Have to spit out mucus frequently

TooManyCocktails

Does anyone else have this problem?  I have never had to spit this much.  It's really bad after meals and at night when I'm sleeping.  I have to keep a waste basket by the bedside.  Sometimes, it's so thick that it's hard to bring up. Often, I have to run a humidifier at night.

Sometimes, if it makes me gaggy, I'll start vomiting.  What is this?  And what do you do for it?  I have to be careful with medications because of my CHF. . .

TooManyCocktails

Oh well, guess not.

StaceyLynn

Yes, I do. It first started after weight loss surgery when too much acid builds up. I take Nexium sometimes twice a day. During chemo this happens too and I get the "foamies" and i have to spit or I get upset stomach. I watch what I eat and take Nexium and Maalox. I guess it's the chemo messing up our digestive system.

TooManyCocktails

Stacey, I've had more problems with my stomach and throat since starting chemo.  The doctor gave me Priolsec for the symptoms, which didn't work.  Then I got the oncologist to prescribe Protonix, which does work (most of the time).  I had constant stomach pain before I started taking the Protonix.  But, I still have problem with phlegm/mucus production.  My husband has to take Protonix twice a day.  I wonder if I need to take it twice a day, too?

Anyway, thanks for the info.  I think it is the chemo that's causing all my stomach problems.

ifyoucandream

Hey!  I was just looking for a thread on this topic because I thought I was the only one with this problem!  It happened to me during 2 of my pregnancies and I think it's called ptyalism.  I think it's related to hormones, and since chemo causes hormonal changes, maybe that's why??  Not sure.  It was hard for me to drink the amount of water I needed to during chemo because that reminded me of all the spit.  I was munching on Ritz crackers a lot.

TooManyCocktails

ifyoucandream, one of my sisters had that "spitting problem" when she was pregnant (each time she was pregnant actually).  Her's was, mostly, spit/saliva and not the thick mucus stuff that I get. I think the chemo is causing my stomach problems and reflux (GERD).  Well, I think it has worsened the reflux that I already had.

Hopefully, I will not have this problem when I start the Abraxane later this month.  We'll see!

ifyoucandream

during chemo, i only had a few days (mostly evenings) of the spit.  but you're right, it wasn't mucousy.  sorry to hear of your circumstances.  are you making sure you're upright and not lying down for an hour after each meal?  i had to do that with my baby when she had GERD for 2 years.

TooManyCocktails

ifyoucandream, my husband watches me like a hawk when I'm in bed.  He fluffs up the pillows and PUTS THEM UP REALLY HIGH.  Sometimes, I have to take one or two pillows off.  When he hears my breathing change while I'm sleeping, he'll wake me up and make me clear my throat and drink some water. 

I have a paralyzed vocal cord that occurred during a thyroidectomy (goiter removal); so my vocal cords will spasm (laryngospasm) and cause stridor, which is very scary.  I have to try avoiding irritating my throat at all costs!

If it's not one thing, it's another. 

jbagley

Hi, this is jbagley. I have had one chemo treatment and have had a sore throat and a funny feeling in my throat like food is stuck. I hate that feeling! Bad heartburn, worse then when I was pregnant too. Doesn't matter what I eat! I am glad I'm not alone.

Jenn

BonoboGirrl

Excessive production of saliva is called Ptyalism (pronounced ti ah lism). I too was afflicted with this when pregnant (I had to carry tissue with me everywhere!). Since chemo affects everything from your digestive track to hormones, that you're experiencing this seems understandable to me. For me, sucking on sour candies (jolly ranchers) helped me through the worst of it. Ptyalism will also occur with nausea, so it may be an indication that you are in need of a stronger anti-emetic, more frequent dosages of an anti-emetic, or, as someone suggested earlier, an antacid. If you're still producing excessive saliva while taking antacids and anti-emetics, I'd suggest talking about it with your oncologist. There may very well be other causes apart from nausea and hormonal imbalances, such as a vitamin deficiency. 

Mstaraj

I am experiencing a lot of mucus. It's thick and ranges from fluorescent green, yellow, and brown. It makes me so nauseous and the coughing hurts my chest(expanders) and back. I finished my ac and have 2 more taxol to go. Hoping chemo is killing off all those bad cells cause I seem to get almost every side effect