Mucous

Hi Anniemac70 

Thanks for posting this. I had no idea this was a problem after surgery, just radiotherapy. Is it thick mucous that you can’t spit out or just lots of saliva? 
I’m very interested in the replies you’re going to get 

Sorry I can’t help, though. 

Having had numerous surgeries and now chemoradiation I am convinced the mucous is produced in response to trauma to an area and as part of our natural protection.  I don't recall significant issues with mucous after serious surgery (4 and 3 years ago).  If anything it was thick rather than runny.  I may have used a nebuliser to help break it down - that certainly worked with the radiotherapy trauma.  I suspect it will be short lived as recovery from surgery should be mainly over the next week or so.

PFJTHS said:

aving had numerous surgeries and now chemoradiation I am convinced the mucous is produced in response to trauma to an area and as part of our natural protection. 

Interesting that it might be a response to surgery. Thats why I was interested, not having had surgery. . 
Scientific studies show that patients undergoing head/ neck irradiation get sticky mucous because the glands largely producing water ( the sublingual and submandibular) are damaged whereas those producing more mucous ( The Parotids) are not. This  leads to a significant reduction in water secretion, breakdown of the mucous matrix and very sticky saliva. 
Water secretion does recover largely which is why the sticky mouth and throat improve. 

Hi Dani

That is very interesting. I did not have large amounts of saliva after my 3 ops for jaw cancer but definitely still have sticky mucus after radiotherapy. Mostly O.K. but at times still have to pull it out of my mouth. I do know someone who had issues with large amounts of saliva after her op for jaw cancer. She did not have radiotherapy.

Lyn