Choking on mucus. No jokes.

Drinking tea with honey... but it’s doing nothing

I can feel this mucus deep in my throat, and if I even try to cough it up, my whole airway just clogs right back up. Then I end up with this pathetic little wheeze, like a cat. If I actually manage to hack it up hard, I'll just be right back where I was this morning.

So I just let the phlegm slide down into my stomach, lungs, wherever it wants to go...

Anyway, what about steam inhalation?
You know, breathing in some kind of menthol through your nose? Is that supposed to help break up the gunk?

edit: wait, isn't inhalation more for clearing out sinus congestion? I can breathe through my nose just fine and I don't have any runny nose issues, so...

ps. thanks to everyone on these forums helping me stay somewhat alive, since clearly nobody else gives a damn

thanks 🙏

Arthur Barnes said:I've been sipping tea with honey... but honestly, it's not doing much.

I can feel this mucus stuck deep in my throat, and if I try to cough it up, my whole airway just feels congested, so I end up making this weak little hacking sound, kind of like a cat. If I actually managed to cough hard enough to clear it, I’d be right back where I was this morning.

So instead, I just let all the phlegm slide down into my stomach, my lungs, wherever it wants to go...

Anyway, what about steam inhalation?
You know, breathing in some menthol through your nose? Would that help break up the gunk?

edit: wait, isn't inhalation more for clearing out sinus congestion? I can breathe through my nose just fine and I'm not even stuffy, so maybe...

thanks 🙏

You really have to cough it up; you can't let that mucus sit in your lower airways.

Try brewing some chamomile tea and inhaling the steam from that.

But I just can't cough it up.

Imagine those clumps of mucus like the base of a chromosome. Now, when you unravel them, they become massive—and that’s exactly what's happening to me. Like, when I cough, the phlegm rises up, but it's not just a little glob... it feels like this endless string. Honestly, I feel like I could spend 20 minutes just trying to dig it out by hand.

The harder I cough, the more it repeats what happened this morning. So now I'm just constantly drinking water and gargling.
Just trying to make it through the night... brought extra pillows so my head stays super, super elevated..

That’s my wish for you—a night without coughing or feeling like you can't breathe. I hope you have a lightning-fast recovery.

🙂 GOODNIGHT

Do you have any idea what happens when all that mucus builds up in your lungs? You end up with pneumonia 😁

So, it's really up to you 🙂

I’d rather live with some phlegm in my lungs than die with it stuck in my throat.
I don't take chances... coughing is a huge no-no for me.

I'm going to play it safe.

Casey Palmer5 said:Do you know what happens when mucus builds up in your lungs? Pneumonia. 😁

It’s up to you... 🙂

I completely agree with Casey Palmer5. Man, just go see a doctor already. You should have done this ages ago... 🙂 Look, unless you promise us you’re seeing a doctor by tomorrow or Monday at the latest, we’re going to have my mom’s friend—who happens to be a pediatrician—take a look at you instead. Please, for all our sakes, just go see a professional. They’ll actually be able to figure out what's going on with your breathing and prescribe something that actually works before things get out of hand. If you wait too long and this moves down into your lungs, you're going to be in serious trouble. I know someone who went through this, and believe me, spending a month stuck in bed is no joke. You already mentioned in your last post that you should see a doctor. These episodes where you can't breathe should have been your wake-up call to get checked out already. Otherwise, you’re going to have a miserable night. So, please, head to the clinic tomorrow or the day after so we can find out what's happening. And let us know how it goes. In the meantime, keep drinking plenty of fluids... ☕ I hope you can get some decent sleep tonight without that shortness of breath... hopefully our advice encourages you to actually get out there for a walk and let us know how you're feeling. 🙂 You should have reached out sooner. Regarding the inhaler, I think it’s pretty standard stuff for dealing with a cold, congestion, sinus issues, or even a sore throat. I’m certainly not an expert like Casey Palmer5, so you’re probably better off following her lead—her advice is always super helpful and spot on. And yeah, you definitely went to see a doctor.🙂

I can’t deal with you anymore, for real... my mother already HAD A FULL CONVERSATION with her pediatrician.

If you actually know how to type on the internet, you probably have more than five years of age. Get a grip and go see a doctor.

Besides, cough syrups are just going to torture you; those suppressants just mask the actual problem if there’s an infection, because the mucus will just stay trapped right where it is.

Since I know you won't be able to get anything without a prescription anyway, I'll just say that in cases like this—assuming there isn't an infection, of course—the best way to handle it is a combination of Benadryl, Albuterol, and Mucinex.

unknown, she was already home while I was out getting ready for college orientation.
I got back around 3, and she’d already arranged for this one to come over... she even went to the drugstore to grab some syrup and stuff.

I just couldn't make it to the doctor in time. And tomorrow is out because they're closed, and they won't treat this as an emergency. Just hoping I can get through to them tomorrow...

edit: music
I wrote this track tonight to capture everything that happened this morning. The instruments are tied to breathing, so that reverse cymbal... that's my attempt at catching my breath.

So, how was your night?

Carol Wilson6 said:So???? how was your night???

Surprisingly good. Slept through the whole thing without any phlegm issues.
Still feel Him deep in my throat, though... but I'm not taking any chances. Water, tea, gargling, syrup.

