Mucous!

[Tessybear]

I’m feeling fed up and in need of some reassurance😦. I was diagnosed with pneumonia nearly four weeks ago and am on my third different lot of antibiotics. I had an X-ray a few days ago but no results as yet. What is getting me down is the constant flow of mucous from my chest- it is relentless. When will it stop?! I’m doing everything I’ve been advised to do - steam inhalations, deep breathing, rest, drinking lots of water. What else can I do? I’d be really grateful for any positive advice to cheer me up right now!

[Lyd12]

Wish I knew the answer. Hope you soon get the xray result and the right antibiotics. Have they taken a sputum sample? Do you do lung clearance as taught by a physio - it does help. Keep warm and drink hot honey and lemon, paracetamol should help. Love Iris x

[Tessybear in reply to Lyd12]

Thank you. Yes I have been doing lung clearing breathing exercises- maybe I could do more than I have been. A sputum test was taken at the start, which didn’t show anything! The mucous then was very different to now though.Then it was thick and green, now it is white.(sorry to be so graphic!)I guess I just have to be patient!

[santisuk in reply to Tessybear]

I have had difficulty getting any result from my sputum. The standard UK guidelines for labs say that sputum samples should be cultured for 2 days in analysis of lung conditions. My pulmo (a bronchX specialist at Papworth Hospital's Lung Defence Unit) suggested I try asking my GP equivalent to specify 6 days culturing when sending the sample. It worked, first time in 4 years since diagnosis, which was great. Result - psuedomonas aeruginosa - not so great, but I don't think it has colonised ..... yet!

As one other says - white mucus is good - it's likely your bacteria has been killed-off and you are experiencing after effects only (unless you still feel lots of other symptoms are still around), but expect tiredness to linger as it often does IME, particularly with pneumonia). I don't myself seem to suffer from lingering copious mucus but I do remember that during several decades of bronchitis I used to be coughing junk up - quite comfortably as I recall, as it happens - for about 6 weeks after the other symptoms of unwellness had disappeared.

You can relax if the X-Ray and your doc's listening to your chest indicates that the pneumonia has been cleared up. Just monitor carefully and return to doc if other symptoms that had cleared up return or if the tiredness/mucus ones deteriorate from current levels.

White mucus with no traces of little yellow/green/brown bits is a great start!

[Tessybear in reply to santisuk]

That’s really interesting. I’ll remember to talk to my Dr about that . Thanks for your support and reassurance.

[Hidden]

Hello

Just this week I was told by the specialist to watch out for mutations in mucus, thickness and colour, so you need to go back to the doctor’s.

Take care.

[Soul01]

I don’t know the answer but did produce white mucous for a long time after pneumonia cleared up, especially when doing deep breathing exercises.

[Tessybear in reply to Soul01]

Thanks that is reassuring to know. 👍🏻

[lKeith]

Tessybear

H sorry for your discomfort, you appear to doing the right things. Have you tried your GP for Carbosisteine tablets for the mucus, or sitting up in bed during the night so your chest doesn't fill up with mucus. It is an uncomfortable position but keeping the chest in an upright position does help to keep it clear.

IKeith

[Tessybear in reply to lKeith]

Thanks, yes I’ve been sitting up most of the time. I’m feeling a bit brighter this afternoon- fingers crossed I may be turning a corner! I will talk to my Dr about Carbosisteine if things don’t improve though. I have been inhaling a dilute mixture of peppermint oil and eucalyptus Smithii oil which seems to have helped a bit too.

[y_not]

Have you tried a flutter device? Won't stop the mucus but might help clear it off your lungs a bit. I also use a massager ( argos.co.uk/product/4963198 ) something like the link, on my back around the lung area - the vibration helps break the mucus away from the lungs.

Both work for me - maybe they'll help?

Best wishes

[Tessybear]

Interesting, as I’ve been getting my husband to do some hacking chops around my upper back and found the vibration helped a little to loosen things up.A massager might be a great idea! Thanks.

[Hidden]

Hi Tessybear, i am a massage and holistic therapist. You can help yourself, just tap gently your chest area with your fingers tips in a circular motion, makes a hollow sound....i normally do three taps on one area and move onto the next area and continue for a couple of minutes, if you can get hubby to do the same on your back that should help. The vibrations do help. You could also chant the omm sound over again for a few minutes, again this causes an internal vibration. Good luck x

[Tessybear]

Thanks for the ideas and encouragement . All of these techniques will pay off I’m sure.