Coughing up phlegm

[imamystery]

For about the past 8 months, I have done nothing but cough up phlegm. My doctor has no idea what causes it, my x-rays and scans have all been clear. I dont smoke, and I am 48 years old and a housewife.

The phlegm is white and very thick. Sometimes it gets stringy and I start to choke on it. If I'm not coughing, I'm clearing my throat, because phlem is always there, no matter how much I cough up. Theres not a moment that goes by in which I don't feel the phlem in my chest and throat. I clear my throat all the time, sometimes every few minutes

I always have tissues, or be near a sink or garbage can. When I start to cough, I grab tissue to put over my mouth to cough out phlegm, but sometimes 1 or 2 tissues is not enough, and need a cup (sometimes I can cough up 1/2 a cup) or cough for at least an hour. I can not fully rest, and if I do, the phlegm wakes me up, start coughing for at least 30 minutes before it stops.

Sometimes when I eat or drink, I start to gag and choke. Coughing fits can last anywhere from a few seconds to the point where I get tears in my eyes, gag, choke, and then throw up. I usually feel nausiated when I cough. The coughs can start as small regular coughs then progresses to full chest cough. I try to sip water in between coughs or immediately afterwards.

If teh phlegm is too thick to cough up, I have to swallow it until I cough again (which makes it even harder to get up). I sometimes gag on the phlegm until I need to swallow it, which can cause me to gag even harder.

I can't do anything without violently coughing up phlegm (walking, chaning positions, doing laundry etc). I can't go out anywhere because I feel so miserable. I have a headache along with all this that won't go away, and my chest and throat always hurt. I can't go out in public or visit anyone (or have anyone visit my house) because I know its irratting to others listening to my cough up phlegm.

I can only sleep in reclined positions because if I am flat on my back, I start to choke. I have tried OTC Sinus and Flu medicines with no avail, Mucinex did nothing for me either. My husband is at a loss for what do, and so am I.

I feel horrible and completely miserable. I am tired of being sick, tired and having my whole body hurt because of coughing. I am getting helpless and desperate!

[lynnred6]

ask your docter to refer you to a pulmonoogist. have you had a cat scan of your chest

[gbbarker]

If you're not opposed to it, you could try some natural support. A few herbs that support respiratory health are slippery elm, mullein, and licorice root. Try searching online to find out more about these herbs and if they might be what would help you. You might also try finding information on a 'mucus-free diet'. Don't worry, you'll figure it out... Good luck!

[rad-skw]

farmer's lung also called thresher's lung or harvester's lung a pulmonary disorder that results from the development of hypersensitivity to inhaled dust from moldy hay or other fodder. Its symptoms include a sudden onset of breathlessness, fever, a rapid heartbeat, cough (especially in the morning), copious production of phlegm, and a general sense of feeling ill. Acute attacks may last a few days to several weeks. In its chronic form, farmer's lung may persist for years and lead to respiratory failure from chronic bronchitis or pulmonary fibrosis. Avoidance of offending dusts is the most effective treatment.

Farmer's lung is the prototype of a number of diseases that are categorized ashypersensitivity pneumonitis; these include pigeon breeder's lung (also called bird fancier's, or bird breeder's, lung), mushroom worker's lung, cheesewasher's lung, and coffee worker's lung.

What is your occupation and do you live near a farm?

[acuann]

For about the past 8 months, I have done nothing but cough up phlegm. My doctor has no idea what causes it, my x-rays and scans have all been clear. I dont smoke, and I am 48 years old and a housewife.

The phlegm is white and very thick. Sometimes it gets stringy and I start to choke on it. If I'm not coughing, I'm clearing my throat, because phlem is always there, no matter how much I cough up. Theres not a moment that goes by in which I don't feel the phlem in my chest and throat. I clear my throat all the time, sometimes every few minutes

I always have tissues, or be near a sink or garbage can. When I start to cough, I grab tissue to put over my mouth to cough out phlegm, but sometimes 1 or 2 tissues is not enough, and need a cup (sometimes I can cough up 1/2 a cup) or cough for at least an hour. I can not fully rest, and if I do, the phlegm wakes me up, start coughing for at least 30 minutes before it stops.

Sometimes when I eat or drink, I start to gag and choke. Coughing fits can last anywhere from a few seconds to the point where I get tears in my eyes, gag, choke, and then throw up. I usually feel nausiated when I cough. The coughs can start as small regular coughs then progresses to full chest cough. I try to sip water in between coughs or immediately afterwards.

If teh phlegm is too thick to cough up, I have to swallow it until I cough again (which makes it even harder to get up). I sometimes gag on the phlegm until I need to swallow it, which can cause me to gag even harder.

I can't do anything without violently coughing up phlegm (walking, chaning positions, doing laundry etc). I can't go out anywhere because I feel so miserable. I have a headache along with all this that won't go away, and my chest and throat always hurt. I can't go out in public or visit anyone (or have anyone visit my house) because I know its irratting to others listening to my cough up phlegm.

I can only sleep in reclined positions because if I am flat on my back, I start to choke. I have tried OTC Sinus and Flu medicines with no avail, Mucinex did nothing for me either. My husband is at a loss for what do, and so am I.

