String-y Mucous problems anyone?

[Joanna22]

Hello everyone

Five years ago I had a trans-hiatal oesophagectomy following an endoscopy which revealed high-grade dysplasia cells. (I was being monitored after chemo/radiotherapy for SCC in my oesophagus in 2015) I elected for surgery rather than take the very real risk that the cells would become cancerous again in the future.

Anyway.. after 3 surgeries in 6 days ( I had an anastomosis plus a chyle leak) a week in ITU, a spell in coronary care as the leak affected my heart, plus eight weeks of nil by mouth I was finally sent home to recover!

I’m getting along ok now and managing my eating regime (very little, very often) fairly well. Haven’t managed to gain much weight after a drop from 9st 4lb to 7st 9lb but I did have a bowel cancer (stage 3) shock diagnosis in 2020 so that didn’t help my appetite! All treatment done and being currently monitored for this, so all ok thankfully.

However … what I would like to ask this very helpful community is this:

Do you experience -just after eating- any feelings of build up of mucous? I get this perhaps a few times each week. It is very string -like in consistency and quite awful until it is completely brought up…( I do apologise as isn’t a pleasant subject matter) It happens more frequently after my evening “meal”.

I’ve asked constantly over the years but no one on my health professional team seems to be able to help me with any sort of explanation. I surely can’t be the only person this has happened to ( though on times it’s felt that way!)

If I was to hazard a guess it would be that it happens if I’ve eaten more than my plumbing can cope with ( I promise this isn’t very much, portion size-wise!)

If there is anyone at all who has had this I’d be so grateful for your thoughts/advice/comments.

Many thanks if you’ve made it this far !!

Jo 😊

[Hidden]

My mother has the same problem. She receives all nutrition via her peg tube. She is fed nocturnal. Mornings and early afternoon are not a problem but a few hours before feeding and through the night she has this problem. We have not found any answers.

[Joanna22 in reply to Hidden]

I’m sorry your mother has this problem, too. It is really unpleasant. Isn’t it weird that there doesn’t seem to be any answer/reason for it… thank you for responding, anyway.

[petercaron]

I only get that excess mucus when I have the terrible experience when I aspirate bile while sleeping. It is very scary as it makes it hard to breathe sometimes. Sometimes I find a hard blowing of my nose helps start the clearing of the thick mucus

Not sure this is what you are experiencing.

[Joanna22 in reply to petercaron]

That is scary. I’ve occasionally had that bile aspiration in bed if I’ve slid down the pillows and it’s truly horrible.

I only seem to get these mucous problems after I’ve eaten, and usually after my last “meal” which I try to eat around 6:30pm. However, thanks for responding and I hope those bile episodes get less and less for you.

[Racerrick]

I had the Ivor Lewis esophegectomy 5 years ago am all cleared of cancer, only eat small portions, but have continuous mucus drainage that is stringy unless I drink lots of liquids. Have found that sodas like coke and Pepsi help good luck

[Joanna22 in reply to Racerrick]

Thanks for your response. This does sound like something I experience. I struggle with eating and drinking at the same time - but I drink 500ml of squash throughout the day plus two cups of coffee. It mightn’t be enough - I’ll give the Pepsi a go as well. Thank you 😊 it’s trial and error, isn’t it?

[FKM100]

I am almost three years post Ivor Lewis and find that I tend to develop phlegm in my windpipe if I have eaten too much and it makes me cough. I don't really know why this happens, but I suspect that excess food is somehow able to irritate the larynx or epiglottis which reacts by producing phlegm. I don't know whether this is the same problem as you are experiencing.

However, before my IL, when I still had a tumour, I often experienced thick mucous coming from my stomach at times when I was having difficulty swallowing. It seemed to be caused by the presence of food stuck in my oesophagus and caused a lot of discomfort. I've had that happen again once or twice since my op, at times when I have made myself ill by overeating, but I quickly learned my lesson and fortunately it has not happened very often.

[Joanna22 in reply to FKM100]

Thank you very much for your response. With me it’s definitely food- related and happens if I’ve eaten “too much” too. In my case I don’t get any cough at all, though.

To say I’ve ate too much is a bit of a misnomer really as my portion sizes are very small ( think tea-plate rather than dinner plate) but nevertheless it still happens. It gets me down but I try and give myself a talking to as I’m very aware that things could be so much worse. . . I think when you don’t get any explanation for something from your health team it’s just so frustrating isn’t it.

All the best with your continued recovery, thanks again.

[FKM100 in reply to Joanna22]

You might find this information helpful. It is for a person who has had a gastric band inserted, but also applies to many of us who have had one or other kind of oesophagectomy.

healthshare.com.au/question...

[Joanna22 in reply to FKM100]

That’s so helpful. Thank you ever so much for taking the time to send me this - I’ll try slowing things down etc as advised. 😊

[FKM100 in reply to Joanna22]

You are most welcome. All the best - I hope things get better for you.

[Nuxperience]

I too have this clear, thick mucus after ( usually evening meal, pasta and or bread). No stomach contents come up just mucous. Disgusting & embarassing. No real answers from doctors.

My best way of coming to terms is - I’m alive!

[Joanna22 in reply to Nuxperience]

It really is awful, isn’t it. Certainly I am mindful of it whenever going out anywhere to eat (rare … very rare!)

I’m trying to eat really slowly, chew more, and just generally get used to stone cold food.

As you say, we are alive. No more to be said really!

Best wishes

[Aurora12]

Hi Joanna, like eveybody else, yes, I sometimes gets mucous in my oesophagus. I tend to find it's either a) after the first bite of food if I haven't chewed enough or, as you say, b) once I'm 'full' but still try to finish a meal. In the main, I've found that having my drink BEFORE my meal definitely helps as it "lubricates' the oesophagus ( - and, to boot, stops reflux (I have a hiatus hernia too). Where the food does 'stick' I give it a minute to see if peristalsis works - I know that if it doesn't, it's because the layer of mucous is blocking it - so then I have to 'bring that up' with that first bite - or I struggle to breathe - and am fine after that! I have learned that the texture of food makes a difference - e.g. chicken is a stringy meat and harder to digest. Bread/mash/chips would always "stick" - so I rarely eat them - I'll have brioche (toasted) or sweet potato fries instead. I, personally, have found that crunchy stuff chews down better. You'll have scar tissue from the Radio taking up a bit of space - I've adapted by dicing all meat/veg quite small before cooking it, then - e.g., stew, I'll also mash it (goes down well). IF I have the problem now, it tends to be first bite when eating out (our of my control), then it's a quick trip to the bathroom, then fine after that, so long as I chew, chew, chew (only downside is your meal gets cold(: ). I wish you well. Rgds, Sue

[Joanna22 in reply to Aurora12]

Thank you for such a helpful reply, Sue. I completely agree about ‘crispy’ foods being easier to tolerate. Weird, isn’t it, as you’d think it’d be the opposite!

I’m trying to keep a food diary to see if there’s any linkage but the only one (so far) seems to be when my stomach has had enough before my brain tells me to stop eating. You’d swear I was being greedy but I promise you my portions are tea plate size 🥲

Through this thread I’ve learned that I’m not alone and that chewing slowly is probably the way forward for me. I’m truly not complaining; I’m still here.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to help me with this issue, you’ve all been so kind 😊

[Aurora12 in reply to Joanna22]

Oh, bless you, Jo! We can't undo what's happened, so we have to live with it and find practical 'workarounds'👍😀. Good luck going forward; all the best, Sue x