Thick mucus and sore throat

terryscarlett
terryscarlett Member Posts: 143
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Dave finished all rads and chemo 8 days ago, ooooh yyyea! But the problem is the mucus seems very thick and is making him sick, and throat is so sore he has let up on taking fluids orally.
Any suggestions for these 2 problems, and How long before it will ease off? The doc said rads would continue to burn him for several weeks after the last one.
Can anyone tell me how long it took you to get relief from thick mucus and sore throat after treatments ended? Thanks to all =)
Terry

Comments

  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #2
    MUCOUS
    I am 4 days post treatment and was told the Mucous Side effects will be with me for several weeks to come.

    If for some reason you cannot for any reason take in fluids or nutrition, get a PEG ASAP unless you already have one. I have lost almost 60 lbs since treatment.

    Mike
  • timreichhart
    timreichhart Member Posts: 194
    #3
    luv4lacrosse said:

    MUCOUS
    I am 4 days post treatment and was told the Mucous Side effects will be with me for several weeks to come.

    If for some reason you cannot for any reason take in fluids or nutrition, get a PEG ASAP unless you already have one. I have lost almost 60 lbs since treatment.

    Mike

    mucous
    I was told by my radiation doctor that the thick mucous will be done 4-6 weeks after all treatments are done. My doctor was right about that but I am still dealing with little sore throat but it was not as bad it was when I got done with all my treatments done. As of today I am 2 month post treatment and it will get better for you it just takes little bit more time for "are" body's to heal.
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #4
    A Little Longer
    It's VITAL that he not slack off on getting in water. Does he have pain meds he can take? The more water he gets in, the thinner the mucous will be. Does he have a PEG? Another poster here recently said doc told them egg drog soup was great to thin mucous. Makes perfect sense - chicken soup helps with colds. I do know that egg drog soup was easy on my sore throat, but by the time I was where you all are now, I was only taking in water by mouth. During bad times, I'd have some pain meds, and try to get in as much water as I could when they kicked in.

    Some folks also got a machine to help suck out the mucous - if nothing else, you could ask doc about it. good luck.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #5
    Suction
    I had the same problem as many do. What worked best for me was a portable suction machine that the people with trach's use. They have a different end on them and you can pull it out rather that hack or swallow it.

    Another way it helped me get rid of it was to use an over the counter salin solution nasal spray. I tipped my head back and sprayed in both openings until I felt it run down my throat. That would loosen the mucus and you could spit it out easier and blow your nose.

    good luck

    John
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450
    #6
    fisrpotpe said:

    Suction
    I had the same problem as many do. What worked best for me was a portable suction machine that the people with trach's use. They have a different end on them and you can pull it out rather that hack or swallow it.

    Another way it helped me get rid of it was to use an over the counter salin solution nasal spray. I tipped my head back and sprayed in both openings until I felt it run down my throat. That would loosen the mucus and you could spit it out easier and blow your nose.

    good luck

    John

    I feel his pain
    Dave has entered the most miserable part of the whole process. At least, it was the most miserable part for me. But don't despair: It does get better.
    For me, it took three to four weeks for the awful mucus to subside. Getting back to normal, or the new normal, took a bit longer.
    I wish I had some tips on how to get rid of the mucus. I never did find a way: Time is what did it. I did gargle with Biotene mouthwash, but I can't say that it helped all that much. Sleeping with my head elevated helped somewhat during the night.
    Keep the faith. Things will get better.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #7
    delnative said:

    I feel his pain
    Dave has entered the most miserable part of the whole process. At least, it was the most miserable part for me. But don't despair: It does get better.
    For me, it took three to four weeks for the awful mucus to subside. Getting back to normal, or the new normal, took a bit longer.
    I wish I had some tips on how to get rid of the mucus. I never did find a way: Time is what did it. I did gargle with Biotene mouthwash, but I can't say that it helped all that much. Sleeping with my head elevated helped somewhat during the night.
    Keep the faith. Things will get better.

    --Jim in Delaware

    SUCTION MACHINE
    I had a suction machine sent to my house. It definitely eases the pain VS trying to spit it into a cup.

    one week post, less nausea, but mucous is the worst thing I am battling now. My throat has also turned raw. I take OXY for that.

