Re: please help - thick mucus

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

I had a prescription for 1200mg of guafenesine (sp?). The ENT that gave it

to me said that it is a very safe drug.

You could go to your ENT and let him suction it all out.

Are you irrigating?

Hang in there, it sounds like you're almost though this cold.

Pam

On 9/29/07 1:57 AM, " truelori " <lori@...> wrote:

> I really need some advice.

>

> I have an acute sinus infection that started on Monday. I skipped

> chemotherapy this week because of it. I am on antibiotics, and it does

> seem to be slowly getting better. My fever went away, the sinus pain

> is gone.

>

> But now I am having a huge amount of very thick mucus coming out the

> back of my sinuses. I am taking Mucinex as much as allowed (although

> I'm wondering if I could get away with taking a little more) and I am

> drinking a TON of water (no, really, it is a LOT of water, because I

> already usually drink a lot).

>

> Anyway the main problem is I feel like I am going to choke to death on

> the mucus. Is this crazy? Or could it really happen? And if it COULD

> happen, what can I do about it so it doesn't happen???

>

> I haven't really been able to cough it up. I just tend to loosen it

> and then have to swallow it, because I can't clear it on the first

> cough, and then I would have to basically breathe IN the mucus to get a

> breath in to cough it up. This is scaring the hell out of me, to be

> honest. I have been going about 24 hours now feeling this way. I know

> I am starting to panic.

>

> I went in the bathroom with a hot shower running and that did seem to

> loosen it, but I still didn't actually cough anything up. I'm even

> afraid to go to sleep now.

>

> Any info/help/shared experience greatly appreciated. I had this

> problem one time before for just one cough basically, but I never even

> had this problem when I had pneumonia a couple of times or in 20 years

> of Samters before.

>

> Thanks

>

> Lori in NY

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Pam -- Yep, guaifenesin is exactly what's in Mucinex, and the

prescription dose is the same as the over-the-counter.

I'm not sure if I'm getting over this completely or not with the

antibiotics I am on, but we'll see -- it's definitely more than a

cold because I had high fevers during the week, up to 102.

I am going to see my ENT on Tuesday but I doubt she'll be able to

suction much out because there are major polyps in the way. There's

no way I'm having surgery again so soon (just had it in January).

I don't know what exactly brought the infection on. I don't need my

asthma and polyp meds during the chemo because it suppresses my

immune system and, hence, the polyps, but in between chemo cycles

this infection come on very quickly and now the sinuses are a mess

again!

I actually stopped irrigating in January after I suspected that

irrigation could have pushed an infection up into my sinuses. Before

January, after I had been irrigating for a while with the Water-Pik,

I hadn't had a sinus infection literally in YEARS. It was tricky

because I also had a gum abscess and no one believed me when I told

them I did (until I had emergency surgery!) and I've since been told

it was impossible that I had a gum abscess there (as recently as

yesterday an oral surgeon told me this) because there was no tooth.

But I DID have one.

Anyway I do use some saline sprays such as Simply Saline and ENT-SOL,

but I do not irrigate with the machine anymore. I'm not sure if I

will ever go back to it or not. I had asked many times about needing

to sterilize the water, and everyone seemed to say no, but I'm not

sure if that's true either, and I have to wonder about it.

Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

I hope today is a better day for you.

A friend of mine had many warts on his hands. A doctor injected chemo drugs

directly into the warts. They died and the skin healed.

I mention this to you because I am wondering if that might work on polyps.

You happen to be in a perfect position to ask about it.

Because you are flaring up between treatments, I suspect there is something

in your environment that is irritating you. I remember you moved to a new

apartment because of mold. My sensitivities are better or worse depending

on my overall health. There is plenty of epoxy and wood work going on in my

shop this week and I can walk through to my office without coughing. That

would not have been true a few years ago.

One more thought - Did they turn the heat on recently because the nights

have been chilly.

Pam

On 9/29/07 9:22 AM, " truelori " <lori@...> wrote:

> Thanks, Pam -- Yep, guaifenesin is exactly what's in Mucinex, and the

> prescription dose is the same as the over-the-counter.

>

> I'm not sure if I'm getting over this completely or not with the

> antibiotics I am on, but we'll see -- it's definitely more than a

> cold because I had high fevers during the week, up to 102.

