Frothy mucous?

[MoyB]

Hi all!

There are so many knowledgeable people on here that I thought I'd put my question to you.

I have COPD, asthma and bronchiectasis. I get more good days than bad days, thankfully, and have only had two chest infections since July 2019, the last one being in September. I'm now noticing that I have a lot more 'puffy days' when my peak flow is normal for me (ie between 180 and 220) but I am more breathless than I feel I should be. On these days I cough up phlegm as usual but it's very frothy, which is not the norm for me.

It hardly seems enough to bother the GP about, and I'm due to see the chest consultant again at the end of April so can ask him about it then, but meanwhile, do any of you have similar symptoms? If so, do you think I should make a GP appointment to discuss it?

It seems like such a minor thing, but it's happening to me again today and that's prompted me to post.

Hope you are all going on the best you can. xx Moy

[sassy59]

Hello Moy, Pete has frothy phlegm often and it’s quite normal for him. No harm in speaking to a doctor or nurse as it’s not normal for you.

Have a good weekend. Xxxx

[MoyB in reply to sassy59]

Thanks for replying. Glad to hear it's not just me. Xx Moy

[sammy12345]

Hi MoyB, I have had really frothy mucus a few times. When I've had it, it has been a bigger amount than usual and made me sick getting it out Last time I had it, I mentioned it to my CF nurse and she wasn't interested. I am in clinic on Monday, so will mention it then perhaps and see what the doctor says. If you get an answer from your consultant about it, can you let me know?

[MoyB in reply to sammy12345]

Will do. It's probably nothing to worry about but it just makes you wonder doesn't it? Xx Moy

[mark9009]

Watch it froth for color changes, exacerbation is my fear when it goes yeler with spots of red to pink.

[joyce74]

It’s happened to me a couple of times recently when eating and had hiccups and I’ve had to let it out straight away and been fine afterwards.

[stamford1234]

If I cough up frothy clear mucus it usually heralds the onset of an exacerbation (COPD Severe). Sometimes I can head it off by resting, keeping warm, plenty of fluids, extra Vit C and Ibuprofen. Breathing exercises, particularly huffing a bit. I also nebulise saline but I am not sure how or if it helps. Look after yourself.

[MoyB in reply to stamford1234]

Thank you. I don't usually follow it with an exacerbation but I fear this time might be the exception as I don't feel so good today. I expect I'll end up bothering the GP after all! xx Moy

[stamford1234 in reply to MoyB]

Best to follow your instinct, I hope you are on the mend soon.

[Jomo46]

I get a lot of white frothy mucus. The ild nurses said frothy mucus comes from sinuses. It drains into my lungs and then the coughing begins. I feel it dripping down my throat at times.I’ve sent off samples to be tested and they come back negative. Sometimes my chest feels tight.If I do an abc breathing routine to cough it all up, my breathing improves.

What I have found recently is that if I take one paracetamol tablet ( normal dose 2 tabs) it dries up the mucus for a few hours. I used to cough with it all day, now about twice a day, take a paracetamol and 20 mins later mucus production goes. If you know you are ok with paracetamol, you could try one, but could you get a telephone appointment with your doctor or the clinic nurses to check up if it needs attention. My consultant , nurses etc on my 4 half yearly check ups, asked about mucus. Told them frothy white, no comments from them. Not interested, except in colour.

Keep smiling xx jo

[MoyB in reply to Jomo46]

That is interesting as I am very aware of mucous draining down the back of my throat. I take antihistamine once a day (prescribed) but still seem to have a lot of it. I will try your paracetamol trick as not feeling so good anyway, so I'm sure it will help me generally, and if the mucous is less evident, that will be good too. When you have the frothy phlegm do you also feel more breathless. I have noticed that for me, the two things seem to go hand in hand. I can be quite breathless (or 'puffy' as I tend to call it) one day then absolutely fine the next. xx Moy

[Jomo46]

Funny. I call it getting puffy too. The frothy mucus seems to clog up the oxygen receptors in the lungs and yes definitely more puffy. If I do the active breathing cycle and get a lot up, yes I definitely breathe better. Let me know if the paracetamol helps. It takes 20 mins I find. I also take an antihistamine, but not sure it helps. I have Sarcoidosis , it has caused lung fibrosis. Good luck

[Smoggy1990Boggy]

I was told white frothy mucus is when my airways were inflamed with asthma

[MoyB in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

Oh, that's interesting. Is it just a need for more ventolin or do you have another way of dealing with it? Xx Moy

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to MoyB]

I needed oral steroids. Speak to asthma nurse or GP. Or if you don't feel they are supportive ring either the BLF helpline or Asthma UK to speak to one of the respiratory nurses for advice. It is how you feel in yourself.

[MoyB in reply to Smoggy1990Boggy]

Thank you. xx Moy

[Claudine]

I developed white frothy mucus before Christmas. Very stringy too. Consultant prescribed Ciprofloxacin. I left him with a sample and he says it came back as pseudomonas. It's better than it was but not completely cleared. It's quite different from my normal mucus. GP has described another shorter course of Cipro but I cannot take my usual Azithromycin at the same time. I have to stop this for 5 days while taking the Cipro. All very complicated. It would be worth you taking a sample for testing. I have Bronchiectasis by the way. Good luck.

[MoyB]

Thanks for your reply. It's not all the time with me, and not stringy - just a lot of froth and breathlessness. However, I think I'll keep a note of my symptoms for a while and then go and see the GP. I have been very breathless today, but virtually no mucous. Another day, I am fine and get on and do what I need to do, then get a 'puffy' day again. It's interesting to hear people's experiences though as it's all food for thought. xx Moy

[flicky1]

Hello Moy, I think that my phlegm, which is normally frothy, increases due to weather conditions and levels of pollution. I have a friend with asthma and our bad days generally coincide, although I have emphysema, not asthma. I have just checked the current levels of pollution where we are and I am hoping that I will feel better than I have been recently. The sun is starting to shine....

[MoyB in reply to flicky1]

Good morning! And it IS a good one, too - nice and sunny and bright at the moment. I was very puffy yesterday - nasty wet, heavily overcast day but considerably better this morning. I think the weather plays a part in all this. Interestingly, yesterday, I had hardly any phlegm at all, certainly not the white frothy stuff that I usually get when I'm puffy. Yesterday I was thinking I would need a GP appointment today, but now I don't feel I do. I have noticed that on days when my phone alerts me to local air pollution, my chest is often affected, so, as you say, that's another factor.

I didn't make it to Breatheasy last week. I woke in the morning feeling as though I had the start of a cold and didn't want to infect other members. Really felt 'coldy' all day. The next day I was absolutely fine - hardly any mucous or cough and breathing well. I felt puffy and 'coldy' again yesterday but I think it's more likely a hayfever type reaction to something as I do tend to get it when the catkins come out - even though we have none nearby.

Thanks for your post. Sorry you haven't been feeling so good lately and hope you feel better soon - bring on that sunshine! xx Moy

[flicky1 in reply to MoyB]

My bad days are not actually that bad anymore, although I did feel the need to cancel my fitness classes and swimming the week before last.

Doing lots of washing while the sun shines.