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Severe throat mucus - Hard to breath - Help, please!

For the last few weeks, I have felt very congested in my nose and throat. A lot of mucus has been present, but in my nose, it has been hard to get out, as of lately. And when I do try to blow my nose to get it out, it feels like the strong air is causing irritating pain throughout the passageways. When the mucus does come out of my nose, it comes out in heaping globs of thick/gluelike/sticky/stretchable clear or cloudy whiteness. I sometimes feel as though I have large amounts of this thick mucus in my nose, yet it is very difficult to pass, causing some pain from the harsh blowing.
My throat has been even more of a problem. The mucus rarely comes out, but has at times, in the heaps that it does from my nose, yet it feels as though there is constant blockage in my throat. I often feel a need to spit constantly and sometimes am practically drooling, as well. The mucus in my throat is constantly there, and I am very often sticking my finger in my throat to grab globs of it. I keep pulling out the mucus, but there is always more there! The mucus is often clear, sometimes white/cloudy in spots and quite sticky. It is usually thinner than the nasal mucus, but it is even more irritating... It very often feels as though I cannot breathe and that I am choking! This has caused me a tremendous amount of anxiety. Can someone reassure me that it is impossible to choke or not breathe due to mucus in one's throat? This has caused me to nearly have a panic attack on more than one occasion, as this has been a constant problem for nearly a month!
What is likely causing this build up of mucus? And what can I do to recover from this?
I went to my general physician when I had it a few days, and she said that it was likely due to a virus. That was a few weeks ago. I went again today, and she prescribed my an antibiotic. Will the antibiotic help me recover from this? I heard that viruses have to clear on their own, but since she prescribed me an antibiotic (amoxicillin/amoxacillin), I'm not sure that is what I have.
Also, I heard that drinking liquids - especially hot liquids, according to my doctor - help to clear the mucus, but I find it hard to even eat or drink sometimes! I feel like it is nearly impossible to swallow often and that the food just gets stuck in my throat. I even nearly choked on water the other day! However, with all the spitting out I've been doing, I am getting awfully dehydrated at times. Do you have any food or drink suggestions?
I have been drinking gatorade often, for the potassium (and calories when I can barely eat). Do you think that's a good choice?
Any other comments, suggestions, or advice would be tremendously appreciated. Thank you!
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Avatar universal
I've got it too and i'm only 17. Its getting worse, It keeps me up at night and the meds my doctor gave me at the start of the year never worked. I'm having breathing problems right now as i am typing this and have to use my mouth to breathe. The mucus won't budge either and i've tried everything. I'm actually considering going to the ER right now.
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I have had this for 5 weeks! It started off as bronchitis and that wasn't as bad even though I was coughing constantly - by week 3 the bronchitis cleared up but the mucus in my nidd and thrust was worse - at least once or twice a day I cannot breathe for 10/15 seconds and panic and anxiety develops! My 13 year old is now also doing through it and it is scary
Avatar universal
I've got it too and i'm only 17. Its getting worse, It keeps me up at night and the meds my doctor gave me at the start of the year never worked. I'm having breathing problems right now as i am typing this and have to use my mouth to breathe. The mucus won't budge either and i've tried everything. I'm actually considering going to the ER right now.
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it's currently 4am and I'm having it right now as well. so scared my airways will close. im 22. did you ever go to the ER?
Avatar universal
First, I thank Jesus for healing me.  I could not smell at all at some point after a serious flu, but thank the Lord that even though I have the new unexplainable smell now of yeast, I believe I'm getting better from the no smell.   I read on the Internet that as we detox the body from the Candida (lost of sugar) in our system, the good smell will return.  I read that non-sugar organic cooking extra virgin or just virgin coconut oil is very good for Candida.  I drink fresh coconut, not from cans-sugar.

