excessive mucous production in throat following radiation

Mucinex has been helping my
Mucinex has been helping my husband somewhat with the thick mucous and also gargling with baking soda/salt mixture. Sorry for what you are going through.

miccmill said:

Dairy
No dairy has been helping by husband. He's still supplementing with Glucyerna thru the PEG but eating no dairy.
He only had the think mucus for a couple weeks.

He also takes Mucinex twice a day and lots of fluids.

Sorry he's going through this treatment. It's a very tough treatment.

Time
Time - I think is the best healer for this. My husband had the bad mucous, seems like it last only a couple of weeks after treatment. He tried mucinex and several other things and nothing helped. If he can swallow, I've heard drinking as much water as possible will help to thin it out also.

refinej said:

MUcous
Thanks for the replies unfortunately we dont live in the states but in Malta I will investigate some of the pharmacies on Monday and see if mucinex is available here. this has been going on now for months

Salt 'n Soda
Nothing but time made a great improvement for my mucous problems following rads. Half teaspoon each of baking soda and salt in a glass of warm water, gargle; seemed to clear it for a time and give me some relief. The amuounts of salt and soda can be increased up to a spare teaspoon each if it helps. He can repeat the gargle as often as he wishes. Hope this helps.

Hal

Michelle H said:

Excessive Mucous
The excessive mucous has already been pretty bad for me too. I'm spitting and gagging all day and don't sleep for more than an hour or two at a time at night. How long does it ususally take to start slowing down and getting back to normal? I try the baking soda/salt swishing too but it doesn't seems to do too much for me. Ick!

Michelle

Mucous will end
Michelle
The mucous will end, I assure you. I had terrible mucous, I went through a box of cleanex a day spitting up the mucous. Then about 5 weeks after rads it stopped, almost overnight. During the last 2 weeks I got a suction device and it helped me sleep as I could clean my mouth easily and thoroughly. The baking soda/salt mixture helps even though you don't think so, keep doing it several times a day. How far out of treatment are you? I just want you to know that we all had mucous and it does end at some point, however we are all different.
Keep plugging along, All the best
STeve

hawk711 said:

Mucous will end
Michelle
The mucous will end, I assure you. I had terrible mucous, I went through a box of cleanex a day spitting up the mucous. Then about 5 weeks after rads it stopped, almost overnight. During the last 2 weeks I got a suction device and it helped me sleep as I could clean my mouth easily and thoroughly. The baking soda/salt mixture helps even though you don't think so, keep doing it several times a day. How far out of treatment are you? I just want you to know that we all had mucous and it does end at some point, however we are all different.
Keep plugging along, All the best
STeve

Mucus
Hi Steve, I just completed my 33 rad treatments last week, so unfortunately I know I have a ways to go before the mucus starts to get better. It actually caused me to vomit this morning in bed (I know, too much information, sorry)...

Mucus sucks!

Michelle

FifiLarue said:

Mucous

My husband has a hard time getting food, medication/pill form down. His last radiation treatment was in April 2017, but there have been several major setbacks.  Taking mucinex but not helping. Has a peg tube but he needs real food, he is so thin now. I am really worried, he is so weak, no energy. There should be a solution for this problem with all the technolog. Cannot operate on throat due to  carotid artery blow out, peg tube (removed), swelling. He is still working but I am so afraid for him. 

mucous

Is swallowing the problem? If so, has he seen a swallow therapist? 

Add Benecalorie to the Shakes

Adding Benecalorie to the shake can add 300 plus calories. Also, a swallowing therapist worked wonders for my husband. Try using a humidifyer at night. Also, drinking water helps thin the mucous.

The mucous or phlegm ("flem")

The mucous or phlegm ("flem") is extremely common with radiation treatment. I did 35 daily doses of radiation on three targeted areas (tongue and either side of neck). For me, the mucous was the worst side effect (other than pain swallowing). The mucous made me gag, made everything taste terrible, and made sleeping impossible. Mine was so thick I couldn't swallow it and constantly carried one of those red plastic cups with me so I could spit. I must have gone through 2 cases of paper towels (tissue was far too thin). This continued for maybe three-four weeks with me and was the major contributor to my weight loss.

What worked for me was; staying calm (I practiced breathing techniques I found on youtube), i gargled with baking soda and salt literally every hour, and I ordered disposable mouth swabs and would soak the sponge end in the soda/salt solution or medicated mouthwash and scrub the inside of my mouth. This would provide relief for up to an hour at a time.

Magic Mouthwash

Google Magic Mouthwash it has helped me. I have my final rad treatment tomorrow! It's been bad for me since I am a teacher and have been out since the second week of treatment as I teach young ones and it cant be done with no voice. My cancer is on a vocalcord

 

Thick Mucus,

You can use the generic Mucinex (the active ingredient in Mucinex) Guaifenesin which will thin and help get rid of it. Also Club Soda or other carbonated drink. If you can swallow rinse your mouth then swallow. If you can't swallow it still helps, just rinse and spit out.  The Carbonation breaks it up so the small cans or 12oz cans are best. They have more carbonation.  FYI:  All dairy products will make more mucus.  Hope this has cleared up, or this will help.