Do any of you experience this? (kind of gross, sorry)

dreamy28 · 03-10-2003, 01:09 AM

Hello Cysters! This is kind of gross but I was wondering if any of you have this problem and if so, can you offer me any tips and advice on what to do?

I have had this for at least 2.5 years now and no matter what I try, NOTHING seems to help. I wake up in the morning and my throat is "clogged" with mucus. I take a few wads of kleenex with me in the shower in the morning and try to clear my throat by coughing and spitting into the kleenex, with the heat/steam from the shower to loosen the gunk and it helps some, but not a whole lot.

I told my gp a while ago and he said "just drink more water". I was already drinking 8-10 glasses a day when I told him, so now I have continued to drink the 8-10 glasses plus I have started drinking about 4-5 large mugs full of either peppermint herbal tea or boiled water with a slice of lemon in it.

Also, it seems like the mucus makes me have bad breath. I brush my teeth 3-4 times a day and floss every night. I also use alcohol-free oral rinse from time to time if I have an important engagment or am going out with friends, but it doesn't last long. This bad breath seems to be eminating from the back of my throat and no matter what I do, I can't get rid of it.

Here is what I have tried (without success):

1. chewing parsley
2. breath assure caplets
3. chewing sugarless gum
4. taking chlorophyll tablets and drinking water with droplets of liquid organic chlorophyll
5. gargling with salt water
6. listerine
7. anti-bacterial toothpaste (as opposed to "regular" toothpaste)

I also tried taking a teaspoonful of robitussion extra strength at bedtime to see if it would lessen the mucus - I didn't notice a difference and still seemed to have the bad breath.

I also tried different herbal tablets - one was from swiss herbal remedies and it was a tablet that promoted expelling mucus from the lungs and respitory tract. I finished the whole bottle (taking 3 tablets a day) and it didn't do a thing.

I would be eternally grateful for any help/advice you could offer.

dreamy28 · 03-10-2003, 02:09 AM

17 views and not one reply. *Sigh* I feel like even more of a freak now.

-dreamy28

Chilli · 03-10-2003, 02:11 AM

Hi,

Well I'm not an expert or anything...but all my life my father has suffered from sinusitis...and he has the exact same problem..he wakes in the morning clogged with mucus in his throat and chest and back of nose... he also suffers from bad breath.

I would go back to your GP and ask him to look at your nose or better yet, get him to refer you to a nose and throat specialist.
There are lots of treatments but it depends on each case and the severity of it.

I do know that taking garlic capsules (you can get odourless ones) and horseradish tablets are really really good for sinusitus..

Anyways...good luck! I really hopeyou find some answers and it clears up for you real soon..keep us posted!

Erin31CA · 03-10-2003, 04:47 AM

Hmmmmmmmm...this is an interesting post. I've had mucus in my throat since I was about 16 (I'm now 32). That's when I first noticed it, anyway. About the time that the mucus started, my sense of smell deteriorated as well, and my nose never quite feels clear, although I can breathe through it okay. I've just learned to live with it, cause I've had it for so long and it never goes away. As I recall, when the mucus first appeared I also had the sensation that my ears were congested as well, and could often feel or hear what seemed like mucus moving in my ears in response to loud noises. I think I do often have chronic bad breath, although I have great oral hygeine (brushing, flossing, regular cleanings, and checkups, etc.).

I think sinus problems of this type are notoriously difficult to diagnose. But, I've actually never mentioned it to my doctor.

Could it be related to PCOS? I dunno...nothing would surprise me at this point.

Hezzer · 03-10-2003, 10:46 AM

It could be allergies. I've read that some people are sensitive to the dust mites that live in the bedding, pillows, etc. Or it could be some other allergen bothering you. That could explain why you wake up with congestion.

santa'sbaby · 03-10-2003, 12:13 PM

Sounds like it might be post nasal drip. That is where instead of comming out the front of your nose it goes down the back of your throat. This could be an alergy to dust or mould spores or anything.

It's not uncommon!!!! So you are not a freak!!!

Perhaps an allergy pill would stop it?

BTW I sent you a PM!!

April!

Kiko's_Bride · 03-10-2003, 06:07 PM

My husband, who has all kinds of quirky beliefs about health-related issues, would say that the bad breath is due to stomach problems -- not what's going on in your mouth. Do you frequently have acid reflux, heartburn, or indigestion? These are the times when I notice I have problems with my breath. Also, try brushing your tongue with your toothbrush.

As far as the mucus, I would have to agree that it is probably allergy.

Hope this helps!

dreamy28 · 03-11-2003, 03:49 AM

Thanks for your replies everyone. I had forgotten to mention that I also took over the counter reactine and claritin too (one 24 hour relief tablet at night) for a period of about a month, thinking this excess mucus was an allergy. Didn't help much though. I also thought it could be dust mites so I vacummed and sponge-washed my mattress and washed my sheets, blankets, comforters and even my pillows in hot water adding a little bleach to the wash along with the tide. No luck. Also, where I am currently living, there is no carpet and I swiffer the hard wood floors religiously.

