My husband had nasopharynx cancer and finished radiation in December, 2003 followed by two chemo( FU5 ) treatments in January, 2004. He is now cancer free. He is still having mucus problems and wakes up numerous times during the night because of the thick mucus dripping down his throat. Has anyone tried a hospital bed to help this condition. Doctors don't offer any encourangement with this side effect, but I am wondering if he could be in an upright position the situation may improve a bit. The mucus is there during the day but not as severe as at night. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Before investing in the expense of a hospital-type bed, You might buy some wedge pillows and get him propped partway up at night and see if that helps.

I found a decent wedge pillow at Bed, Bath and Beyond but if you don't want to search around locally, here's an online store that sells several different kinds of wedges.

http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product/pillow

Nelie

My husband slept for months on a study pillow and we used a humidifier which seemed to help thin the mucus a bit. Some days this would seem to help whereas others, we weren't sure. I WILL get better!

Just want to add that I am watching this thread very closly for hints of things to try. My John feels like he will drown in the muscous at times. [this has been ongoing for over 6 months] It seems to be the biggest detriment to his trying to swallow again. His Docs just shrug their shoulders when we ask for a solution. Amy

There doesn't seem to be a solution for the mucus. We get the same reaction from doctors. My husband has thrush which seems to have made it a lot worse. He cannot sleep for more than one hour without choking on it and is having much trouble swallowing with it. This is three years post tx. We have tried everything mentioned to help to no avail Eileen

Don't swallow it, get a suction machine and suction it out. Insurance should pay for it. If not it costs about $500 to buy or $40 a month to rent.

Has he tried to Salagen to help with saliva production? How about that drug in Robitussin that begins with a G (Guianfe??? ) that I can never remember how to spell. I took it in tablet form during radiation along with Salagen and I think it they helped.

Take care,
Eileen

He was never given Salagen by doctors and everytime I mention a suction machine to any of his doctors they all say no, yet I see many have used one. I would really like him to try. He does take guaifensin syrup in tussin but that does not seem to help. He does not feel like he has a dry mouth because of the mucus but whenever anyone looks in his mouth they comment on how dry he is. Thanks for your help. You also directed me to the dentist in Princeton who made his dentures. Eileen

I looked in my med cabinet and it's Guiafenex LA tablets I took. Big suckers, if you have difficulty swallowing. How I got them down during end of radiation, I do not know. At this point, I'd give Salagen a try. I took 3 pills a day.

What I wouldn't have done for a suction machine during radiation. It sure would have beaten pulling the strings out my hand. I was not given one until I had the laryngectomy. Still have riding around in trunk for emergency. I can't imagine why doctors would refuse him one.

Yes, I remember I sent you to my prosthodontist. I hope you liked doc and do hope his dentures fit as well as mine. If you are ever down for an appointment, I work five miles up the street from his office. Give me a call.

Take care,
Eileen

I am going to ask new ENT if he will give hime a prescription for a suction machine and see what he says about it. No one ever gave me a reason why he shouldn't use one I have those Guiafenex tablets in all different doses but they would burn his throat. We should go back and try them again.
We did llike the prosthodentist and feel he is very good. Dentu;res fit great but like you said it took a long time but the wait was worth it. Never had trouble with the fit. Eileen

Hi from Amy: I am still reading this thread intently. John's saliva production is his biggest obstacle to feeling better. The suction machine is the only thing barely able to help him, but it isn't enough. By the way, if you have do take a big tablet [as long as it isn't a time release kind] just grind it up in a pill grinder and dissolve it in hot liquid to swallow.
Eileen, if the Docs give you are reason for the "no" to the suction machine, I'd sure like to hear it. Amy

Mucinex tablets should not be ground up--they are time release I think.

Nelie

My Dad is 7 months post treatment now and although the mucus issue is nothing like it was; it's still annoying for him.

He tried the syrups with Guaifensin and then recently switched to Mucinex which he feels helps. (Had to get a friend to buy it in the US, they don't sell them here in Canada).

The humidifier helps. Some say avoid dairy products (which he's trying to do now). They also say drink lots of water. Before treatment my Dad was a big water drinker, now he finds water hard to handle.

The dr's never told us about a suction machine; only read about it hear. You would think they'd suggest it to help during treatment; boy getting up that thick mucus isn't easy as you all know too well.

Take care,

Eileen,
When you ask for the srcipt for the suction machine, I would ask the portable. This is one you can take on trips, plugs into cigarrette lighter if need be, and doesn't take an entire end table to house. So he can put it in the house where ever he is seated and use it as needed.

I also have a good PT about 20 minutes down 206 from dentist that may be able to help with slaiva issues. If interested, email me. If I remember correctly, you said he had a good PT. Does he still have all his saliva glands? I know doc, says to not sleep with teeth in, but I find if a wake up at 5am with thick saliva, if I brush and then rinse aadn put in dentures, I get more saliva.

You must get thruch under control or you I don't think you will get rid of mucous. I had to go on steroids for a month to get rid of mine after radiation. Diflucan etc didn't do it. I was also told to avoid drinking and eating anything white, ie carbs that turn into sugar. Myabe if you can get thrush cleared, the mucous will go down. email it you want PTs name.