>

> I am going to see my ENT on Tuesday but I doubt she'll be able to

> suction much out because there are major polyps in the way. There's

> no way I'm having surgery again so soon (just had it in January).

>

> I don't know what exactly brought the infection on. I don't need my

> asthma and polyp meds during the chemo because it suppresses my

> immune system and, hence, the polyps, but in between chemo cycles

> this infection come on very quickly and now the sinuses are a mess

> again!

>

> I actually stopped irrigating in January after I suspected that

> irrigation could have pushed an infection up into my sinuses. Before

> January, after I had been irrigating for a while with the Water-Pik,

> I hadn't had a sinus infection literally in YEARS. It was tricky

> because I also had a gum abscess and no one believed me when I told

> them I did (until I had emergency surgery!) and I've since been told

> it was impossible that I had a gum abscess there (as recently as

> yesterday an oral surgeon told me this) because there was no tooth.

> But I DID have one.

>

> Anyway I do use some saline sprays such as Simply Saline and ENT-SOL,

> but I do not irrigate with the machine anymore. I'm not sure if I

> will ever go back to it or not. I had asked many times about needing

> to sterilize the water, and everyone seemed to say no, but I'm not

> sure if that's true either, and I have to wonder about it.

>

> Lori

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori! Just read about your problem. I can sure relate to that. I think the nasal irrigating with neilmed solution seemIs to help me the most with decreasing mucous. Of course, it really never goes away~ just gets more tolerable. Samsters can really be frustrating since it there is no cure for it ~ Just control with one thing or another. Hang in there and hope you get better. Ruthtruelori <lori@...> wrote: I really need some advice.I have an acute sinus infection that started on Monday. I skipped

chemotherapy this week because of it. I am on antibiotics, and it does seem to be slowly getting better. My fever went away, the sinus pain is gone.But now I am having a huge amount of very thick mucus coming out the back of my sinuses. I am taking Mucinex as much as allowed (although I'm wondering if I could get away with taking a little more) and I am drinking a TON of water (no, really, it is a LOT of water, because I already usually drink a lot).Anyway the main problem is I feel like I am going to choke to death on the mucus. Is this crazy? Or could it really happen? And if it COULD happen, what can I do about it so it doesn't happen??? I haven't really been able to cough it up. I just tend to loosen it and then have to swallow it, because I can't clear it on the first cough, and then I would have to basically breathe IN the mucus to get a breath in to cough it up. This is scaring the hell out of

me, to be honest. I have been going about 24 hours now feeling this way. I know I am starting to panic. I went in the bathroom with a hot shower running and that did seem to loosen it, but I still didn't actually cough anything up. I'm even afraid to go to sleep now.Any info/help/shared experience greatly appreciated. I had this problem one time before for just one cough basically, but I never even had this problem when I had pneumonia a couple of times or in 20 years of Samters before. ThanksLori in NY

Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Answers - Check it out.

[Guest guest]

Water quality from most domestic water companies is usually quite

safe. I have a well which tests O.K. but just to be on the safe side

I add 4ml of providone iodine to each gallon of irrigation solution.

This quantity is based on a published report, by some southern

California doctors, quite a number of years ago that stated 8 to 10

drops (approx. 1/2ml) per quart of water would purify it for drinking.

4ml is about twice that concentration and has proved to be no problem.

Carl

> Anyway I do use some saline sprays such as Simply Saline and ENT-SOL,

> but I do not irrigate with the machine anymore. I'm not sure if I

> will ever go back to it or not. I had asked many times about needing

> to sterilize the water, and everyone seemed to say no, but I'm not

> sure if that's true either, and I have to wonder about it.

