Hi I've posted before having been diagnosed with mild Bronchiectasis from a CT in 2020 just before lockdown. They had been monitoring Lung Nodules found by Rheumatology during scanning for new Biologic meds. The Bronchiectasis showed up on my final scan after 3 years of monitoring. A few months later I started bringing up a lot of green mucous which would get stuck in the back of my throat. My GP asked for a photo & prescribed a daily anti biotic which I wasnt keen to take daily so I asked him to write to my respiratory team. They replied & asked him to prescribe Carbocystine which I have been taking ever since. I had a few telephone appointments with the respiratory consultant during lockdown but was discharged earlier this year without being seen. Im still bringing up or trying to bring up this sputum daily (which isn't green anymore). My issue is its still there & my throat muscles get sore trying to get it up & it effects my swallowing sometimes trying to take tablets for example. I always have some phlegm at the back of my throat but tends to be worse in the morning. I wondered if this could be something else & not the Bronchiectasis causing it. I spoke to my GP on the phone & he has prescribed a nasal spray. I've just got the prescription & it says for blocked noses. I don't have a blocked nose & didn't tell him I had. I'm just wondering if this excess phlegm could be from a different condition & not the Bronchiectasis. What do you think please?
Could this be Bronchiectasis? - Lung Conditions C...
Could this be Bronchiectasis?
I think you need to settle down to read some of the messages on here to learn how to clear your chest of that phlegm. There’s no such thing as ‘excess phlegm’ you need to get it all out.
Yes there’s a lot of good advice here already . Also recommend looking for messages on postnasal drip on this page as it could be something that relates to your feeling of ”phlegm at the back of my throat”
Definitely check on post nasal drip as this can produce mucus of many colours and be quite alarming.
Thank you I wondered if it could be catarrh. Is that the same thing?
No not quite but I’m not sure how you would tell the difference yourself, probably would need to see an ENT specialist to decide.
I found this (from Sudafed so you can probably guess what their recommendation would be …😉)
sudafed.co.uk/what-catarrh-....
Hi Rattle thank you so much for your Sudafed Link very informative. My other posts on here are about this absolutely horrible Post Nasal Drip. Having Bronchiectasis too it’s a nightmare. Told by my Health Centre yesterday ENT appointment 52 weeks! Feeling rather fed up about that to say the least!
Going to definitely stop Dairy and c if that helps? I have started to hoover my bedroom every day. Got covers for my pillows and mattress against Dust mites. I have also got a humidifier and in my bedroom an air filter . I am giving my nose a good flush out in the morning with a salt and bi carb mixture. Bought from Amazon. The Health Centre has given me a steroid nasal spray too but that’s not getting the inflammation down! I think I should get a 10 out of 10 for effort but I think I need to see an ENT specialist to see if there is something going on in my nose as I have never ever had hay fever or any allergies! I am having to work twice as hard with my Chest Clearance it’s relentless
Thanks for the info Rattle
Best wishes Mona
Thanks for your reply. I am trying to clear it but it just sticks at the back of my throat. I have printed out the breathing technique so will just try harder.
You've had so many responses here that you must be totally confused now. But drinking plenty of water is the most import thing. You might not like it but you won't get that sticky stuff out until you do. It's not an option, it's essential so experiment by adding flavour to it to make it more acceptable . Breathing in steam also helps to shift it, I use a Beurer facial steamer with just plain water.
Thanks. Everyone has been very helpful & i'm actually feeling rather stupid for letting this go on so long presuming it was normal with Bronchiectais. I actually like water & drink plenty when I'm hot or abroad but I'm almost always cold so opt for a hot drink instead. I drink about 6 small glasses of water a day but can see I probably need to double that.
Firstly you can change to acetylcysteine effervescent tablets if carbocysteine is not for you ,2nd is possible post nasal drip and 3rd is using a mucus clearing device called acapella or flutter to do every day to clear excess mucus in your lungs .drink at least 2litres of water a day also is a good idea to keep it loose .this is my daily routine and I have bronchiectasis and asthma and copd for 10yrs
Thanks. Yes I have asthma too. I know I should try to drink 2 litres of water a day but I'm not great at it tbh. Thanks for your advice.
