How do you thin mucous?

Question:

I’ve been having reoccuring sinus infections about every 2 months over the last year, each time temporarily relieved with antibiotics. I believe that I am getting them because I have non-allergic rhinitis as well as allergies, and my mucous is just too thick to drain out properly. Sometimes it’s just like thick gooey egg-white (changing color once it gets infected though) and besides being impossible to blow out, it makes me feel like I’m choking and might suffocate from how thick it is when it finally does start draining down my throat. What can you do besides nasal irrigation to help drain the sinuses? Isn’t there anything you can take on a fairly consistent basis that will thin the mucous when it is obvious you’re about to be in the throes of a sinus infection just because it won’t drain out?? Christy Ann

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -MailCA wrote: > I’ve been having reoccuring sinus infections about every 2 months over the last > year, each time temporarily relieved with antibiotics. I believe that I am > getting them because I have non-allergic rhinitis as well as allergies, and my > mucous is just too thick to drain out properly. > Sometimes it’s just like thick gooey egg-white (changing color once it gets > infected though) and besides being impossible to blow out, it makes me feel > like I’m choking and might suffocate from how thick it is when it finally does > start draining down my throat. > What can you do besides nasal irrigation to help drain the sinuses? Isn’t > there anything you can take on a fairly consistent basis that will thin the > mucous when it is obvious you’re about to be in the throes of a sinus infection > just because it won’t drain out?? > Christy Ann

Have you tried irrigating with the Grossan nasal irrigator? It ALWAYS flushes all the junk out of my nasopharynx before it can ooze its way down my throat. What I do is I take a hot bath and lie down in the hot water. The steam rising off the water, and the heat, helps open up my nasal passages. Then I do the irrigation, and it is more effective that way. I’ve tried so-called "mucus thinners" like guaifenisin and N-acetyl-cysteine, but neither ever helped me much. You may have some chronic blockages in your nasal passages or sinus ducts. If so, you need to see an ENT. He can prescribe steroid sprays to reduce the swelling; or if that fails, surgery. — Steven D. Litvintchouk Email: s…@mitre.org Disclaimer: As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed herein are not those of my employer.

Response:

"MailCA" <mai…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20010218000746.17163.00003192@ng-fi1.aol.com… > What can you do besides nasal irrigation to help drain the sinuses? Isn’t > there anything you can take on a fairly consistent basis that will thin the > mucous when it is obvious you’re about to be in the throes of a sinus infection > just because it won’t drain out?? > Christy Ann

Guaifenesin is reputed to do that. You can ask your doctor to prescribe it (such as Guaifenex G). (I think that’s generic for Duratuss G.) Doesn’t seem to work for me though. I’m taking it now, but my mucous is still as thick as hell. Drinking a lot of water is supposed to help too. I also do that, but still have thick mucous. In Europe "Mucomyst" (acetylcysteine) is prescribed to thin mucous, rather than guaifenesin. I don’t know why different substances are prescribed for that in different countries. It used to be available here in the U.S. as a dietary supplement, so I tried it. Also didn’t work. Adding Alkalol to irrigation water is reputed by some to thin mucous (that OTC product is advertised to do so). I’ve tried that, and really don’t notice if it really does that. So, I haven’t really found a solution to thick mucous. Let us know if you find one. It’s true, as Steven says, that irrigation can wash our mucous. But that doesn’t stop it from coming back again. One isn’t going to irrigate every half hour, including all night.

Response:

For both you and MS, this is what nas and is helping me: I use the Breath-Ease, as a spray, all day long, as often as I think of it. I can’t tell you what a difference it has made for me. This is combined with the irrigation with same and I also add GSE to bin. What happens, I think, with the spray, is that each time I use it, it helps to flush some stuff out. That means, it never gets to be post nasal as it all runs out. I need to blow my nose about 10 minutes after I take it and it moves all that gunk out. I am really pleased with this, especially as I can no longer use the Entex that I had been using. (Never was sure that it worked, anyway.) Drink as many fluids as I remember/can. Have never been much of a drinker and I can’t help but wonder if this didn’t start the problem. Have to force fluids into myself. Susan MailCA <mai…@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20010218000746.17163.00003192@ng-fi1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve been having reoccuring sinus infections about every 2 months over the last > year, each time temporarily relieved with antibiotics. I believe that I am > getting them because I have non-allergic rhinitis as well as allergies, and my > mucous is just too thick to drain out properly. > Sometimes it’s just like thick gooey egg-white (changing color once it gets > infected though) and besides being impossible to blow out, it makes me feel > like I’m choking and might suffocate from how thick it is when it finally does > start draining down my throat. > What can you do besides nasal irrigation to help drain the sinuses? Isn’t > there anything you can take on a fairly consistent basis that will thin the > mucous when it is obvious you’re about to be in the throes of a sinus infection > just because it won’t drain out?? > Christy Ann

