donrhummy

When I'm on a fairly long ride and working real hard up a hill, for some reason my saliva seems to thicken and it becomes hard to breath - it almost chokes me. And drinking some liquid doesn't help; it almost makes it worse. Any idea what causes this?

Machka 

Have you tried spitting?

You might also try taking a decongestant or anti-allergy pill before you ride.

mattm

my riding buddy and i are both smokers. we cough up tons of sh1t on rides, for sure!

but nothing like this, that sounds horrible! i feel for ya.

i'd try a decongenstant (a natural one, of course) or something, but then you'll be spitting up even more, although it'll be softer at least.

best of luck.

Paul L.

Mucosamine? Any expectorant should thin things up I would think. Just make sure it is not dehydration that may have built up beforehand that is not causing it.

donrhummy

LOL, of course. Believe it or not that doesn't always help. Sometimes it takes about 4-5 spits before it's even near cleared out.

sch

Decongestants, especially antihistamines might actually make this worse as they reduce
secretions, including saliva. Not a whole lot but that is their modus operandi. Solution is
more water or whatever liquid you prefer. If you are hydrated the salivary glands have
lots to work with and the saliva stays more liquid. Hill climbing increases your respiratory
rate and dries the mouth out faster, concentrating the mucoid content into the goo you
have problems with. Drink more often.

FWIW my cat developed 'thick mucus laden saliva' recently when we tried to stuff a flagyl
tab down its throat. Kind of funny but utlimately the cat defeated us as neither wanted to
poke a finger far enough down that it couldn't get the pill back out and the pill holder
wasn't much help. Cat is prone to bite.

mistertwo

Especially when I'm sick or under the weather and still need to be on my bike, I find that keeping well hydrated helps a lot with thinning out the mucus.

neronet

sch - Next time pop the pill in, close its mouth and rub it's nose. It makes them want to swallow. I do it to my cats and pill taking is never a problem. It works and I don't know why.

valygrl

Yeah, i have experienced this and there is a name for it - i think it's pretty common for very high exertion activities. My friend was teaching HITT classes and mentioned something about it - kind of usually happens when you are exercising so hard you are going to puke.

edit to add - I can't remember the name.

Cardiac Paul

I suggest you quite, you'll be amazed at how your biking & overall life will change.
I survived a heart attack at 43, came real close to not needing my bikes anymore and I was not a smoker or a drinker just a stress case buisness owner.
Please quite

Paul

Brusheda

I used to get that all the time. If I tried spitting, I would end up with a big string of saliva hanging out the side of my mouth. Sucking on a piece of hard candy or chewing some gum helps me. I started using a mint, but it doesn't last and I almost choked once. Chewing half a stick of gum works pretty good, as long as your don't have TMJ.

rtruectoc

mucinex. no side effects, it simply thins mucus. as a singer i use it. it does not dry you out

barba

Are you drinking enough water?

Rhystic

Actually I get this to, and even on short rides (4 - 6 miles even) I don't get it in the morning commute, in the short commute rides, I don't get it in the morning, but in the afternoon when I have to really exert some effort to go anywhere because of the wind, It usually starts to build up towards the 4 mile mark... and I have the same problems, spitting doesnt work because it leaves this huge line of spit still attached to my mouth, and if I try and wipe it off it just sticks to whatever I wiped it off with (usually my hand :| ). I may be dehydrated since I usually am . but I don't think its that so much, because if youre dehydrated shouldnt your mouth not be able to formulate so much liquid to waste? The other problem is I breathe through my mouth since I have a deviated septum and heavy allergies, so Im always gagging on it to... Ive tried decongestants to no avail, (maybe my allergies are just to much? I got so many ><)

If you ever figure out a way to fix it let me know, I'd be eternally grateful. As far as any ideas of the cause I can only think that because of pushing really hard its being caused (duh). the terrain here is really rolling since its in a mountain range.

CliftonGK1

Mucinex is 600mg Guaifenesin, and ridiculously expensive (gotta pay for those disgusting cartoon adverts, I suppose). D&E Vitamin has 400mg guaifenesin tablets for a much better price. (100 tablets for $16 instead of $50.)

I use guaifenesin for a few weeks when allergy season hits me right at the start of spring.

USAZorro

This was my initial reaction to the decongestant suggestion. What do you drink on these rides?

ZTR1760

not gonna lie this whole thread just totally grossed me out, yet I couldn't stop reading

mebesaturday

could you describe the color or taste?



just kidding... please give us an update to what has worked.