Arthur Barnes said:Surprisingly good. I slept through the night without any issues or mucus buildup.
I can still feel it deep in my throat, but I'm not taking any chances. Water, tea, gargling, syrup...

We haven't heard anything from Spike Lee, except for a quick check-in this morning. Who knows if he's even awake!😕 I'm hoping everything goes smoothly at the doctor tomorrow and you can finally put all this misery behind you.🙂 Hopefully they can give us an update on what's going on with that mucus. For now, we're all crossing our fingers that it's nothing serious. Looking forward to hearing some good news from you tomorrow.😎 👍 🙂 And I hope you have a surprisingly restful night and manage to get some relief from all this discomfort.🙂

Where the hell is Spike Lee? Did he end up in the hospital or something? Give us a sign so we can stop worrying.

Carol Wilson6 said:Where’s Spike Lee at??? Did he end up in the hospital?? Please check in so we don't worry.

I'm wondering too. I'm right there with Carol Wilson6 on this one. Even if he was just messing with us, I find that hard to believe. Why would anyone mess around with their own health? 😉 👍

Just checking in.
I'm doing alright. Sleeping fine.

Was supposed to see my doctor tomorrow, but I’ve got school stuff to focus on, so I can't just show up and ask for a note... they'll kick me out of class and I'll get zero credit for the absence.

So, I'm heading in Wednesday for the checkup, and I'll grab the excuse note for Tuesday then. If she's working the same shift as I am at school on Wednesday, then I'll just head over Thursday instead.

LOL
I have to admit, I had a good laugh at this—though, honestly, it’s not really a laughing matter...
Look, kid, you’d be much better off actually looking after your health. If things take a turn for the worse—God forbid—all those excuses and wasted hours won't mean a thing to anyone, 🙄

Hey Spike Lee, here's a big kiss just for you, and I bet you'll be feeling 100% again in no time!😘

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:I can't make heads or tails of you anymore... my mom already HAD THE CONVERSATION with the pediatrician.

If you actually know how to type online, you're probably older than five. Get a grip and go see a doctor.

By the way, cough syrups are just going to wear you out, and suppressants might mask what's really happening if there’s an actual infection, since the mucus will just stay stuck where it is.

Since I know you won't be able to get them without a prescription, I'll just mention that in these situations—assuming there isn't an infection—a combination of Benadryl, Albuterol, and Mucinex usually works best.

You're right, Kenneth Hernandez67. My wife has dealt with something similar for about 30 years. It's not asthma, just a type of allergy. She doesn't smoke, she takes care of herself... but she still coughs and clears phlegm all day long. It’s honestly tough to listen to, and it’s hard watching her struggle to clear her throat.

She relies on Ventolin inhalers, Pulmicort, and Claritin regularly. She’s gone through
every test imaginable, and this is the only thing that helps.
She stays hydrated and rinses her mouth and throat with antiseptic constantly.
It isn't easy... but it's what she has to do.

One rule for everyone: seeing a doctor promptly is vital. It's more important than almost anything else.

Take care, Kenneth Hernandez67, and good luck. Best, Spike Lee.

🙂 😉 😎

Just got back from the new hospital... man...

Woke up at 10 PM and couldn't catch my breath... those damn attacks always hit me when I'm sleeping. Totally out of it, just stumbling to the sink trying to cough something up, but nothing comes out, still can't breathe.

My old lady is already getting up, she knows what's happening. I went out to the backyard, tried to clear my throat, nothing. Can't inhale, can't exhale. Struggled for maybe a minute and a half before I finally found this tiny little opening to grab one single breath. And just when you think you're okay, that gap closes right up. No air left.

Another 20 seconds and I ended up dry heaving like crazy, but nothing actually came up from my stomach (?!) and then I finally calmed down and thought, no way am I letting this happen again, we're going to the new hospital.

Got to the ER, they ran my blood work and a differential, hooked me up to a freaking EKG. And an X-ray, too.

After an hour, they told me it’s most likely asthma... damn it.

Got some Albuterol and now I've got more tests tomorrow (btw, are they painful?). Throat swabs, spirometry, stuff like that... hopefully it isn't bad, I hate having foreign objects poked into me.

Honestly don't know what to do, because if it really is asthma, half my life is basically over... not even that, it's just the idea that I could choke at any second..

Arthur Barnes says:

An hour later, I got the news that it’s likely asthma... what a mess.

I was given some Albuterol and I’m heading in tomorrow for lung tests (by the way, are they uncomfortable?). I have to do a throat swab, spirometry, and all that... hopefully it isn't too bad, because I really hate having foreign objects in my body.

Honestly, I'm at a loss. If it really is asthma, I feel like half my life is over... well, it's not even that, it's just the thought that I could suffocate at any moment..

Wake up... millions of people live with asthma. Life adjusts as you go. You aren't the first person to deal with this, nor will you be the last. Be grateful that they actually found the cause; just follow the doctor's orders. It's not the end of the world.

All those tests you're facing are just part of the diagnostic process that everyone goes through... I have unknown... and I have to do these checkups twice a year... they're nothing.

So, tell us—I'm just glad they figured out what's wrong with me so I can finally get medical help.

Good luck with the treatment!

👋 👋

🙂 😉 😎