Help terrifying night ordeals with throat clearence

[carolg1]

I have suffered for a long time with the mucus problem which I believe is generated by my sinuses and bronchiectasis but I keep having terrible sessions whereas I cannot clear the airway throat it is so thick n vicious, I’ve tried the norm ie steam nebuliser just wondering anyone got a magic rescu tip often I am too tired to even cough, I have accapella it’s making my anxiety even worse. Thanks to all who reply xx

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hi Carol have you asked the doctor to prescribe any medication to help thin the muscus , I have carbocisteine to help with my phlegm. Hope this helps , please let us know how you are getting on. Have a lovely weekend and stay safe 😊 Bernadette xx xx 🌈

[Duff1953]

Hi carol I have been prescribed carbocisteine 2tablets x 3 times daily they really do their job and thin out mucus making it easier to cough

[carolg1 in reply to Duff1953]

Hi duff yes been taking those for a few years thanks stay well x

[RoadRunner44]

Hi Carol,I have bronchiectasis and severe rhinitis which has made me deaf in one ear. My operation to have my ear drained had to be postponed because of the virus.

You seem to be doing everything to help yourself. Using an acapella and taking carbocisteine for thinning the mucous. Have you tried the huffing method to remove it?

My physio showed me the huffing method to remove the mucous but after attending a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme I realized I had got into a bad habit and wasn't doing it properly. He explained it wasnt helpful to just try and cough up the mucous. I was doing just that and wearing myself out. You have to learn to recognise the signs that the mucous is moving, then use the huffing method to loosen it more. When it's loose enough the acapella should finish the job and you can just cough up the loosened phlegm.

.As you won't be able to see a physio in the near future, try looking on line for The Huffing Method to loosen mucous. There a quite a few you can look at.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

😐🌻🌼🌹

[carolg1 in reply to RoadRunner44]

Hi roadrunner thanks for replying my symptoms are horrendous it’s taken four trips to Ent for them to admit I have rhinitis along with bronchiectasis and emphysema but I also have lu cancer but he says my problems with the mucus are nothing to do with the cancer, it’s been ignored that long started with an ear infection now at least twice a day I literally vomit copious amounts of mucus up then the stubborn bit at the back of my throat and the bottom of my lung I think as I have pharyngeal rhinitis it’s so terrifying the episodes cause so much anxiety and shortness of breath, but I have noticed when I wake up my ear and face are crusted with salt so I think it all stems from there it’s playing havoc with my gut too xx

[RoadRunner44 in reply to carolg1]

Well, I can certainly understand that all these symptoms are certainly causing you a lot of anxiety and distress Carol.

Firstly, lung cancer does cause a great deal more mucous. Secondly having chronic rhinitis together with bronchiectasis also causes even more mucous. So you have three sources of mucous.

Do you know if you have or previously been treated for pseudo monas which is a nasty form of bacteria that can grow in your lungs? . I mention this as my own consultant mentioned how important it is to treat the rhinitis as the mucous in the nasal tubes as they too can also harbour Pseudomonas. If this is the case it can effect the bronchiectasis in your lungs and can have a marked affect on your state of well being.

I assume you are under a multi discipline team who work together in your interests

I really feel you should contact your bronchiectasis consultant and explain the situation you find yourself. To carry on as you are is a very miserable situation. You need to find out if every avenue has been explored to ensure you are getting the best treatment possible.

Apart from the useful suggestions members on the forum have given you, there are lots of other ideas for removing stubborn mucous on line.

My very best wishes,

Chrys x

[carolg1 in reply to RoadRunner44]

Hi Chrys, thanks for your your really appreciated help I seem to be being passed from pillar to post at the moment I am having trial with an injection of octreotide which in the beginning went really well then another so called viral infection started again my bloods show infection but mucus sample none specific but I did have pseudo a few years ago it’s as if each consultant don’t talk to each other the only one that seems to listen to me is the palliative care consultant I will try again but with the covid virus things are obviously even harder to sort , thank you x

[Corin1950]

You could try NAC, which some doctors prescribe, though you can buy it over the counter and online. When my husband was ill in Switzerland they prescribed it instead of Carbocysteine though on his return to England he started the Carbocysteine again. I think you can take both but check with your doctor

‘Acetylcysteine, also known as N-acetylcysteine, is a medication that is used to treat paracetamol overdose, and to loosen thick mucus in individuals with cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It can be taken intravenously, by mouth, or inhaled as a mist. Some people use it as a dietary supplement.’

Wikipedia

When I first joined the forum 6 years ago there were lots of discussions about the various benefits of it. Not so much recently.

Hope you solve your problem

X

[Caspiana]

Hello carolg1 ,

I'm sorry things are so difficult at the moment. I have never had mucus so I'm sorry I can't give any good advice. But I am so glad others have. Please take care and I really hope things improve for you. xx 🍀🐞🌿🌼