This cough is making me crazy!

[CathyA]

A week ago last Saturday, DS got the flu. We brought him home to take care of him. Within 3 days, I had it, but mine has lasted longer with much more upper lung involvement. I have been coughing my brains out for about 4 days. I sound like a 3 pack-a-day smoker with COPD. I sound horrible when I cough. When I sit quietly, really weird sounds come out of my mouth.......like birds, frogs, a rusty porch swing, the ocean. Its unbelievable.
I started zithromax (which is a 5 day course) 3 days ago. I've been taking fairly big doses of mucinex to thin the mucous. DH listens to my lungs and they are clear. So this is an upper airway problem. I realize that the antibiotic might not be working 'cause it could be a virus..........which sometimes are worse than bacteria.
Fortunately, I was finally able to sleep last night with my cpap. I've learned to not exhale too deeply and to not turn much. For some strange reason, the coughing actually settles down when I go to bed. The absolute worse thing is when I eat. Eating sets it off really badly. I wonder why???

I haven't taken any cough medicine because I was thinking that coughing was good for me. But I just can't take it anymore. I go into these horrible coughing spasms. I just about throw up and can hardly breath.
And the pressure in my head when I cough must bring my vessels dangerously close to popping! :0!
Anyhow..........all this just to ask you what kind of cough medicine you think works best? I'm crying Uncle! and having DH bring some home today.
Thanks. :sick:

[Miss Cellane]

The active ingredient in Mucinex is Guaifenesin which is the active ingredient in a lot of cough medicines, like Robitussin. If that's not helping, you might want a cough medicine with a cough suppressant.

[sweetana3]

coughing is good if it is productive. It moves mucus out. However, if painful or nonproductive, you need to calm it down and OTC cough medicine is great. I had the same cough and upper airway issues and cough syrup was my friend. Any thing like Robitussin or Triaminic are fine (and pretty much all the same) just make sure they only treat the symptoms you want and not full spectrum.

I would also breathe in lots of steam as it relaxes and moisturizes the airway.

I have

[reader99]

I second the steam

Also, vitamin C may shorted the course of the illness and generally help you feel better

For no reason I can figure out, red Powerade really helps me with anything respiratory

[CathyA]

Thanks everyone,
I've been on Mucinex for days, and it doesn't help. Actually, nothing helps. I've been taking zinc and C. I haven't tried a cough suppressant because I thought this was all trapped mucous because of how it sounds when I cough. But now I'm thinking its just very swollen, inflamed bronchial tissues. So DH brought me some Robitussin (plain) and I'll give that a try. Life has been miserable with this coughing. Just miserable. It has made my head hurt so much. I'll let you know if the Robitussin works. I'll actually be able to go to the store! I didn't want to have my coughing fits anywhere in public.
Thanks for your suggestions.

[rosarugosa]

Cough syrup with codeine is what always worked for me. My colds frequently transition into a really bad bronchitis cough scenario. Fortunately I don't get sick very often. Hopefully this will lessen somewhat in the future without the cigarettes. I know that not everyone tolerates codeine though.
Good luck, Cathy. A bad cough is a miserable and tiring experience, and I hope you get over it soon. :sick:

[Suzanne]

Marshmallow root tea helps with the rawness; it produces a very soothing gel that coats the inflamed tissues. I've found that a little tiger balm on my chest eases my breathing when I have a rattling cough; beware, tiger balm can raise blisters! I first apply a thick layer of plain vaseline, then dab tiger balm onto that.

[goldensmom]

And my cough is making ME crazy. No OTC medications work for me. I finally took a Tessalon Perle (prescription cough suppressant) because my diaphragm hurt every time I breathed. It's a virus and will run it's course but in the mean time I am miserable. I haven't slept in the same bed with my husband for almost a week because I keep him awake coughing. So aggravating.

[peggy]

I am so sorry! At night, it might help if you can sleep sitting up, or rather in a recliner with your CPAP. Being more upright should help you breathe. Just prop yourself with pillows, kind of wedge yourself in slightly reclined and you can sleep pretty comfortably like this. good luck.

[kally]

you haven't started any new meds lately have you. I did and coughed for 6 weeks before I figured it out.

