HI MSIDGY,
CAN RELATE TO THAT, ON OXYGEN, SO NO SMOKING SINCE FEV OF 2013. I GET THIS STRINGY MUCUS ALSO, WHICH SOMETIMES MAKES ME GAG. WAS TOLD TO DRINK WARM WATER OR GINGER TEA, TO HELP BREAK IT UP. HOPE THIS HELPS. OH, WHAT IS AN ACAPELLA DEVICE PLEASE.
I WRITE IN CAPS SO I CAN SEE.
HUGS
ELEANOR

HI,!

WILL WRITE IN CAPS FOR YOU ! THE ACAPELLA DEVICE WAS PRESCRIBED BY MY DR. ITS A SORT OF HORN SHAPED UNIT THAT YOU BLOW INTO IT AND IT VIBRATES ...IT FEELS WEIRD BUT YOU CAN FEEL THE VIBRATIONS. THEY LOOSEN THING UP SO YOU CAN GET RID OF IY

WE GOT OURS FROM OUR OXYGEN SUPPLIER. ITS PRESCRIPTION ONLY I THINK. OVERINFLATED PRICE OF $60.00!

IT WORKS WELL I THINK. I NEED TO USE IT AGAIN BUT DIDNT WANT TO LOOSEN UP TOO MUCH AT ONCE AS I CANT GET IT UP. BUT IT DEFINATELY WORKS.

SITYLADY38,

YOU CAN INCREASE (OR DECREASE) THE SIZE OF THE TYPE USING YOUR COMPUTER KEYBOARD:

WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE CTRL KEY, USE THE WHEEL ON YOUR MOUSE TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE TYPE.

I HOPE THIS HELPS.

BEST WISHES,
SUSAN

I take NAC that I get at the health food store and it thins the mucus. But I know what you mean about the stretchy mucus. when I was very sick this spring I was too weak some days to cough it up and had to actually reach into my throat with a napkin and pull it out. I was amazed at the amount but it sure felt good when it came out. Hot water, lemon and honey were my other help then.

The thick stretchy mucus is a "Mucus Plug".
I started coughing them up when I started a daily inhaler a few years ago. Freaked me out!
My dr said that it is good to get those up as otherwise they sit in our lungs & rot, which is what usually starts a bacterial infection for me.
We've had some lovely discussions in the past, so if you do a "discussion search" for Mucus Plug I think there are 8 or more good discussion on them LOL
---here is a lovely link that is more than you probably ever wanted to know, but good info;
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/phlegm-color-meaning.html
http://www.mysinustory.com/mucuscolor.html
ty to Dennis once again http://www.dailystrength.org/c/COPD_Emphysema/forum/17564737-question-mucus/page-2

Boldprint, the lady has trouble with her vision, that is why she types in caps.


SITYLADY, I ALSO HAVE THAT. IT IS BECUSE THE LONGER THE MUCUS STAYS IN YOUR LUNGS, THE THICKER IT GETS, SO TAKE YOUR MUCINEX, DRINK WATER, AND USE A VIBRATING DEVICE, (ACAPELLA, FLUTTER VALVE, ECT) TO HELP COUGH IT UP AND OUT.

BJ

Msidgy, the comment was also meant for you, since it was your post !! But it seems like you are taking care of it best you can...

Hugs
BJ

I tried using the keyboard/mouse to change the size of the text - never heard of that, interesting option. However, I pick font settings usually through browser menu options, but you must've already tried that. Sitylady38, if you need to investigate other options let me know - send me a message.

COOL!
i have problems seeing also & I have my font size bigger on my computer, but i didnt know about the CTRL & moving mouse!
thank you!

gosh, we learn about mucus & how to work computer in one topic LOL

Thanks to Jarca. Now, I have a name---- to what I call "sticky mucus". It is so thick and sticky that I choke on it and can not seem to get it out of me. I have actually thrown some of it up. Not fun. I tend to panic because the sticky mucus is literally blocking my trachea and throat.

My doctor gives me generic Singulair (Montelukast Sodium) to take prn when I have too much mucus. It works very well.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0954611103003093

these mucus plugs are not only gross, but are dangerous too.
Last November we almost lost one of our beloved members due to a mucus plug that blocked his air passage. (Luckily the ambulance people were able to dislodge it and get him breathing).
If I remember right, he was given a vest to wear that vibrates.

Blueiris; I have been in that spot where i have vomited trying to cough these up; so scary! ((((HUGS))))

So please all, summer is upon us be double viligant on keeping hydrated. And talk to your dr about something that may help loosen you up.
(My dr has me take guafenisen (sp?) to help loosen mine, but NEVER am i supposed to take a cough suppressant as I need to cough---as annoying as that can be.)

I am going to ask my dr about these "devices" and what may help me. Do they really seem to help???
also, if a Dr. were to prescribe it would medicare pay for it???
and; has anyone had a dr prescribe or recommend any certain type?

Jarca, that sounds scary! I worry about that too.

I actually had to ask my pulmonologist ...said is there a device I can get. And he wrote a RX for the Acapella Device!

After reading what you wrote am getting my water out of fridge. I drink coffee all the time do think I get dehydrated.

I quit smoking in 2013, and right away stopped coughing. I felt good for a while but still didn't cough. But continued to feel worse. I do vape but not very much.

I bought the Acapella Device brought it home and lost it. Not having much energy to seriously look for it.

I did still have mucus and couldn't ever get anything up, ever. I knew that was not good.so found my Acapella and YES it works. Am now getting these plugs up though not all of them. Hard to get out of my throat I guess cause everything is weak But am getting them out of there now. They are wierd One looked really weird. Prob been there since I quit smoking. I actually stopped the Acapella to lesson the amounts to cough on up so doing it more gradually. They actually can work right away,

It works tons better than just mucin ex alone. My suggestion would be to get one ASAP but can't really suggest that as it's an RX

I am thinking my breathing is better but hate to say anything yet....

Jarca, the Acapella does like the vest you mentioned. It vibrates. You can't really think it's doing anything. I can't blow into it very hard but get a soft vibrating feeling in my face , upper lung area.

And yup, It works! Finally getting these plugs up! It's bound to help me!