mucositis

Hi Red1 

I think you mean the thick mucous rather than mucositis which is the ulceration and inflammation that RT causes.

Horrid isn't it. The good news is that it lasts for only a few weeks.

I found sparkling soda water or diet ginger ale helped my mouth and throat feel much better. Some people used a nebuliser but I found simply steaming my head over hot water with a towel draped over my head, the old fashioned way, loosened the mucous a bit. A humidifier in the bedroom can help too. There's no doubt this is a good time to keep your hydration up by getting three litres of water down....as much by mouth as you can manage.

At bedtime I kept a paper bag on the floor and a kitchen roll by the bedside and just spat a lot.

If none of this helps much some people have the option of a drug called Carbocysteine which can make the mucous thinner and easier to deal with.

It went pretty quickly as the surviving salivary glands kicked in.

Have a look at my blog. There are a couple of entries on Acupuncture which really got my saliva going. It might be worth a try.

Best of luck

Hi Red1. As Dani has  explained  most  regarding thick mucus I. Just add my t treatment was in the summer if 2018;which was also a warm one like now the heat adds to your issues as well. I bought a humidifier prior to treatment starting and used it in the bedroom every night. It also helped that I moved into the spare bedroom which left my long suffering hubby to sleep whilst inwas doing a sDaninsid spitting into tissues most of the night. I had carbusistine around week 6 recovery to thin the mucus it did help a little nalong with drinking orally and via ng tube 3 litres of water every day . I had my tube out week 3 so has to make myself drink .auricular acupuncture really helped with kickstarting my saliva. Good luck it doesn’t last forever often it’s replaced with dry mouth another joy of oral cancer. Blog below might help
Hazel x

Hello Red afraid I have had totally different experience than the other lovely ladies . I am probably in week 14 or 15 post treatment . Tne mucus has not stopped or lessened . Today I was driving and so much mucus coming up that I had to pull over and be sick . I think we all react in different ways and whilst I am progressing physically the mucus is very depressing . Hope you have better luck . Alan

Hi Alan. What are you doing to try to cope with it? 

Hi Dani Nothing I assumed this is part of the horrible journey .

It is part of the horrible journey but there are a few things you can do to make it less so. Try what I suggested? 

Good evening Red1, i have just recovered from a nasty stomach bug/ infection and the dreaded mucus build-up because i could not drink as much for a few days so it made me sick, my dr prescribed something to line the stomach. The best thing i found was drinking ginger ale as it breaks it down also flat coke can help, just keep the mouth moist rather than letting it become dry. Keep using the RIG/PEG but space your feeds out, little and often helps. I always thought milk was not very good for the stomach but it does in fact help, don't worry too much if you lose a bit of weight and ask for a mild sleeping tablet as sleep is very important during recovery. Take care.

                                                                               Chris