Mucous, Mucous (and did I mention Mucous)

Fritz
Fritz Member Posts: 106
edited June 2016 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

17th of 33 rads and my 4th of 6 Cisplatin infusions are on my calendar for tomorrow. 

That being said, the overal mucous development in my throat has reached epic levels.  I seem to spit mucous all day long.  I rinse with salt/baking soda solution about every hour.  I swish/swallow aloe vera juice with L-Glutamine 3 times a day.  Mouth sores are held at bay with just sore gums and raw inside cheeks at this point.  However, the mucous is really starting to affect my throat.  It is starting to get sore and most of that is caused by my constant "hacking" of mucous deep in the throat.  Still able to swallow with minimal discomfort; however, about on a total liquid diet at this point as even the softest solids (scrambled eggs and such) get caught up in the mucous causing a gag reflex at times. Not worth the struggle to try and swallow real food so just drinking supplements and protein shakes for the most part.

Other than sticking a vacuum cleaner to my mouth to suck it out, anyone have real advice?  Or am I just destined to be chained to the Mucous Monster until recovery time?

As always, thank you all for being available on this site.

Freddie

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #2
    Freddie,

    Freddie,

    You have good habits, keep them up.  Good hygene is important.

    Living liquid is great, just get the calories.

    Keep drinking and swallowing!!!

    A vacuum is something to think about.

    I also swished and swallowed 6 bottles of magic mouth wash.

    Good luck,

    Matt

  • SusanUES
    SusanUES Member Posts: 125
    #3
    Ugh, well I recall those days...

    That thick, stringly mucous is awful and it just keeps coming and coming and coming, doesn't it?  I bought a portable mucous suction unit (link below) and it was a help at night.  I was too beat to apply for insurance coverage (some plans will pay for it) so I just went out of pocket.  The hardest part is if you are still on the job...I found most people using the job restroom were kinda put off by my constant rinsing and spitting in the sink.  It was a tough time...hang in there Fritz, it WILL pass.  Mine thinned out around the second month after rads.

    http://medicalsupplies.healthcaresupplypros.com/dv7305dd?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_adwords&gclid=CIGGxLCvvM0CFQ5bhgodwPMKbA

     

  • Fritz
    Fritz Member Posts: 106
    #4
    Thanks

    Yeah, figured there was not a lot you could do for this other than what I was already doing.  Still forcing the water for hydration and liquid nutrition trying to still hit 3,000 cals per day as I have no PEG.  Yeah, I still work pretty much full days at the office so I have my spit cup at my desk and empty it a few times a day.

    Thanks for the posts as you guys are special to help us newbies out.

    Freddie

  • SusanUES
    SusanUES Member Posts: 125
    #5
    The only other tips I can think of...

    The hospital said to use a humidifier at night to keep moisture in the air (helps with the mucous)...I actually did buy one but never used it.

    What I did do was to put a cotton towel over my pillow so the ugly stuff drained during the night onto it and not the pillowcase.  More absorbent and resists staining. 

    Ginger ale and selzer water cut through the muck better than plain water...the bubbles help...just rinse and spit.  A guy in my MSK group said beer helped him, too. 

    It just has to run it's course, unfortunately.  My a-hole surgeon, when I asked him in despair how long the mucous would continue, said "It could last years."  Nonsense!  Another reason I fired his **** and just go to my oncologist for checkups.

  • Fritz
    Fritz Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2016 #6
    Thanks, again Susan

    Appreciate the extra advice.  I do use a humidifier (have since my surgery in April) but cannot really tell if it helps or not.  Cannot say it hurts so I keep using it. Have tried diet 7-Up and it seems to help; however, it adds to my bloat around the chemo infusions. 

    As always, thanks for all the advice.  As I said, you guys are special!!!

    Freddie

  • kdot2003
    kdot2003 Member Posts: 143
    #7
    OMG the mucous.  That was one

    OMG the mucous.  That was one of THE worse side effects of treatment for me.  I posed on this board about it a few times.  I was told the encouraging news that it would pass... It was hard to believe.  I finally obtained a hospital grade suction machine which was pretty cool but it was so hard to even sleep between the spitting and choking and vomiting.  OMG that was horrible.  Someone somewhere said their mucous went away about 21 days after tx ended and I held on to that hope.  Sure enough, about three weeks after tx it went away leaving the dryest mouth in its wake.  Dry is better.  Hard to celebrate tx ending though with all that mucous.  Hang in there!!! You are doing everything right.

  • Fritz
    Fritz Member Posts: 106
    #8
    Thanks KDot

    Thanks for the post and the encouragement. Yeah, looking forward to a life without mucous.

    Freddie

  • Drivingdaisy
    Drivingdaisy Member Posts: 263
    #9
    Mucus......YUCK !!!

    We all seem to experience some degree of it.  I started about 3 wks and it just went downhill from there.  I followed the same type of oral routine as you.  One thing I did add that I felt helped some especially if I got the dry cough ( the kind where it feels like something is caught in your throat) I would hack and get nowhere but to start gagging, and that was Mucinex D Extra Strength.  It helped some with mucus, stopped the dry cough and if I did cough I at least coughed something up and than out. Also, OralGel Rinse.  Has peroxide which helps scrape some of the mucus off so when you spit it gets more out.  Good Luck and hang in there.  Mine went away about 5-6 wks post-treatment.  Unfortunately replaced by severe dry mouth.  Make sure to have Xylimelts on hand for that.  Can get them through Amazon.  Prefere flavor-free but the mint is mild so either is fine. Lifesaver for me.

