The mucous I seem to be spitting out is green and it seems that I have to force it out so I can breathe properly. Is that normal or would that mean infection somewhere?

Are you running a fever?

Having to force it out is normal. Some have had to resort to using a suction machine.

no fever, I have clear muscous and then further down is green and I can hear it my esophagus area when I breathe until I clear it out. Sometimes is gags me. I may have to ask for a suction machine. They would not give me one when I was in the hospital because of how irritate my throat was. UGH

I know I am bombarding you all with all kinds of questions.

Ask away Angelina. Maybe you will get answers that will help more of us. I hate it when the mucous is so thick it won't go either up or down even with coughing and drinking water. Mine has some nasty colors too .

Angelia,

This is a very stressful period (like it isn't always!!) of our Tx as our doctor "lifeline" has been cut since our daily rad is completed and it also can be the worst physical period so don't ever think you are bothering anyone here. Heck that's our main purpose, to ease the Tx and recovery process on all of us.

Just keep in mind that every new day brings you one day closer to the end of this dark tunnel. Look how far you have come from I think I can to I know I can and now to almost I F*%$@!*^ just did it!!

Thanks guys. I just called my RO's office about a suction machine. I am tired of waking the morning throwing my guts up beacue of this stinking mucous. If iot weren't for the mucous I wouls be doing fine. My throat starts to heal a little and than I start violently vomitting and I take two steps back. Anyway hopefully the suction machine will work a little better than anything else.

Are you rinsing your mouth baking soda and/or salt and water. If you can gargle with it, it might help. Charm said seltzer water worked for him. I don't remember if he rinsed with it or drank it. The suction machine will help with what is in the mouth, but not the throat. You will just gag yourself if you try to put it down the throat.

Take care,
Eileen

How do I get the dang stuff out of my throat?
I have been rinsing my mouth with lidocaine, because my tongue is so sore.
What does rinsing with salt water do besides cause pain to the sores in the mouth

Angelia,
I am very familiar with the mucus. I kept hearing about dry mouth and I felt like I was having the opposite. I am a little over 4 months post tx and still deal with the mucus. The mucus was so bad for me, it would cause me to vomit everyday even after tx. It took about 2 months for it to subside a bit, its not completely gone but I've learned how to manage without puking. Every morning when I wake up (before doing or saying anything), I go rinse my mouth with warm water while trying to hack the crap out, majority of the time its green but I've seen clear, yellow, even blood tinged. If I don't clear it out all the way, I will gag on it when trying to speak or eat, so eventually it's out within 30minutes of me being up. I don't think the suction will help if its in your throat. I use to carry around a spit bucket b/c my mucus was so bad, but do know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it will get better!

I found good old warm salt water to be the most effective out of anyhting else for me. It felt the best-- it burns a little bit but it really heals the sores and redness and iritation better than everything else. It also cut the mucous down quite a bit. I also took musinex which helped dry me up and thin the mucous down.

Its a tough place where you are now but just take it easy. You'll figure out what works best for you. Yes I too would wake up for about 6 months afterwards-- and have something to clear out of my throat. It still happens once in awhile now too. Kinda gross but hey-- what are ya gonna do.
That area is so sensitive and its just been completely assaulted and altered.

Hang in there- you are doing great!

yes your discription is normal. I think we all experienced this ghostbuster like stringy rubbery mucous....The tissue is sloughing off and renewing itself and that is what it does. I know its kind of horrible!. I"m so sorry. It will get better. It made me sick as a dog too.

I think this by far as been the worst part of the whole treatment.

I carried around a small Styrofoam cup in my pocket and spit in it constantly. I only remember this stage for me lasting about 2 weeks though and while disgusting, it was not the worst part of my Tx by a long shot.

I guess with me, is that my throat is still so raw and swollen, that everytime I puke because of the mucous, it just makes it more swollen raw. It seems like I take one step forward and then two steps back. I am getting so frusterated. I knew it was going to be rough, but not this rough. I just want to go to sleep wake up when it is all over.

Angelia,

I was told the last three weeks (last week of treatment and the two following)would be the worst and I would just want to climb in a cave.

That was about right. I hated it. I didn't get the mucous that bad but had wicked ulcers. Your getting there.

One day soon you will realize that today was not quite as bad as yesterday, then you will put two of those days together and then three and you will realize you are over the hump.

Hope that day comes soon.

Kelly

Angelia,

You're getting there one day at a time. Just be a little more patient.

Angelia, I second everyone's good words. My mucousitis lasted a good 8 months after RT. I also had a mouth and throat full of open sores for what seemed like months. As a result I too was reluctant to do the baking soda gargle thing. All I can say to that is to try and force yourself if at all possible, as it will help. Even if you have to do the lidocaine thing first. (I had to hold the stuff in my mouth for a full 10 minutes before I could swallow even a sip of Ensure, for instance; water a bit easier but not much)

But then, over the course of about a month, the mucous thing pretty much stopped. I gather from reading posts here that it takes differing lengths of time for each of us.

You WILL get better. It's an awful, awful thing to go through (I was nauseated 24 hours a day for 3 months last year) but you'll beat it.

Courage!
David 2

Patient? I am patient or have been one now for a long time. Anyway, I actually got some sleep last night and went this morning and bouth a new washer and dryer, but Id id no last mroe than 30 minutes before I started getting really nauseated and sick to my stomach. Made it home, but then out it all came. I just have no energy. I want it all to be better now. Anyway Patience is not one of my many virtues.

Angelia

You are not alone, everybody wants it to get better right now.

If you think about where you were 2 weeks ago, I'm sure things are already better than they were then. You are home now with your family and able to do things, even if it is for a short period at any one time, that is definitely a step forward.

It can be a very slow process, BUT on the flip side, it is temporary.

Karen

Thanks Karen.

Angelia,

Now that you are nearing the end of that tunnel or may in fact already be out of it don't expect your recovery, which can take up to 2 years, to be a constant daily improvement. You will have bad days mixed in with good days for a period of time before the bad days slowly disappear pretty much for ever. General overall weakness is a part of our recovery process. It was months and months before I could lift a water bottle and put into a water cooler. Take it easy, it's not like you are recovering from a bad cold you know!! Also be on the lookout for some mood swings. A lot of us tend to get depressed in the early stages of recovery and just like everything else connected to this crap, we all can be different. I know we have had some that even consulted with a professional so just be aware that it is something that may pop up in the future. Also stay on top of your TSH levels as thyroid damage usually shows it's symptoms later on down the road.

I do tal with a professionl who told me to get on zoloft. I was on that for awhile, but then stopped taking it when I could no longer swallow, and I have noticed a huge difference. I no longer want to get out of bed in the mornings. I am also trying to force myself to swallow, but it still hurts like you would not believe. Would that be the muscles or would thast be the pain in the throat fomr radiation itself? The mucous is still pretty bad, but I think i am starting to get used to it and finding a system that works. As to weekness, I can be sitting a chair and just fall asleep. The pure exhaustion comes out of now where. Wonder what I am going to do when I have to go back to work in 3 weeks? I have to go back, because I have exhausted all my days and FMLA has all been used up.

Angelia,

I think I said this earlier. We all become cave dwellers for a few weeks after radiation, at least I did.

I think you are in a normal yet very crappy place. It gets better.

Kelly

Angelia,

You are ONLY 9 days post rad!!!!

Most don't even walk out of their tunnel until the 3rd week post so relax and don't put to much pressure on yourself. I will guarantee that in 3 more weeks you will be better than you are today but I doubt you will be up to working a full 8 hrs. See if you can work a part time schedule until you regain some strength.

Angelia, it all takes time.