I have found also that sleeping on your back slightly propped up also helps a little. With me the problem is always worse in the morning. I think the humidifier helps also. It seems like it is stuck in the airway and it won't close completely to seal when I'm eating or drinking. If I eat or drink than I end up choking like it went down the wrong pipe. If I really want to hack it up, I have to lay on my back. Once most of that stuff is gone I can usually eat drink & speak ok. It got better about three weeks after the end of radiation -hang in there - it'll get better. I tried Senekot in the beginning and it was worthless! The Peri-Colace seems to work the best and fastest. I suspect that laxatives may be adding to the nausea also - you can't win in this game. I can certainly relate and empathize because I know just how miserable this stuff can make you feel. It really is a nuisance but a small price to pay for survival. And like Danny said "This too shall pass". And also like Danny, now when I wake up everything is stuck together from dryness! The problems just kind of morph along - standard opersting procedure. I figure God wants to teach me all about patience - my biggest character defect. LOL