>

> Lori

>

[Guest guest]

The water in my area is not great. I buy gallons of distilled water and use the Neilmed bottle and saline packets. I heat my distilled water in a clean glass and then transfer it to the Neilmed bottle. I find the Neilmed bottle allows the irrigation to be more gentle then the waterpik. I also feel that I can better control the position of my head and how much water I put into my sinuses. Here is something else I do that REALLY helps. As soon as I put some water into my sinuses, I bend over so my head is below my knees. I hold this position for as long as I can and then when I raise my head up, I am able to blow more fun stuff out of my head! JaneCarl Ondry <ondry@...> wrote: Water quality from most domestic water companies is usually quitesafe. I have a well which tests O.K. but just to be on the safe sideI add 4ml of providone iodine to each gallon of irrigation solution. This quantity is based on a published report, by some southernCalifornia doctors, quite a number of years ago that stated 8 to 10drops (approx. 1/2ml) per quart of water would purify it for drinking.4ml is about twice that concentration and has proved to be no problem. Carl> Anyway I do use some saline sprays such as Simply Saline and ENT-SOL, > but I do not irrigate with the machine anymore. I'm not sure if I > will ever go back to it or not. I had asked many times about needing > to sterilize the

water, and everyone seemed to say no, but I'm not > sure if that's true either, and I have to wonder about it.> > Lori>

Catch up on fall's hot new shows on TV. Watch previews, get listings, and more!

[Guest guest]

For post nasal drip I find that gargling with water, as hot as you can stand

it, is effective.

--

Ken

> From: " truelori " <lori@...>

> Reply-samters

> Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 05:57:07 -0000

> samters

> Subject: please help - thick mucus

>

> I really need some advice.

>

> I have an acute sinus infection that started on Monday. I skipped

> chemotherapy this week because of it. I am on antibiotics, and it does

> seem to be slowly getting better. My fever went away, the sinus pain

> is gone.

>

> But now I am having a huge amount of very thick mucus coming out the

> back of my sinuses. I am taking Mucinex as much as allowed (although

> I'm wondering if I could get away with taking a little more) and I am

> drinking a TON of water (no, really, it is a LOT of water, because I

> already usually drink a lot).

>

> Anyway the main problem is I feel like I am going to choke to death on

> the mucus. Is this crazy? Or could it really happen? And if it COULD

> happen, what can I do about it so it doesn't happen???

>

> I haven't really been able to cough it up. I just tend to loosen it

> and then have to swallow it, because I can't clear it on the first

> cough, and then I would have to basically breathe IN the mucus to get a

> breath in to cough it up. This is scaring the hell out of me, to be

> honest. I have been going about 24 hours now feeling this way. I know

> I am starting to panic.

>

> I went in the bathroom with a hot shower running and that did seem to

> loosen it, but I still didn't actually cough anything up. I'm even

> afraid to go to sleep now.

>

> Any info/help/shared experience greatly appreciated. I had this

> problem one time before for just one cough basically, but I never even

> had this problem when I had pneumonia a couple of times or in 20 years

> of Samters before.

>

> Thanks

>

> Lori in NY

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Pam -- I think the way I wrote that wasn't clear. I wasn't

flaring up between treatments at all, only after my last chemo before

I was supposed to get the next one. I didn't even really flare up,

it's just I got a terrible sinus infection, probably because my

immune system is suppresed, and then the polyps got worse again after

the infection came.

I don't think injecting something into polyps would work because the

polyps are in the sinuses -- nasal polyps is really a misnomer,

although certainly polyps can BE in the nose and mine often are. But

they're really sinus polyps and hence how would you inject them? I

know some do get Kenalog injections, I think, into the polyps

somehow ... I think ... and maybe those injections then spread in

the surrounding tissue and shrink the polyps. I have never had

those.

I've never heard of chemotherapy being injected directly into a site

except maybe in ovarian cancer where sometimes they will pump into

into the abdomen or some types of brain cancer may have ways of

getting chemo into the brain or CSF in rare cases.

Chemotherapy gets rid of my Samters temporarily because of the

dampening of the immune system. My IgEs also go way low along all

other inflammatory markers during chemo.

Anyway my Samters is quite severe and as soon as I am off chemo

permanently it WILL get bad again. I do not think this is

environmental, and I do not feel very hopeful about it. But I will

start taking my meds again (Singular and Advair and Nasonex) after

the last cycle of chemo, and those are what I use that control my

symptoms generally pretty well. I don't need them during chemo.

The health problems I had from the mold before we moved were not

related to the Samters at all, it was severe joint swelling and pain.

Well, thanks for the thoughts! I am pretty down this week. I

still have a lot of coughing and now severe leg swelling, and it

looks like the chemo may have induced heart failure, which at 38

years old is not exactly thrilling news but it is what it is.

