Bulbar onset - phlegm

[Colleen15]

Bulbar onset, diagnosed March 2023. I Had a huge issue choking on phlegm today, after drinking tomato juice. Could not breath. What foods are best to avoid? And medications to reduce phlegm? Thank you.

 

[lisa g]

I avoid dairy and take Mucinex. Do you have a feeding tube?

 

[lgelb]

Acidic food and juices may not be good, including citrus (except maybe lemonade depending on how you do with it), tomato-based, and spices. It is not just reducing phlegm but getting rid of it, so you want to stay hydrated and not let it dry up. Pineapple and papaya juices, warm drinks, lemonade, coffee/tea are all worth trying, in addition to medications as Lisa mentions.

It can help to proactively spit into a paper towel before things get bad, as long as you keep up with hydration whether by mouth or tube.

You want to have clean furnace and BiPAP filters/hoses and adjust the temperature/humidity of your space to what's not irritating, part of how phlegm builds up.

 

[Colleen15]

Getting a G tube in August. I do sip water all day.

 

[MupstateNY]

guaifenesin or robitussin (not DM), and check that your humidity is around 40%. i wrote an exhaustive post on this topic a couple months ago. i choked on mucinex. cvs sells guaifenesin tablets, not extended release, can be ground up.

 

[lgelb]

I would only say that 40% or whatever humidity may not be right for everyone -- you must find your own best level. But then it does help to stay with it, even if it requires a humidifier at night at times in furnace season, in addition to the machine's.

 

[SeaGunny]

I agree with everyone here. Avoid Dairy and acidic.

 

[oldgeek]

Drink lots of water all the time. I'm on a vent with a trach and I really suffer when I get dry. Good luck