I am detoxing from sugar; gluten; carrots, beets, starchy veg; grains-except fine cut oat bran; dairy except eggs; most fruits except some blueberries and red grapefruits.  I don't eat meat or fish either.  I take at least 1 wheatgrass shot from a juice bar or frozen.  Whole Foods sells WOW organic frozen wheatgrass juice $10.99/7.  It's an acquired taste, but wheatgrass is excellent for everything, Google on YouTube.

Johndenver21, you may be allergic to dairy or sugar unless you had this flu that went around a month or two ago.  It was horrible!  I was squeezing a lemon with the same amount of warm water and drinking it, that cleared my mucus when I coughed.  Sometimes I add honey.  If you like red grapefruits that helped me.  The redness for me was from coughing so much.  
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Avatar universal
784
I have the same thing.  But the sad part is I am a singer and with that, it is hard for me to hold my breath for too long. And the sad part is I have been having it for 2 years
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Avatar universal
My problem is in the back of my nose,, its soo sticky & thick that I cant get it to go anywhere.. When I can get it to move its only down.. Because when I try to cough it up,, it really gets stuck to the back of my throat & all I feel is this big ball of nasty gooey stuff that wont cough up but stay on the back of my throat.. When I try to cough it up I feel like a string of gooey stuff that feels as if it was chokeing me.. It scares the sh*t out of me.. I really feel like I am dieing.. This has been going on for a couple wks now.. Some days I am good to go,, but most it ruins my whole day.. I have been haveing soo many panic attacks it aint even funny! What can I do??
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Avatar universal
I have had this nearly every year for a long time, it's SO scary. Seriously interrupted breath always triggers panic. It's a real threat - for a moment or so - but I'm told it almost always passes; it just feels like hell while you're going through it. So; I have a lot of solutions, most continue what is mentioned above.

#1 taking Mucinex DM or Robitussin DM; this is the secret weapon. It thins your mucus to watery, which doesn't get caught in the throat. The thicky, sticky mucus is the dangerous kind, it comes up in lumps. So, taking the DM medicines helps the most. Note that normal cough medicine is actually NOT what you want; you want to cough OUT all the crap in your lungs.

#2 Neti pot - someone mentioned it above. It takes a little bit to get used to it, but when you feel the difference, it's amazing! It truly washed OUT your nasal cavity and all that nasty junk that would have gone into your throat and lungs washes out into the sink instead. Nice part is, it's not a medicine, you could do it every hour, every ten minutes, whenever you need it. It FEELs so much better to open up your sinuses and wash them clear. The water should be between warm and hot, enough to loosen tightened passages. It works.

#3 Hot liquids, tea and even just hot water - when I have anything caught in there, this immediately dissolves it and it goes down. Not too hot, just enough to make sticky phlegm loosen up instantly.

#4 Cough drops or gum: keep your mouth wet and SWALLOWING. This is key - if nothing "goes down the wrong pipe" (into your lungs) it won't cause a problem. I use them whenever it's happening, all day, but be careful that some cough drops should not be used that much (sugar or laxative effects). Gum is good. Be careful if you use these when falling asleep, you don't want to choke on them.

#5 Nasal Strips - like Breathe Right. They keep you nose open, especially at night, which helps keep the nose drier and not produce as much phlegm.

#6 Positioning - your trachea (the pipe where you breathe) is in FRONT of your stomach pipe. So bending forward while you cough is not good! It makes the mucus stay over the trachea, so stand upright and even hold your arms over your head and things will drop down into your stomach when you cough them up.

SO - number 1 is the most important I think. If the phlegm is watery and thin - it's really not dangerous. Easy to deal with. Also check with your doctor when you can - for the first time, I had a full day of panic attacks from this being so serious. I went to Emergency care twice in one day. Second time, they realized the panic was part of the problem (it's not THAT dangerous, but it feels like it). The prescribed Prednisone, which has a calming effect - he says they use it for asthma patients who are panicing. Hard to say, but I think it helps, too.... just starting it this week for a few days.

Good luck, hope it passes!
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