Response:

Yes, it’s good to spray saline a lot, besides irrigating. Yet, you can’t spray it all night, and that’s when the most PND accumulates. "Disasterer" <sso…@spamnot.frontiernet.net> wrote in message

news:96p5k1$oh8$1@node17.cwnet.frontiernet.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> For both you and MS, this is what nas and is helping me: I use the > Breath-Ease, as a spray, all day long, as often as I think of it. I can’t > tell you what a difference it has made for me. This is combined with the > irrigation with same and I also add GSE to bin. What happens, I think, with > the spray, is that each time I use it, it helps to flush some stuff out. > That means, it never gets to be post nasal as it all runs out. I need to > blow my nose about 10 minutes after I take it and it moves all that gunk > out. I am really pleased with this, especially as I can no longer use the > Entex that I had been using. (Never was sure that it worked, anyway.) > Drink as many fluids as I remember/can. Have never been much of a drinker > and I can’t help but wonder if this didn’t start the problem. Have to force > fluids into myself. > Susan > MailCA <mai…@aol.com> wrote in message > news:20010218000746.17163.00003192@ng-fi1.aol.com… > > I’ve been having reoccuring sinus infections about every 2 months over the > last > > year, each time temporarily relieved with antibiotics. I believe that I > am > > getting them because I have non-allergic rhinitis as well as allergies, > and my > > mucous is just too thick to drain out properly. > > Sometimes it’s just like thick gooey egg-white (changing color once it > gets > > infected though) and besides being impossible to blow out, it makes me > feel > > like I’m choking and might suffocate from how thick it is when it finally > does > > start draining down my throat. > > What can you do besides nasal irrigation to help drain the sinuses? Isn’t > > there anything you can take on a fairly consistent basis that will thin > the > > mucous when it is obvious you’re about to be in the throes of a sinus > infection > > just because it won’t drain out?? > > Christy Ann

Response:

Protolytic enzymes such as papain and bormelain work to thin mucus by dissoloving the "bonds". However should be taken bucally. My product Clear.ease is a combination of papain and bromelain for buccal use. Information at http://www.sinus-relief.com/clearease.html There are references there too. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com http://www.TinnitusRelief.net

Response:

I use the Breath-Ease, as a spray, all day long, as often as I think of it. I can’t tell you what a difference it has made for me. This is combined with the irrigation with same and I also add GSE to bin. What happens, I think, with the spray, is that each time I use it, it helps to flush some stuff out. That means, it never gets to be post nasal as it all runs out ******** Actually it is the fact that the Breathe.ease stimulates cilia action that makes the difference. Using saline with benzalkonium wouldn’t do the same thing no matter how often you spray in many persons. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com http://www.TinnitusRelief.net

Response:

The very first thing to do to thin mucus is to take in fluids until urine turns light. Preferrable hot tea. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com http://www.TinnitusRelief.net

Response:

I’ve noticed hot tea mentioned frequently in this discussion group as a beverage of choice for sinusitis. I think it should be mentioned that large amounts of REGULAR tea could lead to dehydration and other adverse effects due to excessive intake of caffeine. I think that decaffeinated tea, or certain herbal teas, would be a better choice for FREQUENT usage, such as in attempting to rehydrate the body. (If tea, rather than water or another beverage, is to be used for that purpose… ) Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I just thought that the suggestions of lots of hot tea needed clarification. (I’m unfortunately all too familiar with problems related to excessive consumption of caffeine containing beverages, including tea.) Craig

Response:

Irrigation works best for me. Try the waterPik with the Grossan attachment and irrigate with Alkolol available at the pharmacy. It really helped me. "MailCA" <mai…@aol.com> wrote in message

Response:

Filed under: Nasal irrigation

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