    I guess time is what will heal.

    MIKE
  • santa6
    santa6 Member Posts: 29
    #8
    Takes Time for many
    Mine didn't start to ease up until 7 weeks out.

    There is a vacuum you can buy that I later wished I had invested in.

    Also, as soon as some swallowing is possible, tonic water did a good job of clearing for me. I mixed it with a little cranberry juice. I've read on here also that beer helps.
  • KristynRuth86
    KristynRuth86 Member Posts: 140
    #9
    santa6 said:

    Takes Time for many
    Mine didn't start to ease up until 7 weeks out.

    There is a vacuum you can buy that I later wished I had invested in.

    Also, as soon as some swallowing is possible, tonic water did a good job of clearing for me. I mixed it with a little cranberry juice. I've read on here also that beer helps.

    I'm also 8 days post
    I'm also 8 days post treatment today! I'm just as miserable as your poor husband sounds and haven't found any real solution. I am managing to keep the egg drop soup down, sometimes. I wake up at least twice a night to throw up stomach acid, phlegm, and thick saliva :( it's terrible. I wish you and yours all the best and pray his relief comes quick.
  • terryscarlett
    terryscarlett Member Posts: 143
    #10
    KristynRuth86 said:

    I'm also 8 days post
    I'm also 8 days post treatment today! I'm just as miserable as your poor husband sounds and haven't found any real solution. I am managing to keep the egg drop soup down, sometimes. I wake up at least twice a night to throw up stomach acid, phlegm, and thick saliva :( it's terrible. I wish you and yours all the best and pray his relief comes quick.

    I hope both of you get some relief soon. Dave is 3 weeks post treatment today and not much better yet. Will see if he can try the egg drop soup and the tonic water. Keep fingers crossed and hope you feel better real soon Kristy
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #11
    terryscarlett said:

    I hope both of you get some relief soon. Dave is 3 weeks post treatment today and not much better yet. Will see if he can try the egg drop soup and the tonic water. Keep fingers crossed and hope you feel better real soon Kristy

    It depends on the person.
    It depends on the person. Some people it just takes a few weeks. I am worse case scenario since I have another illness besides having had HNC. I finished rads 5/15/09 and I was able to dump the pack of napkins a day habit and constant companion, Mr. Spit cup in November. Don't know which is worse the excess phlegm or being dry as dust.

    Best wishes. Blessings

    sweets
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #12
    KristynRuth86 said:

    I'm also 8 days post
    I'm also 8 days post treatment today! I'm just as miserable as your poor husband sounds and haven't found any real solution. I am managing to keep the egg drop soup down, sometimes. I wake up at least twice a night to throw up stomach acid, phlegm, and thick saliva :( it's terrible. I wish you and yours all the best and pray his relief comes quick.

    MUCOUS
    Hi Krystin, good to hear from you. I figured you were going through a rough time. Did you get a suction machine? If not, do so as it will take away allot of the physical effort of clearing out your mouth and throat.

    Also try taking a Prevacid or another simillar type of Acid Reducer. You can crush it with a Mortar and Pestle. It should relieve your acid symptoms. The last thing a raw throat needs is Bile flowing over it.

    Hang in there

    Mike
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #13
    luv4lacrosse said:

    MUCOUS
    Hi Krystin, good to hear from you. I figured you were going through a rough time. Did you get a suction machine? If not, do so as it will take away allot of the physical effort of clearing out your mouth and throat.

    Also try taking a Prevacid or another simillar type of Acid Reducer. You can crush it with a Mortar and Pestle. It should relieve your acid symptoms. The last thing a raw throat needs is Bile flowing over it.

    Hang in there

    Mike

    Should be Automatic
    I believe when treatments start, a suction machine should be giving as an automatic tool to help anyone in treatment. It was a huge huge help to me.
  • KristynRuth86
    KristynRuth86 Member Posts: 140
    #14
    fisrpotpe said:

    Should be Automatic
    I believe when treatments start, a suction machine should be giving as an automatic tool to help anyone in treatment. It was a huge huge help to me.

    Hey Lacrosse, thanks for the
    Hey Lacrosse, thanks for the Prevacid recommendation. About how much does that suction machine run to rent?

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