Is it phlegm or gunk from my treatment

Hi Lilian

Yes I tried a nebuliser and it didn't do a lot for me. I have also tried a huidifier in the bedroom - same result! 

No It's OK to be a bit down. My treatment finished 9 months ago and I still have a very dry mouth and my mouth tasted like a camel's armpit. I found that rinsing with fizzy water helped to get rid of the phlegmy gunk. I was PEG fed till quite recently, but I still feel when I eat soup that there is something between the back of my tongue that needs to come back up. I do manage to bring it up (Sorry for being graphic) and sometimes I do have some phlegm. So rest assured you are not alone. I have said in other posts I have made - the after effects are worse than the treatment - especially psychologically. Try to stay strong - I also suffer from anxiety and all this stuff does run you down - Just try to take one day at a time - I know its hard - but keep going - you have done really well so far 

Steve x 

Thank you for that message Steve, it has made me feel not alone.  I am doing my best to keep my chin up but it has been difficult, I don’t know what I would have done without my family they have been brilliant helping me through it all. 
Lillian 

I also need to thank everyone else on this site who has helped me through it all, I really don’t know what I would have done without them all 

Lillian

The sticky mucous is from treatment. The salivary glands produce two sorts of secretions. Mucous and water with enzymes in it. The submandibular glands produce a mixture for background lubrication, the parotids more watery. Your submandibular are the ones knackered by radiation and parotids,  often damaged on one side, usually secrete in response to food. The minor salivary glands dotted around are mucous producing and usually intact. So after RT you end up with functioning glands producing largely mucous. Hence the sticky mouth. They do recover a little so it’s just patience. Honestly it does get better. It was a year before I was really happy with being able to eat without thinking about it. 

Thank you for that Dani although I didn’t understand most of it lol, but I think I got the gist of it. Every little helps though, Lillian x

Lilian. You are doing really well. You realise it’s a plod but plodding will get there. 
I like to throw in the odd science lesson

Do take medication for your anxiety Steve? I am really struggling with it, just as I wa starting to eat a little bit more. 
Lillian x

Hi Lilian you’re doing really well. It’s early days remember the treatment is pretty brutal but needs to be to get rid of the cancer. Sticky mouth sticks around a while. I never thought it would go but it did only ti he replaced by dry mouth but we have tips for that if it happens. Just be kind to yourself you’ve come a long way. 
hugs Hazel xx

My husband is suffering terrible with this very thick phlegm it’s like glue every few minutes coughing it up . We are now using humidifier hope it helps x

Well to top it all it now seems I have lymphoedema in my throat. 
Lillian x