MUCUS AND CANT SLEEP

BRIGHTSTAR2013
BRIGHTSTAR2013 Member Posts: 11
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

THANKS ALL

I AM HAVING A LOT MUCUS AND CONSTANTLY RINSE WITH BAKING/SALT SOLUTION . WHEN LAYING DOWN TO SLEEP THE MUCUS KEEPS COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH. SLEPT FOR 4 HOURS GOT UP AND TRIED TO SWALLOW THE MUCUS DOWN. BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE MY THROAT AND TONGUE WERE SO PAINFUL. I SCARED TO GO BACK TO SLEEP AGAIN SO I STAYED UP ALL NIGHT.

ANYONE EXPERIENCE THIS .PLEASE HELP.

 

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    mucus sucks

    BRIGHTSTAR2013,

    I use to go through a whole procedure similar to what you described.  Start with gag and choke and hack and spit along with the salt and soda and water rinse, followed by a nice healthy swish and swallow of magic mouth wash and then jump into bed and fall asleep.  I was always drinking water so I usually had to get up a time or two for a pee break.  Then I would repeat and go back to sleep.

    I tried to sleep with my mouth closed, but I did not get enough air.  I never had the mucus so bad I could not sleep.  Sometimes I sounded like I was a 911 call away from choking.   Fortunately for me, sleep was my refuge, except the few times my mind was racing.

    I believe some folks have good results using Mucinex.  As you have found out, you just have to find what works for you.

    Good luck and pleasant dreams.

    Matt

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #3
    CivilMatt said:

    mucus sucks

    BRIGHTSTAR2013,

    I use to go through a whole procedure similar to what you described.  Start with gag and choke and hack and spit along with the salt and soda and water rinse, followed by a nice healthy swish and swallow of magic mouth wash and then jump into bed and fall asleep.  I was always drinking water so I usually had to get up a time or two for a pee break.  Then I would repeat and go back to sleep.

    I tried to sleep with my mouth closed, but I did not get enough air.  I never had the mucus so bad I could not sleep.  Sometimes I sounded like I was a 911 call away from choking.   Fortunately for me, sleep was my refuge, except the few times my mind was racing.

    I believe some folks have good results using Mucinex.  As you have found out, you just have to find what works for you.

    Good luck and pleasant dreams.

    Matt

    I have the same problem which

    I have the same problem which was one the reasons I actally went to the ent for.The feeling of something stuck under tounge and my mouth filling up with spit and mucuss.Not sure if it will continue after the operation but as for now is worse when I sleep.I sleep with my open and keep water and plenty of tissure or paper towels.Big thing is to let yourself relaxe and not panic and get the sleep you need.And if it runs out on the pillow case just change it.Seems the more I try to rid of it the better I feel I feel.Will have to put Mucinex on my list.

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    Too much Mucus

    See if your dr will let you take Mucinex or something to help control the mucus, just remember one of the side effects may be bad dry mouth. Then you might need something like Stoppers 4 dry-mouth spray, sometimes the dry mouth is just as bad.

    Hope you get help

    Hondo

  • BRIGHTSTAR2013
    BRIGHTSTAR2013 Member Posts: 11
    #5
    Hondo said:

    Too much Mucus

    See if your dr will let you take Mucinex or something to help control the mucus, just remember one of the side effects may be bad dry mouth. Then you might need something like Stoppers 4 dry-mouth spray, sometimes the dry mouth is just as bad.

    Hope you get help

    Hondo

    THANKS ALL. SOME PEOPLE USE

    THANKS ALL. SOME PEOPLE USE MUCODYNE.  LAST NIGHT SAMETHING HAPPENED. TONGUE AND THROAT WERE VERY PAINFUL BUT COULD SWALLOW THE MUCUS.

    USED MAGIC MOUTH WASHED TO NUMB THE PAIN AND RINSED W B/S WATER. DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO SLEEP. MY MED ONCOL PRESCRIBED OXYCODONE. I HAVE NOT USED IT YET.

    ANYONE HAS EXPERIENCE WITH OXYCODONE.

     

     

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #6
    BRIGHTSTAR2013 said:

    THANKS ALL. SOME PEOPLE USE

    THANKS ALL. SOME PEOPLE USE MUCODYNE.  LAST NIGHT SAMETHING HAPPENED. TONGUE AND THROAT WERE VERY PAINFUL BUT COULD SWALLOW THE MUCUS.