Take care,
Eileen

Hi Eileen, Is a PT a primary doctor. We really don't have a good one. WE have a great MO and RO and I think I like this new ENT but a family doctor I need. Bob has been on nystatin for two months before the ENT gave him Diflucan which he is just finishing up two weeks. The thrush seems to be a little better as he is finally sleeping four or five hours before he has to wake up but I still can see it in his throat. I am calling for another prescription. He will also see his MO after six months in two weeks. At the present because of all the mucus he is mainly living on three 1000 calorie drins (seven cans of ensure with supplements) Thanks for the information I will see what I can do. Eileen

PT is physical therapist. Mine is in Lawrenceville. I went twice a week. That's a long ride for you guys. I think you will find the mucous problem may get better once the thrush is cleared up. It took a month of Dexamethsone (sp ???) to clear up mine. The Diflucan and nystatin didn't do it.

I don't know whether I said it on this thread, so excuse me if I repeat myself. I was told by a dentist to 'not eat anything white' as it turns into sugar and thrush (yeast) feeds on sugar. Since he is on Ensure this is probably not alterable. Has he tried Ensure Plus. More calories to the can and I thought much better tasting.

Eileen

The first few months after treatment I slept in a recliner in the living room so I wouldn't drown myself at night.

Have you tried Coke or Pepsi or iced tea to "cut" the mucus?

When I first got finished with my radiation treatments, the only thing that helped was Cherry Coke. For some reason, that quit working after a while, now all that works for me is iced tea. Just a couple of sips is all thats necessary if sugar consumption is a concern because of the thrush.

My husband and I have been battling the mucus problem and have found relief at different intervals trying different treatments. We tried capsacin which helped to try out the mucus but he said it bothered his stomach. I have added digestive enzymes because that is what is in the mucus and since it is all the GI tract, I know there is some connection. I am going to reresearch the topic.
I had him on a rinse of licorice-non alcoholic, lemon juice,aloe and green tea with mainly fruits with whey proteins and it subsided for a while only later to return.
He is now complaining of a raw sensation, something new. Anyone out there know anything about how the oral cancer progresses? His doctor now says the excess mucus is because the body makes a liter of the stuff a day and it is because he can't swallow???

Just a note: Mucus Relief Instant Release [Guaifenesin 400mg expectorant]code # ndc 50844-458-11, mfg: Link Intl. Hauppague, N.Y.11788, is NOT time released and can be ground and dissolved in water or juice or broth and put in a peg. Purchased OTC at our local Walmart. We are trying it now to see if John will get some relief from the excessive "slime". Will let you know.It does NOT have a cough supressant in it. Amy

My Dad noticed the other day when he was outside in the cold (fresh air) his nose starting running; this actually made his throat clear of mucus. I guess thru the sinus.

So why do H&N patients get all this mucus; where is it coming from?

Thanks

Hi,
I took Guaifenesin 600 mg tablets, will choke a horse, all during radiation (1997) along with Salagen 3x a day. I had severe mucous problems during radiation but seemed ro recover without the severe dry mouth many patients of that era experience.

Lisa emailed me on my presciption for Dexamethosone. I had thought this was given to me to cure the rampant thrush I had, but now looking at the date of the prescription, I think not. Must have been for mucouscitis. Now I'm wonderng what they finally gave me to cure the thrush. This is the reason you guys need to keep good notes. Who knows when you will them again.

Take care,
Eileen

Eileen,

I am not trying to be oppositional but Dexamethasone has been discontinued, are you sure??? And are you sure it was for the mucousitis?

Lisa,

First of all I am a health reference librarian with the foundational science courses, so take that into consideration. From what I understand mucin production is influenced by a variety of factors but post radiation the process changes. The bodies defenses are part and parcel of the mucus production as a a reponse.
Think of the radiation as a trauma and the mucus as the scab over the wound for lack of a better parallel. What I am puzzling over is: Are there any better ways to facilitate healing?

if, IF you could come up with a better -or even a GOOD way to control the mucus, you could make millions! Amy

IF,
That was 1997. I have no idea if it has been discontinued. It still appears in medline. Look it up in medlineplus.gov. If you will reread my post from Jan2, I said I wasn't certain whether it was given to me for thrush or mucositis. Date on bottle would indicate later but same specialist was treating both.

Medline says it is used for the following:

Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It often is used to replace this chemical when your body does not make enough of it. It relieves inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain) and is used to treat certain forms of arthritis; skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and intestinal disorders (e.g., colitis); severe allergies; and asthma. Dexamethasone is also used to treat certain types of cancer.

I took it for three weeks to a month only. He didn't want me on steroids any longer than that. That's all I can remember about it.

Take care,
Eileen

Amy: good post LOL!

Eileen: I re-read one of your post above and not sure if you wanted me to email you or are you saying I did email you (doesn't ring a bell)

quote: "Lisa emailed me on my presciption for Dexamethosone" ???


if: thanks for re-freshing my memory (re where all the mucus comes from). So I guess regardless of where it comes from; all mucus clears out the same way? ie thru the sinus or with use of expectorants. Anyone else notice their throat cleared out with a runny nose?

Darn Mucus!
Thanks