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Phlegm obstructing airways

Bluebells17 profile image
10 Replies

Since taking montelukast it has partially dried up my chest but now I’m however unable to fully clear my chest from phlegm due to this which make me feel as it’s obstructing the airways. My asthma isn’t great at present either which is getting sorted with Relvar Ellipta hopefully. Sadly huffing techniques doesn’t work either. I have take acetylcystein which has somewhat helped but still struggling. Does anyone recognise this (perhaps not due to montelukast but the feeling of being unable to productively clear your chest and obstructing airways) What have you been provided with medicine wise for this if so? I’m really struggling to breathe especially during the night. I almost sit up and sleep at present and can’t go on like this.

Any suggestions very welcome- Thank you in advance!

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Bluebells17 profile image
Bluebells17
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10 Replies
Oldandgray profile image
Oldandgray

I have real trouble with mucus in my throat in the mornings. On seretide 250 and Montelukast and lansprazole, fexofenadine.

My asthma nurse has just changed me to a evohaler with a spacer from an accuhaler as she thinks the steroid may be irritating my throat. We shall see!

WindsweptRissa profile image
WindsweptRissa

Has your phlegm been checked for a bacterial infection? I take carbocysteine and Spiriva respimat for similar issues (on top of Relvar Ellipta, ventolin, montelukast and Cetirizine). This seems to help but when I have a marked increase in the phlegm, usually with a colour change too, it usually means I have bacterial infection.

Tugun profile image
Tugun

Hi,

I had exactly the same effect with becotide and seretide. Sorry I can't help you. After two months on each, I gave up as the phlegm was dry, hard to cough up and then got stuck in my voice box - where I'd feel like I couldn't breathe in or out properly. I'd cough and cough to clear the voice box. This coughing made my voice hoarse. It would get to the stage where I wasn't sure if I could clear my voice box. I would then stop. To this day I don't use preventers. They all (three of them) had the same effect. After twenty years, I'm thinking of trying the latest drug but I'm very wary. That feeling of not being able to clear your chest to breathe sufficiently is a worrying feeling.

How long have you had this feeling. Are you also using ventolin? How often?

Bluebells17 profile image
Bluebells17

Hi Tagun, I feel your stress, I am so sorry! I was better on the non powdered inhalers, but gone on Relvar as a preventer as my other one had stopped working when I got pregnant for some reason and my asthma has been worse since then. It also feels like it's tough swallowing with the powdered preventer which is worrying feeling as well. I just want this sorted before my third trimester as it will be difficult breathing anyways. I use my ventolin quite a lot a present up to about x9 a day. which is was hoping not to have to do when I got my new preventer. It is so stressful not being able to breathe, just want this stabilised now.

Angelgoth profile image
Angelgoth

Hi I've had the same problem for many years, I take carbocistiene and use saline nebulisers ( prescribed by a consultant) to help clear my chest alongside my other meds.

Are you under a consultant for your asthma, if not it might be worth seeing if your gp will refer you. and if you are struggling on your meds you should definitely speak to your gp.

I often find increased mucus means I have a chest infection starting. So some mucus samples might help to see if u are growing anything. But speak to your gp first.

Hope you feel better soon

Bluebells17 profile image
Bluebells17

Thank you all! Much appreciated!

westie22 profile image
westie22

Hi Bluebells17, I've been on montelukast for a very long time. When I started it, I too slept propped up on my pillows. It took a couple of months for me to find out the best time of the evening to take it for maximum benefit and eventually got my chest clear. Gradually, I was able to sleep in a 'normal' position and once I got used to the regime I really never looked back until last year which was an awful year for me on and off Prednisolone and changed to Relvar Ellipta from my previous preventer. I'm now fine again.

Pipswhips profile image
Pipswhips

sounds like you might be needing some gabocystiene tablets to help shift the mucus that what the Respiratory consultsnt put me on when I wasn't bring much phlem up.

They seems to do the trick.

AsthmaSufferer profile image
AsthmaSufferer

Plus, be sure to drink a little 1/4 cup juice with 3/4 cup water each day. This helps with dehydration. If you are dehydrated, the phlegm will not come up. Also, in addition to Breo steroid along with the generic for Singulair, I take a few Standard Process supplements. The one called "Tumeric Forte" includes tumeric (for inflammation) and Fenugreek seeds which somehow helps to dry up my extra phlegm. An herbalist would be able to help with this. Good luck. Living with asthma is a daily (nightly) battle. Plus, oddly, if I am having difficulty falling asleep due to "breathing through a cloth diaper" feeling, I eat a few chips. Read somewhere that a little salt helps asthma (but can't remember why) and it does for me.

TheBard1 profile image
TheBard1

Hello,This is the first time I’ve posted, as I thought I might be wasting people’s time, but everyone seems so supportive so here goes:

I been asthmatic since I was 18 months old. I also have a hiatus hernia. I take Lansoprazole, serevent, chenille and salbutamol evohaler. Since October last year, I’ve had severe breathing difficulties. It has taken this long to see a gastro consultant, as it was thought acid from the hernia causing airways to close. Now they are not sure, so I have another gastrointestinal test this Saturday (minometry ?) and have an appointment with a chest consultant on 30th September. This has been going on for almost a year and not being able to breathe, coupled with not knowing what the problem is, is really starting to get me down. I’m normally a very up-beat person, but I find myself in tears several times a day. I’ve been to Urgent Care at my local hospital (as my GP either referred me there or didn’t ring me back as promised), but they said they couldn’t really do anything because I’m seeing consultant & expecting further tests.

Sorry to go on, as I know that others are just as I’ll, but I feel that I’m being constantly being pushed away and onto someone else who doesn’t really want to know - and I still can’t breathe.

Love to all & stay safe.

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