Angelia

GARGLE & SPIT with Seltzer water: the carbonation breaks up the deep mucous like those scrubbing bubbles you see on the TV commercials. It does sting a little bit at first but I found it refreshing. Even plain water will help bring up that stuff if you gargle & spit. focus on the roof of your mouth as you do it, and the mucous should come up enough to suction it out
Good luck - at least they showed you how to set it up, my suction machine was just left at the doorstep in a box.
charm