Medical question about my Phlegm

[bowman316]

So I know this is not the best place to ask this, but I don't know of any good medical forums, and I know tons of people will see this. So...
For about the last 10 years I have had constant phlegm in the back of my throat. And I would cough some up periodically, when I was well hydrated. I recently realized that there is 2 different types of the Phlegm. There is the normal type, from being sick with a cold. It only hangs around a few days. But the constant phlegm seems to come from deeper down in the throat. It's hard to explain the difference. But the cold phlegm comes up easier, and in more volume. The other phlegm is just not the same. That is why I think the constant phlegm is from my GERD, and heartburn. It is probably covering up an injured throat. Does this make any sense?

 

[Scott Danforth]

see a doctor

you may have allergies causing chronic rhinosinusitis (constant nasal drip down the rear nasal cavities into your throat)

either way.....see a doctor

 

[aspeck]

As Scott said, see a Doc. It has been years and obviously bothering you. There are a number of things it could be ... some serious but most just aggravating. The only way to know is to see a doc and he will decide if it is serious enough to run a scope down your throat or up your nose, or any number of other tests. If it is covering an injury to your throat, if the injury is left untreated it can develop into cancer. I am not trying to scare you, because there are so many things it COULD be and the internet is not the place to get medical advice ... see your doctor. That is all I am trying to get you to do ... see your doctor.

 

[BWR1953]

What Scott and aspeck said. Go see a doctor. You'll get the straight info there.

BTW - I do have both chronic rhinitis and GERD. The doc told me so! :lol:

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have a maxillofacial cat scan from my doc that shows my chronic rhinosinusitus........ proof to my wife I have something other than rocks in my head.

kind of un-nerving seeing liquid goo in your head.....

found out I was allergic to dust, mold, pollen, sulfates and sulfites....so drinking beer and wine causes my sinuses to run down my face.....tequila and whiskey are ok...

either way.....go see a doctor

 

[bowman316]

I have seen several doctors about this years ago, and gave up. They were not much help. I had a full allergy test, i'm not allergic to anything. Saw an ENT specialist, he was no help. went to a GI doc, and had an endoscopy done, nothing wrong on that end.

 

[ibrw1]

When I saw your post, I couldn’t believe it. I have the same thing. It bothers me mostly at night but it’s always there. I saw ent because I thought nasal pollips. Which it turns out I have, but not the issue. I was told heartburn, was told to take Prilosec to resolve, took steroids, nothing worked. I’m constantly clearing my throat. I’m the front man for trade shows, and taking over my company soon. This requires me to talk in front of large groups. I hate it.

 

[redneck joe]

I have seen several doctors about this years ago, and gave up. They were not much help. I had a full allergy test, i'm not allergic to anything. Saw an ENT specialist, he was no help. went to a GI doc, and had an endoscopy done, nothing wrong on that end.

I've been trying for a couple years now but might finally have found someone - plus for me it causes ear infections in a roundabout way. We figured out a plan for that and now i'm longing some of the other events as they happen, what it was, when, effect, result all that so we can have a good discussion and not rely on my memory or what questions they might forget to ask me.

I always blamed it on my smoking as I am allergic to tobacco but since I quit a year and a half ago it has gotten worse to the point when I get out of bed i have so much running thru whatever is up there i get to gagging. Not a good way to start ones day. The constant clearing of the thought and loosing the voice at the end of a long day on calls is not fun either.

Let us know what the doc says and the results - but make a log for a bit. Specifics.

 

[BWR1953]

Yeah, make a log.

I log my health status every day, sometimes several times a day. Makes it easier to track what's going on.

 

[JoLin]

Consult with an Infectious Diseases specialist. I also don't want to scare you, but your sputum (phlegm) should be tested.

I landed in the hospital 3 months ago with double pneumonia. When they tested my sputum they found 'markers' that emulate those found in people with Tuberculosis. At that point, they had to start a series of tests to either confirm or rule it out. It's a potentially long, sequential testing process that can take up to 6-8 weeks to complete if TB is in fact present. After 10 days and completion of a couple of the tests, results came back negative for TB. BUT, they did determine that I have a "Non-TB, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection" (MAI) in my lungs.

The pneumonia is long gone, but I'm taking a daily cocktail of oral antibiotics to eradicate the other infection- and I'll be taking them for at least a year. According to the doc., the infection has been likely been hanging out there for years, potentially contributing to my lung problems (I have emphysema). They literally stumbled on it by accident.

My .02

 

[roscoe]

If the docs clear you, look to your diet.

Limit reduce or eliminate alcohol, caffeine, and excess vitamin C.
Eliminate sulfites, raw meats (summer sausage and jerky), grease in your diet.

Increase water and green veggies.

My sister was having similar phlegm problems a few years back.
After getting no relief from several doctors, she changed her diet and has pretty much fixed herself.
She is also sleeping better and says she feels better than she has in 10 years or more.

Good luck, and keep us posted if they find anything.

 

[jimmbo]

Just out of curiosity, what does a visit to the doctor cost? I know dentists gouge like crazy for what little they do where I live, but we rarely see a medical bill, except for cosmetic surgury

 

[Scott Danforth]

Just out of curiosity, what does a visit to the doctor cost? I know dentists gouge like crazy for what little they do where I live, but we rarely see a medical bill, except for cosmetic surgury

depends on your insurance plan.

 

[Redfred1]

I was told I had stage 4 Lung Cancer from a simple chest xray. Had CT scans; Pet scans; had 2 Lung Biospys; saw 2 different Lung specialists; all tests came back negative. It showed up as a mass; or a cloud; not a tumor .I was referred to 1 more specialist. He ran a culture test; put me on a low dose steroid I will take forever.