Lori

>

> > Thanks, Pam -- Yep, guaifenesin is exactly what's in Mucinex, and

the

> > prescription dose is the same as the over-the-counter.

> >

> > I'm not sure if I'm getting over this completely or not with the

> > antibiotics I am on, but we'll see -- it's definitely more than a

> > cold because I had high fevers during the week, up to 102.

> >

> > I am going to see my ENT on Tuesday but I doubt she'll be able to

> > suction much out because there are major polyps in the way.

There's

> > no way I'm having surgery again so soon (just had it in January).

> >

> > I don't know what exactly brought the infection on. I don't need

my

> > asthma and polyp meds during the chemo because it suppresses my

> > immune system and, hence, the polyps, but in between chemo cycles

> > this infection come on very quickly and now the sinuses are a mess

> > again!

> >

> > I actually stopped irrigating in January after I suspected that

> > irrigation could have pushed an infection up into my sinuses.

Before

> > January, after I had been irrigating for a while with the Water-

Pik,

> > I hadn't had a sinus infection literally in YEARS. It was tricky

> > because I also had a gum abscess and no one believed me when I

told

> > them I did (until I had emergency surgery!) and I've since been

told

> > it was impossible that I had a gum abscess there (as recently as

> > yesterday an oral surgeon told me this) because there was no

tooth.

> > But I DID have one.

> >

> > Anyway I do use some saline sprays such as Simply Saline and ENT-

SOL,

> > but I do not irrigate with the machine anymore. I'm not sure if I

> > will ever go back to it or not. I had asked many times about

needing

> > to sterilize the water, and everyone seemed to say no, but I'm not

> > sure if that's true either, and I have to wonder about it.

> >

> > Lori

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Oh Lori, what a lot to deal with :-( Sending you love and best wishes that your health improves as soon as possible! I hope you have the love and support around you that you need. (((((HUGS)))))) Becky xtruelori <lori@...> wrote: Thanks Pam -- I think the way I wrote that wasn't clear. I wasn't flaring up between treatments at all, only after my last chemo before I was supposed to get the next one. I didn't even really flare up, it's just I got a terrible sinus infection, probably

because my immune system is suppresed, and then the polyps got worse again after the infection came.I don't think injecting something into polyps would work because the polyps are in the sinuses -- nasal polyps is really a misnomer, although certainly polyps can BE in the nose and mine often are. But they're really sinus polyps and hence how would you inject them? I know some do get Kenalog injections, I think, into the polyps somehow ... I think ... and maybe those injections then spread in the surrounding tissue and shrink the polyps. I have never had those. I've never heard of chemotherapy being injected directly into a site except maybe in ovarian cancer where sometimes they will pump into into the abdomen or some types of brain cancer may have ways of getting chemo into the brain or CSF in rare cases. Chemotherapy gets rid of my Samters temporarily because of the dampening of the immune

system. My IgEs also go way low along all other inflammatory markers during chemo. Anyway my Samters is quite severe and as soon as I am off chemo permanently it WILL get bad again. I do not think this is environmental, and I do not feel very hopeful about it. But I will start taking my meds again (Singular and Advair and Nasonex) after the last cycle of chemo, and those are what I use that control my symptoms generally pretty well. I don't need them during chemo. The health problems I had from the mold before we moved were not related to the Samters at all, it was severe joint swelling and pain.Well, thanks for the thoughts! I am pretty down this week. I still have a lot of coughing and now severe leg swelling, and it looks like the chemo may have induced heart failure, which at 38 years old is not exactly thrilling news but it is what it is. :(Lori> > > Thanks, Pam -- Yep, guaifenesin is exactly what's in Mucinex, and the> > prescription dose is the same as the over-the-counter. > > > > I'm not sure if I'm getting over this completely or not with the> > antibiotics I am on, but we'll see -- it's definitely more than a> > cold because I had high fevers during the week, up to 102.> > > > I am going to see my ENT on Tuesday but I doubt she'll be able to> > suction much out because there are major polyps in the way. There's> > no way I'm having surgery again so soon (just had it in January).> > > > I don't know what exactly brought the infection on. I don't need

my> > asthma and polyp meds during the chemo because it suppresses my> > immune system and, hence, the polyps, but in between chemo cycles> > this infection come on very quickly and now the sinuses are a mess> > again!> > > > I actually stopped irrigating in January after I suspected that> > irrigation could have pushed an infection up into my sinuses. Before> > January, after I had been irrigating for a while with the Water-Pik,> > I hadn't had a sinus infection literally in YEARS. It was tricky> > because I also had a gum abscess and no one believed me when I told> > them I did (until I had emergency surgery!) and I've since been told> > it was impossible that I had a gum abscess there (as recently as> > yesterday an oral surgeon told me this) because there was no tooth.> > But I DID have one.> >

