Constantly coughing up mucus - Allergies Message Board

Mastodon · 08-09-2005, 08:35 PM

Hello, I am Mastodon and I am new to this forum but definitly not new to diseases of the throat & nose. For the better part of four years I have had a fairly consistent dry cough, I went to the doctor about a year ago and got diagnosed with allergies to airborne substances. Then I started having breathing problems along with the coughing and went in and came back with an inhaler, turns out I have asthma too.

The inhaler helps a little but the allergy medicine does nothing for my cough, so I just learned to live with it.

Recently though my cough has become extremely productive. About once every two-three hours I will cough up about a quarter-size amount of clear & yellowish mucus material that looks like thick, slimey, spit with snot in the center. This started about a month ago when I would just cough once or twice a day to remove the mucus. Now it has been getting worse.

I think it may be a postnasal drip because it feels like snot is running down the back of my throat from my nose, but I haven't heard of anyone with postnasal drip coughing up mucus as frequently as I do.

I am having harder times breathing and use my inhaler more often. This is a problem because I have to take constant breaks from work to cough up mucus and I ride my bike uphill there and get extremely exhausted from this.

Does this sound like allergies or something more complicated?

Imagine0591 · 08-09-2005, 09:10 PM

This sounds like you may have a problem. Try explaining it to your doctor, or your parents. I have had allergies for a while now, and I would get shots for it, and it would help me. Just tell your Mom what is going on, and have her call the doctor, because that sounds like it might be a bit frustrating.

Mastodon · 08-09-2005, 09:17 PM

Thanks for your reply, I am pretty nervous right now that it might be something horrible like cystic fibrosis. I tried telling my mom but she hates doctors, she said that we all cough up mucus like I do and it's my allergies, if we go to the doctor then he'll do nothing because he's already given me allergy medication and an inhaler (before I was diagnosed with asthma my mom did not believe I had it despite my difficulties breathing).

karmakarmakarma · 08-09-2005, 10:01 PM

Nope i cough up as much as you do and i have asthma. I suffer from sinusitis and i know it is definately post nasal drip and it probably occurs the most during my sleep.
I also cough up mucous plugs as well! currently trying to find something to reduce this, but i am definately steering away from prescribed medicines cos i hate them. they dont do anything! i'll let u know if i find out anything.

ChippedAway · 08-09-2005, 10:39 PM

Hi Mast, sorry to hear you're not feeling well.

I have cystic fibrosis, and if you're worried, get tested. You most likely don't have it, but it can ease your fears, and the test is simple, painless, and inexpensive, so you have nothing to lose! Anyway, asthma can cause you to cough up mucus too, from the inflamation. So it could be your asthma.

Feel better!