Try having a glass of water beside you and take sips during the day, its surprising just how much you get through without realising x
TBH I do have glasses of water all over the place & take 3 to bed with me. Hubby complains there are never any glasses & I have them dotted about everywhere & a bottle in by car. The thing is I cant actually monitor the amount if I have several on the go plus I dont always finish them. Must try harder x
Bronch can definitely lead to excess mucus but this is usually a chest infection to which we are all prone. You need to be seen and tested by a respiratory specialist who has access to more intensive tests and treatment, to see what is going on.
Thanks. I was hoping for a referral but as Bronchiectasis is very mild they have said to treat as Asthma & discharged me. I havn't been seen since diagnosis but was being seen for monitoring of lung nodules. If all the advice from you knowledgeable people here dosn't work I will speak to my GP again.
I certainly produce excessive mucus daily and find that apart from daily clearance which is a must, I use a Sterimar nasal spray to rinse out my sinus's I also take NAC tablet every day which helps to thin out the mucus. Ventolin also helps to losen things and if things get too bad I take antihitamine which dries things up x
Thanks. The Sterimar spray is what I have been prescribed 3 or 4 times a day. I'm glad it works for you . I only started it a few days ago so will see how it goes. I do also have a Ventolin inhaler for my Asthma but don't use it often.I havn't heard of NAC tablets so will look that up.
Make sure that you let the Sterimar run up your nose by bending over when you spray so its washes things out. You only need a little Ventolin first thing in the morning but make sure you rinse your mouth out after. Your gp can prescribe Nac effervescent or you can order online. Hope you get some relief from these things x
Ask to rule out Reflux too. Good luck.
Thanks. I take Gaviscon liquid at night should I take it more often? My prescription is for as required. I dont feel like I ever require it though.
Certainly sounds like bronchiectasis to me, though I’m lucky in that mine tends to be pretty thin anyway, but lots of it sometimes. Don’t dismiss treatments which seem to be aimed at a different condition, because they can often work on something else; for instance, using my Beconase inhaler in winter cured me of incessant winter “colds”, which on reflection were probably due to late-onset asthma.
Thanks. Yes I'm starting to think that I may have just put up with the phlegm for the past 3 years thinking it was being caused by Bronchiectasis but realised it could be something else hence my question. It started after being hospitalised with Pneumonia which was a few months prior to being diagnosed with Bronchiectasis so just presumed it was that. Maybe it isn't.
You phlegm should not be green. That is an infection. Your mucus should be as nearly white or clear as possible. If it starts to discolour you have an infection. Get a sputum sample checked and take the antibiotics prescribed. You might be helped by seeing a physio specialising in respiratory problems who could help you learn to cough nore effectively.
Hi Otto,
My thought is, it is possible it is something in addition to bronchiectasis, such as acid reflux or postnasal drip. I have the trifecta myself. You mentioned trouble with swallowing pills. Sometimes trouble swallowing is related to acid reflux. I have excessive mucous at times as well. We're here to be helpful to each other, so I am glad you reached out. 😊
Yes I have both. Plus my sinus issues too. All affect my lungs and swallow function so need to be managed well.
Thank you. Everyone in this group are amazing & so helpful. Reading people's responses makes me feel it could be something else indeed. This problem swallowing is fairly recent which is one of the reasons I spoke to a GP. I have to say my voice gets very croaky sometimes which I believe can be caused by acid reflux. I don't feel I have any reflux though.
As a long term sufferer of Bronchiectasis I have found the best available at the present time is to keep your lungs as clear as possible with as little effort as possible. For me this is using an Aerobika device. I find this so much more effective than the Flutter which I had prior to this. It can be set to a pressure to suit you and is a gentle breathing out so less tiring. If your sputum is green, I suspect an infection which needs the correct antibiotic usually recommended by a microbiologist following sputum sample analysis. Just any general antibiotic possible wouldn't help at all. It also sounds to me as if you have post nasal drip. For this I recommend Neilmed nasal wash, easily available at chemists to be bought off the shelf with spare boxes of the saline mix. It allows your sinuses to be rinsed out gently and without medication as it is saline based. You'd be amazed how much 'gunk' can be removed. I would also think you need to be under the care of a specialist consultant. Hope all this info is helpful but I do stress this is what suits me. Take care and I hope you find helpful treatment.
Thank you very much. Your advice is very helpful as is everyone's here. Believe it or not my hubby has a Neilmed bottle in the cupboard which he uses occasionally. I may wait till I have tried the Sterimed spray to see if that helps first & if not try the Neilmed. I havn't looked into the devices you mention as I presumed these would be suggested by a consultant. Maybe a GP would know.
