Phlem

fishingirl
fishingirl Member Posts: 188
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I know...I don't like that word.lol! But does anyone get a lot of phlem through the night? At the back of the throat? I have to get up to cough it out. It is annoying!

Cindy

Comments

  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450 Member
    #2
    Well, that used to be a problem ...
    ... at the tail end of treatment, and for a couple of months thereafter.
    It hasn't really been a problem for me since then. The only problem I do have is that I use fluoride trays before bed, and when I get up in the morning the Prevident has combined with whatever phlegm I had in the back of my throat. I gargle with Biotene mouthwash and I'm good to go.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • Ed_PortOrange
    Ed_PortOrange Member Posts: 110
    #3
    It's getting better
    I used to wake up 3-4 times each night because of phelgm build=up in my throat. It's now down to once a night. I get up and rinse and gargle with baker soda/salt solution. Then take a hit of Magic Mouth Wash and back to bed.
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    #4
    Ed_PortOrange said:

    It's getting better
    I used to wake up 3-4 times each night because of phelgm build=up in my throat. It's now down to once a night. I get up and rinse and gargle with baker soda/salt solution. Then take a hit of Magic Mouth Wash and back to bed.

    My worst enemy
    8 weeks post-treatment and the most sleep I get is 3 hours at time due to having to spit. Have gotten used to that, it's having to have a spit cup handy or paper towels to hack up the nasties during the day that is driving me nuts. Makes it hard to carry on a conversation while at work.........excuse me while I spit
  • fishingirl
    fishingirl Member Posts: 188
    #5
    Greg53 said:

    My worst enemy
    8 weeks post-treatment and the most sleep I get is 3 hours at time due to having to spit. Have gotten used to that, it's having to have a spit cup handy or paper towels to hack up the nasties during the day that is driving me nuts. Makes it hard to carry on a conversation while at work.........excuse me while I spit

    I know! I used to have that
    I know! I used to have that phlem most of the day too. So embarrasing! But I am a bit concerned because it has been 7 1/2 mos. since my last radiation treatment. I did not have Chemo. I'm just wondering if anyone else had this lingering problem.

    Cindy
  • friend of Bill
    friend of Bill Member Posts: 87
    #6
    phlem
    I used Mucinex a.m. and p.m. and LOTS of water for many months to thin the stuff out and help get it up. Tiresome and embarrassing for sure but most everybody around me just told me to "get it up." At 19 months post-treatment (surgery, chemo and rad) it still comes back occasionally at night. Nuisance but comparitively speaking I found it tolerable unlike fatigue and neuropathy which drove me crazy.

    Vince

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