Anyways, taking Chilli's advice I stopped at Wal-Mart tonight after work and I looked at the garlic tablets and capsules in the vitamin/supplement section. There were 100 odourless garlic tablets for $3.86 so I picked those up. The bottle states the tablets are for naturally lowering cholesterol and already seeing as my HDL is low and my LDL is high (classic PCOS symptoms) I thought even if the garlic didn't help the mucus problem at least I will get the lowering-cholesterol benefit. I looked for horseradish tablets with no luck, but I will keep looking -- maybe I'll try a health food store tomorrow. I surfed the web tonight and found "regular" (non-odourless) garlic tablets on the web. Expensive, but it may be worth a try for me if I don't have luck with the odourless ones, as these ones claim to be good for "wet coughs" and boosting the immune system. I just don't want to trade the mucus bad breath for garlic bad breath hahaha.

Kiko's_Bride: Yes I have had reflux in the past and I take 20 mgs of Losec that I have on hand for it whenever needed. I have been really good to cut out my heartburn triggers (chocolate, milk, coffee, non-herbal tea, etc.) most of the time so the heartburn hasn't been an issue recently. But it is interesting that your hubby said that as I read that on the net that alot of people think it is mucus but really it is stomach acid/bile that has "creeped up" during the night. I don't think this is the case for me. Ewwww (sorry to describe it so graphically).

Erin31CA - It is interesting that you have it to, being a fellow cyster, and it does in fact make me wonder if it is PCOS related....

Rosa74_98 - I never thought to ask my gp for a referral to an ENT specialist..... I will do that this week and thanks for the great idea!

Well everyone, again, thanks for your posts. Keep them coming if you can think of anything else for me to try. I am going to head off to bed now and I'll rub a little vicks on my chest and neck to see if that helps any.

*HUGS*

-dreamy28

Vanessa · 03-11-2003, 04:57 AM

I too have had this problem for years now but now that you have mentioned it here I realized that I haven't had it for about a month or so now and the only thing I have changed is that I have lost about 30 pounds and my hormones seem to be getting back on track as I have had AF 2 months in a row now. The mucus is so thick that it gags me when I try to cough it up and I sometimes have to grab it and pull it out of my throat (totally gross sorry:o ) or I will puke! My DH always teases me that I sound like a cat coughing up a hairball LOL! I don't have any reflux or sinus problems that would cause it though- it is a total mystery to me. I was so freaked out about having to stay over in the hospital when I had my kids because I didn't want anybody to hear me choking and hacking to get the mucus out but I literally can't function until I get rid of it because it gags me so badly. I can't swallow and get it to go down and I can't just clear my throat to get it to come up- it is just that thick! Well I hope you find something that helps you to get rid of it and I hope mine doesn't come back now that I have realized it is gone LOL!

(BTW I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one that has this- I don't feel like quite such a freak lol).

claire75 · 03-11-2003, 05:14 AM

DH also has this problem too.....the only thing that seems to reduce the amount of mucous is Otrivine nasal spray.

He uses it once in the morning & once before bed & it has helped alot.

Pattyannruss · 03-11-2003, 01:08 PM

Believe it or not but you could have an adnoid infection.

This would explain you still being able to breathe but having the build up back there.

I second the suggestion about seeing an ENT(Ear,Nose and Throat DR)

Good Luck,

Patty

scarlet · 03-11-2003, 03:18 PM

Hi Dreamy

Have you checked into your diet? I sometimes get those symptoms if I load up on junk food or too many refined carbs. May be worth thinking about along with everyone else's suggestions.

gold · 03-13-2003, 07:44 PM

I used to have a similar problem, but maybe not as bad. I started going to an acupuncturist about a year ago and it has cleared up. He usually tells me that the mucous buildup has to do with my liver. (I always thought that was pretty bizzarre - but my acupuncturist is pretty bizzarre!)

Anyways - I have gotten alot of relief from acupuncture and some insurances cover it. May also be worth a shot.

Maureen77 · 03-22-2003, 01:53 AM

My thoughts are that it is diet related too... either too much sugar or an allergy to dairy products. Try elminating dairy for a couple weeks and see how you feel.

MaLee · 03-22-2003, 02:05 AM

I have had that for as long as I can remember. The only thing that used to work was Tavist-D. Unfortunely, that is now off the market. The hot shower does work well to get it out the throat. Do you let the water stream hit your upper chest area? I find that helps to have it directly hitting the congested spot. Clartin is a joke. My dr. insist I take for another few months. 4 months and it has not helped. (Neither does Allerga.) Good Luck with the ENT. My GP refered me to one and he told me he could see nothing wrong and said just come back when you get sick!?! (Hello dummy, that's why i was refered to you!) The ENT will probably order a CT scan of your sinus to check for polyps and cysts in the sinus cavity.