Do you have a respiratory team? Respiratory nurses and physios are a font of all knowledge to do with lung problems. It was my respiratory physio who put me on to Aerobika and wrote to my GP asking for her to prescribe, which she did. I'm not sure that GPs have the knowledge of what's available to help us. I know when I was using the flutter device and needed a replacement, I was told they didn't prescribe 'devices' and I would have to buy it myself! Eventually I was prescribed! Good luck and I hope you get the help you need. Take care.
Thanks. I did have a Respiratory team due to Lung Nodules monitored for 3 years then the last CT showed Bronchiectasis but as its mild they have not seen me & after a further spirometry test I was discharged. I may ask my GP to rerefer if possible. I'm getting great advice from everyone here. Take care.
Here in the states Carbocystine isn’t favored much. I have a lot of phelm due to allergies draining to my lungs. If I use the procedure to bring up phelm I start to bleed. So Pulmonologist said to stop it. Some of the doctors don’t help much. You need a good Pulmonologist who knows you Each person with Bronciectasis is different. It took my current one awhile after seeing how I respond to things. My lungs bleed sometimes during allergy season due to inflammation.
Drink a lot of water and hot herbal teas.
You seem to have the classic symptoms of silent reflux. You won't be aware of it happening but the croaky voice is a real giveaway. I lost mine completely at one point and a fast track appointment with ENT identified reflux damage to my larynx.
I have been advised to take Gaviscon Advance 4 times a day i.e. and before bed. Also, if you can raise the head of your bed it will help. Advice is to raise the bed head by 8" or more but I can only manage 5" as otherwise slide down the bed! If you want to try it, you can use bricks or books under the legs. Proper bed raisers are available, but not cheap so would suggest the home made version first to see if it helps.
The reflux is a b####r! I believe it to be the cause of my bronchiectasis.
By the way, early on I was full of mucky green mucous on a regular basis. Like you, I thought it was just the way it was going to be. But as others have said, green or discoloured phlegm is not 'normal' and if you have it, collect a sample and get it tested. Sometimes it will identify the infection and sometimes it will give a result of 'normal flora'. My consultant explained to me that this is not saying there is no infection, just that it couldn't be singled out for identification.
I still get infections but most of the time now my lungs are behaving well! It was just a case of getting the right treatment and following it through.
I hope you manage to get something sorted. I believe you can feel much better than you do now!
Xx Moy
Thank you so much. You have been a great help. I feel like an idiot just putting up with this for so long I honestly thought it was all part of Bronchiectasis. It actually is starting to make sense. My GP 's practise is dreadful & its only phone appointments which isnt great but I do have Gaviscon on prescription & now the spray. My throat has been very red lately but not a sore throat if that makes sense. It all seems to fit. I'm not too sure about raising the head of the bed though as hubby has a very bad back waiting for potential surgery & lies on his front. I do have extra pillows though. Thanks again for your kind words of wisdom much appreciated x
You don't need to feel like an idiot. We've all had to find out what works for us and some have had more help from the medics than others. I look at this forum most days as have learned so much from it. Also, the local Breathe Easy group has had some excellent speakers and it was due to one of them that I was able to join a Pulmonary Rehab group. Well worth asking to be referred if you can find one in your area. Be aware that GPs don't always know as much as we expect them to. Mine assured me that there was no PR group running but our speaker at Breathe Easy that week was a respiratory Physio who was actually running a group half a mile from my home! She gave me the info I needed to get my GP to make the referral.I take your point about raising the bed and how it could affect your husband. Try other ways first. Hope you get some relief.
Xx Moy
Mucous is associated with bronchiectasis.id ask Yr gp/ nurse to refer u to respiratory physio to teach u how to get it up.id meanwhile read up on lung clearance techniques( look on aluk website ), there r videos too.its a must with bronchiectasis + prob top of the list in managing it x
Thanks. I have printed out a few things but as I said it is mostly too thick & sticky to get it up further than the back of my throat. I'm learning such a lot from all of you here which is really helpful. Thanks again.
There r some videos.do u have a flutter device ( aerobika).it helps.additional fluids r good, and nacys,I believe,is gd or carbocysteine on prescription helps to thin it.once u get into routine of dedicated lung clearance sessions maybe twice a day, it will help x
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