I feel horrible and completely miserable. I am tired of being sick, tired and having my whole body hurt because of coughing. I am getting helpless and desperate!

Can you think back 8 months ago and find some connection? Were you sick and did you take any antibiotics? Are you on any medications currently?

Did you change anything in your diet? This can be as inoccuous as changing from regular to diet soft drinks. Think back and see if anything changed. Did you acquire a new pet? Did you purchase any new furniture or do any renovation?

Do you in fact live near a farm?

Do you have nasal congestion along with the cough? Any sneezing? Any shortness of breath? Any history of asthma?

Best wishes
DOM

[rtheroff]

I do not want to sound like an alarmist - but it is very important you get a complete check-up - INCLUDING a Cancer screening!

My father-in-law had a nasty phlegmy cough for over a year, his doctors could find nothing wrong with him. He went to doctors in the Kansas City area as well as in his Texas resort home area - neither set of doctors thought to screen him because he was otherwise the picture of physical health. He was not overweight, had no allergies, never smoked, (before the coughing slowed him) he was able to hike and walk several miles at a time (even into his seventieth birthday), ate right - lots of fish and veggies -- basically, he did everything right.

IN the middle of the night, after his 51st wedding anniversary, he awoke coughing. It was all he could do to roll sideways to keep from choking. He was in a sweat and could hardly move. Everyone thought he'd had a stroke. The next day, in the hospital, he had several tests done. The day after we were told he had advance liver & pancreatic cancer. SOMETIMES A COUGH IN AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY PERSON IS THE ONLY SYMPTOM OF THIS TYPE OF CANCER. He was already too far - three weeks later we had his funeral.

PLEASE - IF YOU ARE OTHERWISE HEALTHY - GET A CANCER SCREENING!
It may save your life!
And - if it does turn out to be cancer - do NOT go along with everything the doctors say unquestioningly...PLEASE! Check-out the Cancer Treatment Centers of America...they were not known of when dad was around..if they had been, he might be too.

Just think about it, but don't take too long.

[rad-skw]

I hope the last post was exactly what the founders of this web-site envisioned. Long may it last.

To the rtheroff...sorry to hear about your father-in-law. I have been repeatedly scanned for a "thing" on my pancreas...but as it is not growing, they aren't concerned anymore. I am though. Nobody knows what pre-cancerous pancreas' look like! My dad died of pancreatic cancer, and though had no pain, was just ill-feeling and nauseated. Since pancreatic cancer has a very high mortality rate, I'm not sure if my dad wouldn't have elected to die quickly, rather than linger. As it was, he elected to stop all feeding and fluids, pain and nausea was controlled with fentanyl, and he just sliped away quietly. At that age, they don't treat it very aggressively. Which hospital in KC was your dad's doc affiliated with. I hope it wasn't St. Luke's, as that's where I usually go.

[Hope I'm helpful]

I hope the last post was exactly what the founders of this web-site envisioned. Long may it last.

To the rtheroff...sorry to hear about your father-in-law. I have been repeatedly scanned for a "thing" on my pancreas...but as it is not growing, they aren't concerned anymore. I am though. Nobody knows what pre-cancerous pancreas' look like! My dad died of pancreatic cancer, and though had no pain, was just ill-feeling and nauseated. Since pancreatic cancer has a very high mortality rate, I'm not sure if my dad wouldn't have elected to die quickly, rather than linger. As it was, he elected to stop all feeding and fluids, pain and nausea was controlled with fentanyl, and he just sliped away quietly. At that age, they don't treat it very aggressively. Which hospital in KC was your dad's doc affiliated with. I hope it wasn't St. Luke's, as that's where I usually go.

It's sad to hear about your father, and I can certainly sympathize with your fears about your "thing" -- but pancreatic cancer has a dismal survival even when caught early, so this isn't like breast or colon cancer where early detection helps...

[Mulelady]

Hi imamystery,
You are talking about ME. I am doing the exact same thing. This morning I woke up thinking I was drowning... I coughed and hacked and choaked it up, then gaged so much because it was thick, white and real stringy I ended up throwing up. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am thrilled that I saw your ad. I would LOVE to know what worked for you. I am 53, and an animal and horse person. My husband read this and agreed with the "senior" man about it being maybe grain dust related or something...???????

[Unregistered]

Hi. I read your story and my heart goes out to you. I have somewhat the same story and have had this phlegm cough since last November. I still cant get a diagnosis and am at a loss. My doctor has tried out a number of things on me including bloodtests, ant-acid medications, puffers, changing my blood pressure medication and nothing has helped so far. It will be a while before I can see some specialists and will have to wait in agony til then. Upon reading replies which you received before mine, I am somewhat worried about the person who talked about the possibilities of having pancreatic cancer. I dont seem to have all the symptoms of this type of cancer and it doesnt seem that you do either, but just the same..it has me worried. It does get scary when you cant get a diagnosis for a long period of time. It does make one worried about which of a million diseases out there has been contracted. I guess you and me both have to patiently wait somehow until a diagnosis can be reached. Please keep me posted. Thankyou for reading.