Benzonatate. If the phlegm is causing constant coughing, this medication relaxes the esophagus. Works wonders for my mother's dry cough. Perhaps it is worth a try for a phlegmy cough.
He probably needs to be suctioned. You can be taught how to do this at home. Basically, it's like a long straw attached to an air pump that sucks the mucus out of a person's throat.
In the meantime, avoid allowing him to lie flat on his back - because that will exacerbate the issue.
Ffirst off the Hospice RN,Lvn should Recognize he needs meds to help that issue. The Hospice nurses prescribed my mom..I know it sounds weird but its actually an eye drop(the name escapes me though) But it definitely helped .
Please call his doctor first but Mucinex can be very helpful with thinning the mucus and allowing it to drain more easily. It can be taken every 12 hours as needed. I am a nurse and my mom has this issue too, Mucinex 1 12 hour tab daily has been very helpful for her. Good luck!
BarbBrooklyn's suggestion of scopolamine patches reminded me that my father dealt with this during the last week of his life. Someone (I think it was the doctor who specialized in treating athletes - and how she got involved was one of the issues that she had to address) scripted for a scopolamine patch.
When I researched it, I found there's a potential interaction with glaucoma. My father had low tension glaucoma so I asked a staff nurse to hold off until I got clearance from his ophthalmologist, who was out of town, but the very, very competent and high performing staff got another ophthalmologist to return my call.
He had analyzed the situation and said that he didn't see a potential interaction or conflict. So I allowed the patch to be applied.
In retrospect, I don't think my father had as much mucus production once the patch was used, but this also was 2.5 years ago and my memories of hospice are fading.
My FIL was on Guaifenesin for years--but it was a prescription strength, and it did really help with his deep, deep cough that just was always 'stuck'.
However, if your dad is actively gagging, that's another matter.
Suctioning will work better, and moving him from side to the other side. However, that is a learned skill and pretty gross to do, if you don't have the stomach for the yuckier side of CG.
I agree that this is something Hospice should be handling.
wow not a lot of info here, but my father always had stuff in his throat as I grew up (I also inherited the sinus issues of stuff), can he swallow? can he take pills? IS he chocking on the stuff? surely they should be able to find out what he can take. maybe allegra would help if it is more like allergies. wishing you luck.
Make sure he is in a good position (sides are best) - turn every 2 hours as he can tolerate - so his airway stays more open. Suction devices can help get the phlegm out. Sometimes, using a moist glycerin swab can get it out - but don't poke down the throat to get what you can't see. If he can drink, more fluids will make the phlegm thinner and easier for him to cough up.
(Note: Since I started eating red meat [but without bread, potatoes, or other starches], I have had much less mucus. So I question the caution against red meat. But this is the recommendation provided by LungInstitute.com.)
wow..........I saved your list.......I guess I will have to stop eating (haha), I always have some kind of phlegm in my system and often wondered if it was caused by some kind of food(s)...........thanks
My mother is in the hospital with end of life care. She had a stroke, fell on the floor till I found her on her stomach and also has pneumonia in one lung.
When she got to the hospital she had a lot of phlegm. They suctioned it out of her mouth like at the dentist when they suck out the water during a cleaning.
When my Husband was on Hospice they had me use Atropine. They were eye drops that I would give him orally when he needed them. They dried up the secretions. If there is a lot of phlegm you can try turning him on his side and tip his head so the fluid runs out. If the phlegm is in the front part of the mouth you can try using a swab (never your finger) and wiping the tongue and cheeks. But do not use the swab at the back of the throat as that can cause him to gag and possibly vomit. Discuss this with the Hospice Nurse they will probably prescribe something but it is also another sign of decline that they would want to document.
In the meantime, avoid allowing him to lie flat on his back - because that will exacerbate the issue.
When I researched it, I found there's a potential interaction with glaucoma. My father had low tension glaucoma so I asked a staff nurse to hold off until I got clearance from his ophthalmologist, who was out of town, but the very, very competent and high performing staff got another ophthalmologist to return my call.
He had analyzed the situation and said that he didn't see a potential interaction or conflict. So I allowed the patch to be applied.
In retrospect, I don't think my father had as much mucus production once the patch was used, but this also was 2.5 years ago and my memories of hospice are fading.
However, if your dad is actively gagging, that's another matter.
Suctioning will work better, and moving him from side to the other side. However, that is a learned skill and pretty gross to do, if you don't have the stomach for the yuckier side of CG.
I agree that this is something Hospice should be handling.
It's best to not add meds to old people because meds always has side effects.
My Dad's Nurse said its good for him to spit as it gets it out of his lungs.
According to LungInstitute.com, mucus producing foods include:
Red meat
Milk
Cheese
Yogurt
Ice Cream
Butter
Eggs
Bread
Pasta
Cereal
Bananas
Cabbage
Potatoes
Corn and corn products
Soy products
Sweet desserts
Candy
Coffee
Tea
Soda
Alcoholic beverages
Mucus-reducing foods include:
Salmon
Tuna
Sardines
Flounder
Pumpkin
Pumpkin seeds
Grapefruit
Pineapple
Watercress
Celery
Pickles
Onion
Garlic
Honey or agar
Ginger
Lemon
Cayenne pepper
Chamomile
Olive oil
Broth
Decaf tea
(Note: Since I started eating red meat [but without bread, potatoes, or other starches], I have had much less mucus. So I question the caution against red meat. But this is the recommendation provided by LungInstitute.com.)
When she got to the hospital she had a lot of phlegm. They suctioned it out of her mouth like at the dentist when they suck out the water during a cleaning.
Its helped tremendously.
If there is a lot of phlegm you can try turning him on his side and tip his head so the fluid runs out.
If the phlegm is in the front part of the mouth you can try using a swab (never your finger) and wiping the tongue and cheeks. But do not use the swab at the back of the throat as that can cause him to gag and possibly vomit.
Discuss this with the Hospice Nurse they will probably prescribe something but it is also another sign of decline that they would want to document.