View Full Version : Thick Mucus/Saliva Problem
Priushugger
11-07-2007, 02:39 PM
My mother has pseudobulbar ALS and has deteriorated to the point that she can no longer speak, move her lips or tongue, close her mouth, or swallow, and has a feeding tube. We are communicating with a dry-erase board. She recently has developed a problem with thick mucus which falls into her throat and blocks her breathing. She can't clear her throat or cough so it's very frightening for both of us. I have removed gelatinous hunks of mucus/saliva from her mouth with swabs and Q-tips but this is very difficult since it is slippery and stretches. She also gets almost dried hunks of mucus/saliva stuck on the roof of her mouth which she scrapes off with her thumbnail. Does anyone have a helpful hint or solution for this problem? Thanks!
CindyM
11-07-2007, 04:26 PM
Hi- you should call your ALS clinic. She may need a cough assist machine. At the very least make sure she gets penty of fluids. Some folks swear that coke helps break up the mucus.
If you can get it with a Q-Tip then her doctor or Respiratory Therapist should be prescribing a suction machine. Start calling them.
AL.
CindyM
11-08-2007, 06:14 PM
Oh right: Suction, not caugh assist. I knew that, LOL. Thanks, Al. Cindy
Priushugger
11-10-2007, 10:50 AM
Thanks for the advice. We got the suction machine yesterday. I didn't know a cough assist machine exhisted so that information will be useful in the future. And after reading other similar questions on site, I found a few other tactics that may help. Again, thanks!
Amanda529
11-11-2007, 06:12 PM
My dad has the same form of ALS as your mother. My dad got a suction machine on 10/18/07 and the machine does really help. However my dad still has the problem just not as bad as before without the suction machine. You will be able to tell a difference!!
Amanda
