before. Years later, I still have problems. I always feel like I have snot hanging down my throat. I'm always trying to cough it up. In the morning, I'm getting stuff out of my throat for half an hour. Sometimes it gets so bad that it stops food from going down. I have had a barium swallow that showed nothing.
Hot'steamy showers do little to help. I have to drink a lot of liquids to keep everything moving. However, I am now trying to get over a cold but the phlegm has been significant for about three weeks. Everyone who got this cold after me, are fine now but I'm still coughing up phlegm with no end in sight.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi. I discovered that I am allergic to concentrated orange juice or any concentrated drinks--slushes, snowcones bc the syrups come from concentrated juices.  also--cant have any chili pepper in anything. ill get a sore throat--on fire--then mucus starts up for days.  
Avatar universal
I have been having some problem with this mucus thing I hock a loogy spit it out but stuck in my I try to get have to put some of the loogy out but turn into a stringy and evaporate at the touch and has cause me some vertigo has it cause people vertigo and fever sweats
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Unfortunatley there is no known cure.i have it for three years.you will have to adapt.this is the true.i have seen at least 20 doctors and made 100 tests.Nothing...The nasal douche is working but only for a few hours or so.keep in mind that if you do not have lpr or allergies there can be Lsn(laryngeal sensorial neuropathy).Have you noticed if you have or feel worse with the mucus of you are stressed or nervous?if so you might try a combination a B vitamins with Potasium.This can work after few weeks calming down the laryngeal nerves and you will no feel them all the time.Good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Drink ginger root in warm water with honey..its helped me, and camomille for nausia
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have the same thing. Mine is definitely allergy related. Corticosteroid nasal spray helps a lot. You just have to use it religiously every day. One spray doesn't do anything, but after a week you can tell the difference. It could be anything, bad air quality, animals,  perfumes, food, dust mites, mold etc..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Picked this up about 16 months ago on a flight from Calif to Pennsylvania.  Started with a cold-makes breathing difficult at times.  Currently take 1/2 a 75 mg zantac twice a day and two benadryl at bedtime.  Oddly enough, the problem disappears when I get on an airplane.  Cleared up in New Orleans this April, St. Croix in July, and Los Angeles this month.  As soon as I get off the plane in Philly it starts back up.  AND, it got worse in Dublin.  Could it be somehow/some way associated with humidity (although New Orleans is humid, it wasn't that bad in April and St. Croix was extremely dry this summer)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Only piece of peer reviewed medico-scientific evidence for treatment of severe idiopathic refractory non-allergic rhinitis (which is what we all seem to have) that Ive found.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010591.pub2/abstract;jsessionid=E3CFFA5C6532F0F66DE9CE077891D5B1.f01t03

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been up all night I ate 2 piece of strawberry cream cheese cake
Phlegm like you wouldn't believe ..Used 2 boxes of Cleanex.Tissues.I have had phlegm for 2 year now  .,after I had pneumonia .No more cheese for me from now on .as soon as I drink a mouthful of water it starts .
I am now drinking ..Night time total Extra strength lemon drink ...for Nasal congestion. Took 2 vit.E.and 1 vit C Got to get some sleep..Read on computer How to Reduce Phlegm...It took me here to these comments.I didn't realized that lots of people had this problem ! !
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ahhhh no one tell me about this, my stomach get full of air from swallowing nothing, i tried all kind of meds nth happened, only one thing i know  that once i travel outside where i live within 24hrs it disappear really
Helpful - 0
13512104 tn?1430274030
do you use fresh oregano and how do you get it in the saline solution.  I use the neti pot and put the salt packet and some baking soda a pinch. do you just put some oregano in" my sister lives in france and her pharmacist mentioned oil of oregano which I have not found.  I have extreme secretions all day since jan 2013. finally they may do deviated septum surgery for it pockets by left nose and is never gone enough to eat . I eat very little bits and on a feeding peg to survive.  so if oregano helps pls tell me how.  I am going to try other things.  polarity massage. and more homepathetic.  I think the holistic ideas are better than any ent
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have also had this problem for the past two years but it didnt last. There is no real cure for this. All I had to do is to stay away from junk foods, cofee and smoking for two weeks. Keep a bottle of water with you all the time and sip almost every five minutes and stay away from chilled beverages. Also reduce your sugar intake. Make sure the first thing you do in the morning is to brush your teeth and do same before you go to sleep.  This situation can really make life miserable and very unconfortable, sometimes you even find it annoying when peoplentalk to you but one interestinly one of the quickerst ways to get tue phlems out of your throat is but talking a lot at least withing 10 mins. Good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
To all of you who are suffering from phlegm issues...

I know of a physician who has a fantastic understanding of this. All of the symptoms I am seeing on this thread can be traced back to a blocked lymphatic system. Unlike most doctors who focus on treating symptoms, Dr Robert Morse (a biochemist, naturopath, master herbalist with over 40 years of experience healing advanced cancers and other degenerative diseases) focuses on the root cause of dis-ease and can empower you to get your health back. (He has done this for me and thousands of others!) I recommend starting by viewing his intro video, entitled "The Great Lymphatic System."  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScxGrOB1z80

My heart goes out to all of you who are suffering, and I hope you will check this out, as I know you will find the answers that have eluded you for so long. Health and blessings to you all! Amanda
Helpful - 0
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