I"m new here....needing relief from chest congestion/mucus

[Desperate4Diagnosis]

Since summer 2017 I've been dealing with excess mucus that causes breathlessness or wheezing until I'm able to get relief by coughing it out.

It happens after eating or after exercise, or even lying down. I've changed my diet to a healthier one and for the last two months have stuck to greens, fish, chicken, eggs, carrots, avocados and whole grain rice cakes, but I still have symptoms.

It's embarrassing to be short of breath and needing to hack up mucus at inconvenient times. This definitely decreases the quality of life by making me alter what I do and when.

I've had blood work, a CT scan, an upper endoscopy, and a spirometry test which all came back normal (with the exception of a slightly elevated MCH level.

I'm sure doctor's think I'm crazy, but they're not seeing me when I'm done eating or trying to walk around the block.

My mucus can be blood-tinged.

What other tests should I be doing? Should I be focusing on a pulmonologist or an ENT?

[kiddy]

Hi i sometimes get that and crackles sounds. Have you tried antihistamine? Think it could be to do with reflux. Yes maybe ENT.

Best wishes

Debbie

[Desperate4Diagnosis in reply to kiddy]

Yeah, I have tried antihistamine. Thanks so much for the reply and the idea of trying an ENT.

[Cortex1]

Do you have issues with getting the food down as well ? I have the exact same symptoms, and I suffer from achalasia, a motility disorder in the esophagus.

You could ask for a manometry, which measures the motility of the esophagus. That’s the best advice I’ve got.

[Desperate4Diagnosis in reply to Cortex1]

Hi Cortex1, I do not have issues getting the food down. So, I guess that's something! Thanks for recommending the manometry.

[Valerie01]

Hi my husband Peter has the very same problem he had his operation 17 weeks post opp but he is struggling to keep food or eaven ensure down so if you get a Solution we would be very interested to know how and what it is that helps you

[basten in reply to Valerie01]

What operation did he have? What was it called and was it for reflux ?

[Valerie01 in reply to basten]

He had part of his stomach and part of his esophagus removed due to cancer

[mavmp]

You may want to look into the Fast Tract Diet. digestivehealthinstitute.or...

There's also a FB group: facebook.com/groups/FastTra...

Our daughter was also having a mucus issue a few months ago. At the time I had made a suggestion to her and she thought it sounded reasonable, but, sadly, now I can't remember what my brilliant thought was. I'm going to check with her and will get back to you if whatever I told her would seem relevant for you.

[Desperate4Diagnosis in reply to mavmp]

Thanks so much! This looks like a good diet to follow.

[mavmp in reply to Desperate4Diagnosis]

I think the Fast Tract app is very worthwhile. I don't strictly follow the diet these days and so don't use it to track points. But I still use it to keep track of my symptoms. My main symptom is major belching at night when I try to go to sleep.

Talked with our daughter. One thing I thought might be contributing to her phlegm was thickeners. Hers was sometimes brown, which I thought may be from drinking black tea.

[AlanWare]

Get some liquorice root and make a tea with it. It helps to bring up the excess mucus. 1 cup every morning is recommended.

[Spikey]

I suffer from similar symptoms, but in my case I suspect it is due to a combination of late onset asthma, sinus problems, and reflux as a result of an oesophagectomy 13 years ago. I think you would be best advised to see an ENT consultant rather than a lung specialist. Are you on PPI medication?

[Desperate4Diagnosis]

Thanks for the response. I’m not on a PPI and have read some things that make them seem concerning.

I appreciate your time and will look for a good ENT.