ElderCare Online    The ElderCare Forum    The ElderCare Forum  Hop To Forum Categories  Homecare & Independent Living    Phlegm and spitting, {sorry}
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
-star Rating Rate It!  Login/Join 
Senior Member
Picture of BlueWaterBeach
Posted
Can anyone please help, and explain to me why my fil has this horrible excessive phelgm, when he tries to clear his mouth, or spit, the stuff is so sticky, and super thick. I can hear it in his throat, and maybe in his chest. He does not have a temp. I have a call in to the doc right now, I am just frustrated and frightened for him.

I know you can't tell me why he has it, or the cause, but how do you deal with it??? What to do?

thanks for any help!!!!
 
Posts: 941 | Registered: February 12, 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Senior Member
Picture of Moms_Buddy
Posted Hide Post
BWB, for plenty of reasons, some relatively innocuous and some quite serious, old folks have phlegm in massive quantities. If this condition has "come on" suddenly with no cold, allergies, etc., I would worry enough to take him to the doc to rule out more serious problems like congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism or other very scary serious stuff.

If he has allergies or a cold, etc., to thin the secretions, he should be drinking tons of water. If the cause of the phlegm is post-nasal drip, a decongestant such as sudafed along with an antihistamine, like claritin could be considered. Mucinex (guifenisin) comes in tablets to reduce mucous as well as being the active ingredient in OTC expectorant cough syrups, such as Tussin. Smile

It goes without saying that you should consult with his doc or the pharmacist to ensure that the OTC meds do not interact with any meds he is already taking. Wink




"She ain't heavy; she's my mother."
 
Posts: 3056 | Location: SE LA | Registered: August 12, 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Senior Member
Picture of Bunnys_grl
Posted Hide Post
Well first Blue does he suffer from seasonal allergies? This is the one of a few times a year this happens to alot of folks (including me Roll Eyes) That yellow mess is all over the place now and could be the reason for at least some of his symptoms.
But it could be something more serious so pat yourself on the back you did good putting a call into the doc Wink
The other thing I forgot to add baby is sometimes fever is not a good indicator of anything specific (MIL case in point doesnt show any signs of fever even with the staph infection she had)
MB made a good point to keep a stethoscope handy to listen to a persons chest during times like these to check for that tell tale rattling when congestion/fluid is present. Wink

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bunnys_grl,


**********************************************
Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
 
Posts: 4662 | Registered: February 07, 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
 Previous Topic | Next Topic powered by eve community  
 

ElderCare Online    The ElderCare Forum    The ElderCare Forum  Hop To Forum Categories  Homecare & Independent Living    Phlegm and spitting, {sorry}

(c) 1997-2008 Prism Innovations, Inc. All Rights Reserved