Yes, the ropey saliva did make it more difficult to speak but not impossible. I used cans of seltzer water (some people prefer club soda which is seltzer water with potassium salt or other salt added - but don't confuse them with tonic water which burns due to the quinine)to cut thru the thickness, then I would rinse and spit out enough to talk. I carried a large coffee travel mug to spit into and kept a larger cylrindical cooler in my office to empty the mug into until I could dump the whole mess down a toilet (too thick for the sinks).
Consider renting a suction machine, its usually covered by insurance, which sucks the saliva right out. I did not do that until the second time but it was very effective.
You have over a month before July 25th, it will get better.
Charm