    USED MAGIC MOUTH WASHED TO NUMB THE PAIN AND RINSED W B/S WATER. DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO SLEEP. MY MED ONCOL PRESCRIBED OXYCODONE. I HAVE NOT USED IT YET.

    ANYONE HAS EXPERIENCE WITH OXYCODONE.

     

     

    Oxycodone

    I have tried both and had better experience with Hydrocodone.

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #7
    BRIGHTSTAR2013 said:

    THANKS ALL. SOME PEOPLE USE

    THANKS ALL. SOME PEOPLE USE MUCODYNE.  LAST NIGHT SAMETHING HAPPENED. TONGUE AND THROAT WERE VERY PAINFUL BUT COULD SWALLOW THE MUCUS.

    USED MAGIC MOUTH WASHED TO NUMB THE PAIN AND RINSED W B/S WATER. DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO SLEEP. MY MED ONCOL PRESCRIBED OXYCODONE. I HAVE NOT USED IT YET.

    ANYONE HAS EXPERIENCE WITH OXYCODONE.

     

     

    these are narcos

    Oxy and hdro - aka vikodin and percocet are narcotics, for pain management. The source problem is mucous so I would work hard at getting some treatment to resolve or manage that too. The throat pain could very well be made worse with all the commotion going on to clear the mucous.

    There are suction machines that remove mucous. I was fortunate and never had mucous to deal with but many have good results from using the machine. I had in my mind to take a turkey baster and stick a tube on the end of it and make my own suction. Now that would be an image worthy of posting. LOL

    Hang in there, things do get better. Don

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #8
    Hello there !

    I slept in a recliner for the first 6 mos.  Honestly if I laid flat it made the condition worse.  If you don't have a recliner, put some pillows under your mattress or books under the frame.  I also used all that you're trying.  As far as the pain meds., use them if you need to.  I hated taking anything stronger than an asprin most of my life until surgery and tx's.  Also if it's hard to swallow they do have liquid that is easier.  Good luck, let us know how you're doing !  Hugs sent !  Katie

    I forgot to mention benedryl use at nght time.  Works for alot of people.

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    #9
    Mucus

    My husband has had mucus in his throat since he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and underwent radiation the first time in 2010.  The mucus got better after surgery but then when he had his second round of radiation it became worse again.  Nothing helped.  Everyone talks about Mucinex but that only breaks up congestion in your chest, not your throat.   My husband doesn't have too much trouble with mucus when he is sleeping but during the day it is horrible (and no he doesn't swallow it because he can't swallow).  I have seen him take a paper towel sheet roll it up small and tight and stick it in his mouth and close his mouth -- believe it or not it helps with the mucus.  

    Just remember what works for one, doesn't always work for someone else.  Our doctors could never tell us why he produces so much thick, stringy mucus and he tried every recommendation there was.  He has been lucky and is able to bring it up without suctioning.  Someone told him to drink soda water because it would help, it didn't help him.  But others say it does.

     

    Sharon

  • Time Bandit
    Time Bandit Member Posts: 23
    #10
    You bet I did. Ended sleeping

    You bet I did. Ended sleeping for an hour to an hour and a half at a time, sitting up and having a spit cup next to me. In fact I carried my cup where ever I went. Grossed my wife out but you got to do what you have to do.  It did pass and it was a thrill the first night I slept on my side. What a releaf. I'm not living with dry mouth and I wish i had some of that spit back. As they say - a new normal.

  • Jims_wife
    Jims_wife Member Posts: 4
    #11
    Hubby wound up sleeping on

    Hubby wound up sleeping on our giant lounge chair for six or seven months, half sitting up.

    When it was really bad, he had an aspirator to suck the mucus strings out, which he used as needed. He used a nebulizer four times a day, to thin the mucus and help him breath. 2x with Abuterol and 2x with a saline solution. The rinses didn't seem to do anything for him.

    For the first six months or so, he'd wake up every hour and a half or two hours. He's gradually increased that to five or six hours at a stretch and it's been a little over 18 months.

    However, he still sleeps with a small piece of paper tape over his mouth to keep it closed at night.

Discussion Boards