built up mucus damaged lungs

By rantissil

1 min read

I have been in out of hospital in the last two weeks with being sent home with antibiotics and prednisone was not getting better. Waking up, going to sleep, just coughing and coughing nonstop mucus to where i could not breathe.

Getting some answers

After being in hospital 6 days come home, next day 911 back I know something was not right and as not leaving till I got results so got a ct scan and the doc comes and actually sat down showed me my scan lungs and said my lungs on the bottom damaged and mucus in them damaged lungs that’s been there for a while and just kept building up. So he tells me about surgery removing damaged lungs and getting that mucus out. I’m gonna do this or else mucus will kill me. Has anyone heard of this that I’m going through?

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Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
Hi <inline-mention username="rantissil" user-id="6220348"/>, and thanks for sharing your story here with the community. While I'm hopeful others in the community who have had this type of experience will chime in and share it with you, I also have something to contribute. This is a lot of information for you to process all at once, all happening (as you've shared), during the last two weeks. Prior to making any decision(s), you may still want to have additional information about your condition. Perhaps you can spend more time with this doctor (or others who may be on your medical care team), to find out exactly what your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis is. What do you think? Leon (site moderator <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
frogger Member
I was going to say the same thing. The lung out,scrub it ,and return it? You need a lot more information.
greatbanks Member
Good luck hun I’m sure hospital know what’s going to help you . Hope it gives you so relief
CommunityMember6f25db Member
Do you use inhalers and a nebulizer? Because between the both they help bring up the phlegm. My boyfriend just went through a surgical biopsy procedure because his PCP and lung doctor insisted on it. His Lung doctor was 99.9 % sure it was a cancerous nodule! Well, Thursday he went and had the procedure done to find out it was not a nodule and it was NOT cancerous!! The surgeon said it was deep they removed it all, but he felt like it didn't need to be removed. So, please before you have anything done get a second opinion!! Having any procedure done is painful, but messing with the lungs is even worse! Good luck with your decision.
1. Salt56 Member
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember6f25db" user-id="2443322"/>
Jackie English Moderator & Contributor
Hello <inline-mention username="rantissil" user-id="6220348"/> ! Thank you for sharing what you have been thru. It sounds like it's been a rough time. May I ask if you have ever been tested for Alpha 1? The reason I ask is because with Alpha 1 (genetic COPD) a lot of the damage with the lungs are more in the bottom part if the lungs which is different from most normal COPD. Here is an article that tells more about Alpha 1 if your interested. <a href='https://copd.net/living/alpha-1-awareness-month' target='_blank'>https://copd.net/living/alpha-1-awareness-month</a>. I also wanted to tell you about a great Facebook page that is run by professionals that's called Lung Matters. I have recently learned a lot from this group and have been going through a lot of what you have. I hope this helps! Best, Jackie (Moderator)
dltld Member
Hello <inline-mention username="rantissil" user-id="6220348"/> , Yes I have heard of such procedure from my doctor after a 5 day stay in the hospital and more testing afterward and in telling me my diagnosis was gold stage 4 final stage of lung fail, 29% of my total lung capacity left, I qualify to be put on the waiting list for lung replacement. Then came the don't worry there is procedures we can do before replacement which are .............. ! One of the 2 possible options was the one you are describing. Then he followed that with, you are not ready of any of it at this very moment. Yes, I am suffering daily with the mucus not only from my lungs, but the constant draining of my sinus to add to it. Yes by the end of the day I am exhausted, my throat is sore at times, voice can and has become silent or hoarse. It sucks! When the time comes for such procedures then I will do my research for there is always Pro's and Con's, side effects, new meds to go on and just the risk of surgery in general. Please educate yourself, ask questions, find out where you actually sit on the life spectrum so to speak. Mucus can be an inconvenience, but what will the inconveniences be after surgery? Not matter your choose of course I will be waiting to here how you are doing and support if needed. Wish you so much caring and kindness. 
1. dltld Member
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember8bbbac" user-id="6719977"/> Thank you so much for responding. Hey grape juice is not bad for you and that little bit of acid in it could be helpful as long as I am taking my acid reflux meds, but I will try. Warm drinks Tea / Coffee (decafe) etc are always a mucus thinner, duh just needed a reminder and I truly appreciate you bring that to my attention. I have known about my allergies for many years, 3 meds a day for those! Just found out too that some of the "mucus" problems was from acid reflux that I mentioned just above. Interesting on how so many things go hand in hand. At least we all know we are not suffering alone! Thank you so much again. Please help others as you can with your great responses, it's a great way of sharing knowledge and experiences. 
2. Melissa.Arnold Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember8bbbac" user-id="6719977"/> that's really interesting. I wonder if those helpful effects would apply to all fruit juices or if there's something special about grape juice. I'm glad it helps you. Thanks a lot for sharing! -Melissa, <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>copd.net</a> team
kloker Member
After two years, my mucous has not gotten better, but it has also not gotten worse. In April of 2021, while I was in the hospital with pneumonia, the Doc put me on Mucinex. 1200mg twice daily. It made all the difference. I still take it, and so far, so good. Of course, I also take a whole shelf full of other meds. But my mucous situation is likely not that bad, though my lungs have been damaged from too many bouts of pneumonia. But I am doing okay right now. I wish that for the rest of you as well. keep us posted.