Is it possible to liquefy the thick mucus?
Question:
I have had recurrent sinus problems for years, including infections and a couple of operations that removed plenty of polips. Over the last year, year and a half, however, everything was going quite well. Daily nasal irrigation, nothing else, was enough to keep me symptoms free. This August, while snorkelling and diving down a few meters, I noticed the air preassure in my left nostril near the eye building up and then being released like with a tire puncture. Probably there was some mucus thas was blocking the air. A few days later all my problems started. I began to produce yellow liquid from my left nostril. Then, I started to feel cold around my chest even though is what hot outside. The mucus was greenish/yellowish and more abundant. I knew it was the beginning of an infection but I kept hopeful that more frequent nasal irrigation might clear it. In the end, one day, after a work out at the gym I sput some mucus and blood. Four days later, since it had not stopped I went to my ENT specialist. He noticed something wrong with my lung, put me on Ciprofloxacin immediately and ordered a chest X-ray. The X-ray confirmed a lung infection. Probably, my sinus infection had gone down to my chest. After two weeks of Cipro the blood had completely cleared but the nose was feeling not ok yet. Plenty of mucus but clear. A week after the Cipro I starting producing green sticky mucus from my nose. I was still feeling cold inside my chest but no blood. Two days ago, I started a one week course of Cefuroxime antibiotic and the cold chest is gone and my nose feels better. It looks like this antibiotic is doing the business better. I still produce lumps of thick, sticky and transparent mucus coming from my left sinuses. I am certainly aware of the dangers of oversusing antibiotics. But nasal irrigation is not good enough when the mucus is trapped inside. I think that if I could make the mucus lining my sinuses more liquid it would be easier for it to be drained and perhaps my problems would improve. So, is it possible to liquefy the sinus mucus? Thanks, Antonio
Response:
On 27 Sep 2004 03:17:41 -0700, a.salc…@btinternet.com (antonio salcedo) wrote: >I think that if I could make the mucus lining my sinuses more liquid >it would be easier for it to be drained and perhaps my problems would >improve. >So, is it possible to liquefy the sinus mucus?
The reason it is think is inflammation or infection or blockage. Only identifying and fixing that cause will be a true solution. Now, you can use guaifnesen or use irrigation too…..
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -antonio salcedo wrote: > I have had recurrent sinus problems for years, including infections > and a couple of operations that removed plenty of polips. > Over the last year, year and a half, however, everything was going > quite well. Daily nasal irrigation, nothing else, was enough to keep > me symptoms free. > This August, while snorkelling and diving down a few meters, I noticed > the air preassure in my left nostril near the eye building up and then > being released like with a tire puncture. Probably there was some > mucus thas was blocking the air. > A few days later all my problems started. I began to produce yellow > liquid from my left nostril. Then, I started to feel cold around my > chest even though is what hot outside. > The mucus was greenish/yellowish and more abundant. I knew it was the > beginning of an infection but I kept hopeful that more frequent nasal > irrigation might clear it. > In the end, one day, after a work out at the gym I sput some mucus and > blood. > Four days later, since it had not stopped I went to my ENT specialist. > He noticed something wrong with my lung, put me on Ciprofloxacin > immediately and ordered a chest X-ray. The X-ray confirmed a lung > infection. Probably, my sinus infection had gone down to my chest. > After two weeks of Cipro the blood had completely cleared but the nose > was feeling not ok yet. Plenty of mucus but clear. > A week after the Cipro I starting producing green sticky mucus from my > nose. > I was still feeling cold inside my chest but no blood. > Two days ago, I started a one week course of Cefuroxime antibiotic and > the cold chest is gone and my nose feels better. > It looks like this antibiotic is doing the business better. > I still produce lumps of thick, sticky and transparent mucus coming > from my left sinuses. > I am certainly aware of the dangers of oversusing antibiotics. But > nasal irrigation is not good enough when the mucus is trapped inside. > I think that if I could make the mucus lining my sinuses more liquid > it would be easier for it to be drained and perhaps my problems would > improve. > So, is it possible to liquefy the sinus mucus? > Thanks, > Antonio
I’ve tried a number of different fluids (in a cup) that are usually mentioned here as sinus rinses and nothing actually dissolves mucus as far as I can tell. At least nothing that you would use a sinus rinse.
Response:
Filed under: Nasal irrigation
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