My mother has been struggling with thick mucous for the last month. The mucous is so thick that when she brings some up I can grab it and pull more mucous out as though it were a rope. It seems to get stuck right below her tongue. Is there a suction machine that can suction mucous from right below the tongue? Would I need any training to operate one?
Also, does anyone know why she would struggle with mucous and phlegm in the fall and winter months only to have it disappear in July until mid to late September? This is the third year in a row that the phlegm problem disappears in summer and reappears in fall.
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This is a very common problem. We did have a suction machine, and it wasn't hard to use. It helped a lot, but the best remedy was atropine eyedrops, by prescription, 1%, used under the tongue twice a day. That worked for a year and a half. When it began losing its effectiveness, we used glycopyrrolate.
I am not sure about seasonally has anything to do with the phlegm....but I do know that sugar in anything can cause that as well as dairy products and gluten. Take a close look at her diet and see if it helps getting those things that cause phlegm in a normal person because it has to be so much worse with the immune system in a broken state....
Sounds like a fall seasonal allergy (hay fever) greatly aggravated by the neuro issues. Once the mucus builds up it just compounds. In addition to whatever meds being used maybe try steam to help loosen things.
Would dehydration be part of the cause of the thick phlegm? And if the summer months are a bit humid that could play into it going away. We know hydration is a real problem in PSP....
I never used eyedrops for my dad - but I tried to put his head to the side as much as possible so the phlegm would trickle down to the sides and then *very gently* use the suction machine to suction it out slowly - it's a time consuming process but my dad hated the suction tube going near his throat - also the inside of the cheeks are very sensitive so be wary of touching them with the plastic of the suction tube or even your fingers since they can get cuts and they are very hard to heal
Sorry for this tough situation - best wishes for your mother and your family
Phlegm and choking: The first thing is to remain calm during episodes of truly shocking coughs. The second is that a physician rules out an infection in the respiratory tract. (Fever is an indication usually either pneumonia or urinary tract infection (UTI) in PSP patients).
•It is not a big problem that the patient swallows his phlegm. For phlegm to be fluid, it is important to drink liquids. Steam inhalation from boiling water in a bowl with a few drops of some floral essence (We have abandoned the eucalyptus and the mint that can be irritating in some cases) that is pleasant to the patient and a small spoonful of marine salt, with a towel covering head and bowl helps. (One to three times a day.) Medications like "Mucosan" (Ambroxol hydrochloride) twice a day or “Fluimicil Forte-600” (Acetilcisteine) one by day, help. Ask physician.
•In case of choking, raise both arms at shoulder height, breathe only through the nose intensely if posible. I not, inhale air intensely but not very fast through the mouth. Retain air a couple of seconds and then force the cough.
•Also here, to avoid in the diet drinks that can be irritating: coffee, carbonated beverages as pop or soda (or eliminate the gas by agitation before giving it to the patient), chocolate, orange or grapefruit juice, etc. helps. There are some foods to avoid.. things like rice, foods that crumble easily, sticky foods, etc.
•There is a suction machine which helped a lot with the very sticky phlegm. We have NOT used it yet.
•A steam atomizer to keep the air in the room moist helped, too. (40% - 52% moist advisable.)
•The physiotherapists have exercises reinforcing trunk muscles to improve the cough response to choking.
•Avoid dairy products, especially before bedtime seems to avoid the increase in viscosity of phlegm.
•Raising around 15º a 20º the head of the bed also helps.
JubileeRanch- I'm working on eliminating dairy and sugar. I have eliminated dairy and sugar in the past and it did not seem to help. The phlegm problem seems to disappear every July to September regardless of diet.
Dadshelper- I do use steam and it helps a bit.
Wardy- How do I find out more about the botox injections?
LuisRudicio- She had a course of antibiotics when this started in case it was an infection. She has been getting extra fluid and we do steam treatments. I'll she if I can raise the humidity in her room. It seems to be hover 40% or a little lower or higher right now.
I have been wondering if it may be related to her sinuses. Sometimes she has thick, clear nasal discharge.
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Can you see her smile under that mask? 
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