  • Fritz
    Fritz Member Posts: 106
    #10
    Thanks Daisy

    I have tried Mucinex with limited success.  As with others, just ready to get this over with so the real healing can begin.

    Freddie

  • Josephwc
    Josephwc Member Posts: 69
    #11
    Three weeks post radiation

    The mucous has reduced and is tolerable but still rinsing and spitting but the vomitting is long gone thank God. I am dr King water constantly and it helps. If I go with out the mcous s definitely worse So drink up. Keep your head up as depression and tears don't help With the mucous. 

     

    Find a  nice comfy chair/recliner where you can sleep at night it helps. Also put a towel on your pillow you probably are already dong that. Honestly I think the best thng is knowing that you aren't alone. We all have the challenge n life. Keep strong and try to smile when no one is long. The only one you have to be happy for is you it's important. Wish I could offer more suggestions . 

  • Fritz
    Fritz Member Posts: 106
    #12
    Thanks Joseph!

    Yeah, I agree with the drinking part.  It does help with mucous but sure adds to the bloating with all the other liquids I swallow and the chemo drug. But as you all have shared .... this crap ain't easy.  I appreciate any advice/suggestions I receive.  I reached the downhill slide as I am over the hump on both rads and chemo today! 2 more chemos and 16 more rads! Looking forward to that last treatment day so the healing can actually begin.

    Freddie

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    edited June 2016 #13
    Freddie,

    my compatriots on the board here covered every suggestion that I had, so I can only offer commiseration. It WILL pass. It seemed like my husband slept in the recliner for months and months until the mucus lessened. It sounds like you are doing everything possible. Don't be surprised if at the worst part the mucus has a pink or bloody tinge to it.

    Barbara

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    edited June 2016 #14
    Freddie you do know that Dairy and Whey creates mucus.

    Just thought you should know that dairy and that includes whey, will have your body produce more mucus. You might want to check what you eat will make more mucus. You might need to take Mucinex or just the generic of it will thin the mucus. It will not stop it but will thin and help cough it up. For swallowing, it will thin it down some. To thin the mucus can be a very big problem, and water will help the most. Now that does come with a warning. Yes, you can get too much water, and it dilutes the sodium your body needs to function, so be careful. 
    The reason I say this about water is my wife has chronic kidney failer and has reduced her salt, but still does use salt just a little less. I had always heard that water is good for you and it flushes out your kidneys. Well, she was drinking water but too much. She weighs 100 lbs so she should drink half or 50 ounces a day. She was drinking 80oz, and ended up in the ER. Her doctor did some blood work and called her. She was told to go right NOW to the hospital ER, it was life threating. When we got there she was told that another 24 hours, and she would not have made it. We got lucky.

    There are exceptions to the rule of your weight divided by two and that is the ounces you need. Of corse if outside and sweating you need fluids, not just water. I do hope this might help some. That mucus is hard to deal with. I am a neck breather so I can't swallow the mucus my lungs produce, so I do understand it. The body produces 1 1/2 liters of mucus a day.

    Bill

  • Fritz
    Fritz Member Posts: 106
    #15
    Thanks Barbara and Bill!

    Thanks for your responses.  I have been sleeping practically upright for a few days now and it does help some.  As far as the whey, I knew of that effect; and as with anything with this battle, you always having opposing issues (like you said with water).  I am trying to push the proteins in as my diet is mainly liquid at this point so I drink plenty of (you guessed it), whey protein shakes.  So I would rather have the protein intake to help with the other issues and just deal with this crappy mucous.  As far as water, I try to alternate water with gatorade to help with the sodium issue. As you say, this whole experience is a balancing act and throw the Cisplatin infusions into the mix and things get more confusing.

    Thanks again to you both.

    Freddie

  • Reggie13
    Reggie13 Member Posts: 9
    #16
    WOW! THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR RESPONSES!

    OMG guys, I thought this mucus ordeal was just something I was experiencing.  I'm constantly clearing my throat of it.  Unfortunately with my excessive dry mouth and limited mouth opening, it's hard to get out.  I usually have to get the aid of a paper towel to wipe my tongue. I had stage IV base of tongue cancer in 2003.  In 2014 I had to go on a permanent feeding tube due to constant aspirating with I would try to swallow.  Also, my speech has been greatly impacted. I can hardly move my tongue at all.  The severe radiation also damaged many of my oral cells and left me with poor blood supply. Now to make matters worse, I have a fractured jaw, brought on my a wisdom tooth pull that bone never healed.  So there's always someone worse off.  I'm just thankful to still be here.  I would greatly appreciate hearing from anyone who can relate to what I'm dealing with.  God Bless you all!

  • Drivingdaisy
    Drivingdaisy Member Posts: 263
    edited June 2016 #17

    Hello Reggie,  May I ask please.......is this timeline accurate?  Did you just start having problems or has it developed over 11 Years?  Thank you.  Lisa

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