[CathyA]

Goldensmom.........fellow cougher..........so sorry to hear that I'm not the only one. May I ask what started yours? Was it the flu?
I guess I'm lucky in that mine eases up at night somewhat. But I'm thinking my cpap actually helps, since it keeps my upper airway more open. Seems like when I move, or in some way cause my trachea/bronchus to twist, it really brings on the cough. Maybe for me, laying still at night with the cpap helps. Last night I woke up with a horrible coughing fit though.

I've had 2 doses of the Robitussin, and so far, it hasn't helped. Yesterday was bad and I had stopped the Mucinex, so I guess I'll start that back up.
This kind of coughing is so energy-consuming. I think my abdominal muscles are actually stronger now! At first, they were really sore. I do worry about my brain. I keep thinking of the intra-cranial pressures with each cough. (haha.....can you tell I was an ICU nurse? ..haha). When I cough, I just have to hold my head, it hurts it so bad.

Many years ago DH and I both got coughs that lasted 2 months.........but I don't remember it being as bad as this one.
Goldensmom........do the Tessalon perles help alot? Do they give you any side-effects? When you cough, does it sound wet, or dry?
I'm just wondering if you and I got the same virus. Do you live anywhere near central Indiana? My DS got it suddenly, then I caught it from him in a matter of 2 days. It began with incredible body aches and fever, then morphed into this coughing.
I think part of me is feeling bad because of the antibiotic I'm on. I don't tolerate them well. And yes, I know I may not have even needed the antibiotic, but my ears were starting to fill up. I went through a similar scenario in 1995 and never completely recovered from it..........so I wanted to cover all my bases.
I just keep thinking how GREAT its going to be to feel good again! I hope you feel better soon too Goldensmom. We don't realize what a well-oiled machine our bodies are until they are assaulted by an obnoxious virus.
And for the rest of you.............try not to get this illness! Wash your hands often.
Thanks for all your suggestions.

[goldensmom]

Goldensmom.........fellow cougher..........so sorry to hear that I'm not the only one. May I ask what started yours? Was it the flu?
Goldensmom........do the Tessalon perles help alot?


It started as a chest cold then migrated to my head, sinus and throat. I'm feeling better but still have the sore throat and cough. I ventured out today (the first time in a week) to vote and go to the grocery store. I felt so good that I didn't take any medication and got a coughing 'jag' (as my mother used to called it) in the check out lane at the grocery store, hurried to the car, coughed and coughed and you know the rest of the story.

Yes, the Tessalon Perles work but they are prescription. I don't go to the doctor for a cold but had some left from when I had pneumonia. My doctor does not like to prescribe medication for a cough because coughing gets the mucous out of the lungs but when it hurts really bad he will.

I am north and slightly east of you in Michigan. I've not been sick in years and this is the 3rd time I've had this in 8 months. It's all over up here. I'm retired and not out all that much, I do all the preventative things suggested and still get it.

I need to learn to be more thankful when I am healthy.

[HappyHiker]

This is going around here, in North Carolina, too. The flu, followed by a cough/bronchitis that lasts and lasts. I've a friend who's had a cough for four weeks even after two rounds of antibiotics...no tips other than massive vitamin C and also check out this link for natural remedies such as slippery elm and others: http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsdisease/a/bronchitis.htm

Hope you get better quickly...coughs are awful, especially when you can't sleep...

[Mighty Frugal]

I always get a lingering dry cough after a cold. My doctor said it was post nasal drip and can last weeks-ugh!

Here's what I've heard helps a cough
like an OP suggested-a cough suppressant with codeine. In Canada you can get this over the counter at a pharmacy-my sis and dh swear by it but I try to avoid all drugs (except caffeine:~) ) at all cost

Rubbing Vicks Vapo Rub on your FEET-the soles of your feet and then putting on a pair of cotton socks (avoid standing) it worked for me-not sure how

a teaspoon or two of this concoction: chop finely a raw onion. Add honey to the onion until well coated-even more than well coated-make it 'swimming' in honey. Eat it. Apparently this works-my GF swears by it but I can't stand raw onions AND honey so have never tried it

Good luck and I feel your pain. I'm going thru a dry cough after a cold and it wakes me up during the night