> > Anyway I do use some saline sprays such as Simply Saline and ENT-SOL,> > but I do not irrigate with the machine anymore. I'm not sure if I> > will ever go back to it or not. I had asked many times about needing> > to sterilize the water, and everyone seemed to say no, but I'm not> > sure if that's true either, and I have to wonder about it.> > > > Lori> > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

Dear Lori

My prayers are with you. I hope you recover from everything soon. Take care Berna

Re: please help - thick mucus

Thanks Pam -- I think the way I wrote that wasn't clear. I wasn't flaring up between treatments at all, only after my last chemo before I was supposed to get the next one. I didn't even really flare up, it's just I got a terrible sinus infection, probably because my immune system is suppresed, and then the polyps got worse again after the infection came.I don't think injecting something into polyps would work because the polyps are in the sinuses -- nasal polyps is really a misnomer, although certainly polyps can BE in the nose and mine often are. But they're really sinus polyps and hence how would you inject them? I know some do get Kenalog injections, I think, into the polyps somehow ... I think ... and maybe those injections then spread in the surrounding tissue and shrink the polyps. I have never had those. I've never heard of chemotherapy being injected directly into a site except maybe in ovarian cancer where sometimes they will pump into into the abdomen or some types of brain cancer may have ways of getting chemo into the brain or CSF in rare cases. Chemotherapy gets rid of my Samters temporarily because of the dampening of the immune system. My IgEs also go way low along all other inflammatory markers during chemo. Anyway my Samters is quite severe and as soon as I am off chemo permanently it WILL get bad again. I do not think this is environmental, and I do not feel very hopeful about it. But I will start taking my meds again (Singular and Advair and Nasonex) after the last cycle of chemo, and those are what I use that control my symptoms generally pretty well. I don't need them during chemo. The health problems I had from the mold before we moved were not related to the Samters at all, it was severe joint swelling and pain.Well, thanks for the thoughts! I am pretty down this week. I still have a lot of coughing and now severe leg swelling, and it looks like the chemo may have induced heart failure, which at 38 years old is not exactly thrilling news but it is what it is. :(Lori> > > Thanks, Pam -- Yep, guaifenesin is exactly what's in Mucinex, and the> > prescription dose is the same as the over-the-counter. > > > > I'm not sure if I'm getting over this completely or not with the> > antibiotics I am on, but we'll see -- it's definitely more than a> > cold because I had high fevers during the week, up to 102.> > > > I am going to see my ENT on Tuesday but I doubt she'll be able to> > suction much out because there are major polyps in the way. There's> > no way I'm having surgery again so soon (just had it in January).> > > > I don't know what exactly brought the infection on. I don't need my> > asthma and polyp meds during the chemo because it suppresses my> > immune system and, hence, the polyps, but in between chemo cycles> > this infection come on very quickly and now the sinuses are a mess> > again!> > > > I actually stopped irrigating in January after I suspected that> > irrigation could have pushed an infection up into my sinuses. Before> > January, after I had been irrigating for a while with the Water-Pik,> > I hadn't had a sinus infection literally in YEARS. It was tricky> > because I also had a gum abscess and no one believed me when I told> > them I did (until I had emergency surgery!) and I've since been told> > it was impossible that I had a gum abscess there (as recently as> > yesterday an oral surgeon told me this) because there was no tooth.> > But I DID have one.> > > > Anyway I do use some saline sprays such as Simply Saline and ENT-SOL,> > but I do not irrigate with the machine anymore. I'm not sure if I> > will ever go back to it or not. I had asked many times about needing> > to sterilize the water, and everyone seemed to say no, but I'm not> > sure if that's true either, and I have to wonder about it.> > > > Lori> > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

Lori,

My thoughts are with you. I am so sorry you have so much to deal with.