 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | The post nasal drip problem is from many things including radiation and chemo. It's important to keep lots of liquids helping to thin it out along with Mucinex. You need the mucus to continually remove dead and sloughing cells throughout all areas containing mucus membrane.
Also, some of the muscles near the BOT get hit hard from radiation. Specifically the muscles that help get the post nasal drip down. It then pools up at the back of the to gue and has to be constantly cleared and spit out. I would guess that is where the blood is coming fom, although you need to take photos of it and let the doctor see it to make recommendations. Constant coughing could cause that and I have mouthfuls at times, 11 years after treatment.
Make sure you take all concerns to the medical team first and foremost. They are not only trained but have experience that shows them symptoms from every perspective.
Once the sputum turns clear all the time, there are some things to try at night for better sleep.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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