I would first call one of the hospital equipment rental companies in your area -- a lot of folks say they rent through one of these and it is not very expensive (since you will not have Dr's scrip).

Johns Hopkins gets these for folks that need them --currently only one of the HNC patients uses it but they will get us one if it's needed.

One thing that helps -- biut maybe not with the really awful mucous -- is guafusein (sp?) syrup which is available over-the-counter to thin and break up mucous-- my husband takes two tsp at night (he dilutes it in water, as otherwise it burns raw tissue) but he only has some excess mucous as yet and it's not that ropey kind. Still, I have used it for really awful disgusting chest mucous and phlegm when I've been recovering from bad cold and it works. Worth trying.

Other folks have found luck with putting gauze between cheeks and gums befor bed to absorb, also to sleep at an angle (like in a recliner) not flat on bed.

Gail