COVID cough vs normal Mucus type cough

[ash6]

With all this COVID stuff going on it’s pretty scary. But I have what I’d call a chesty cough on and of for almost a year now and I’d say 80% of the time I cough up thick lumps of mucus. From what I’ve read and been told this is nothing like a COVID cough but obviously it’s scary. Don’t have a fever or high temp, nothing like that at all. Just very rattly due to loads of mucus. I’ll either cough it up or it will get stuck in my throat. Any ideas on how to clear this? I have another course of antibiotics that I start today so hopefully that will also help

Thanks

[Sparkywoo]

Has your GP tested your mucus to check you are being the correct antibiotics? I would hope so and hopefully they will work. If not you need to push for more tests. I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis after having a chesty cough for ages that wouldn’t clear.

[Itswonderful]

Inhale steam several times a day, at least three times a day. Sip water throughout the day and when you wake at night. Sip hot drinks too. The idea is to thin the mucus down so it doesn’t get so sticky and thick and therefore difficult to get out. Avoid coughing as much as possible and instead do breathing exercises by breathing down into your belly without lifting shoulders and ribs. Try and nose breathe so the air is warmed and moistened as you breathe in. Try and moisten the surrounding air and keep it warm. Try and loosen the mucous by breathing in, into your belly and control the breath out and make short “ha” sounds several times as you breathe out. Also, breathe in with your elbows out to the side and your hands on your shoulders or head and breathe out slowly whilst you twist your torso from right to left. Another one is to take a deep breathe whilst standing and bent forward with your hands on a bed or chair and take short breaths using your diaphragm so you are panting. There’s lots of these sorts of exercises on YouTube. Do only as able and as comfortable. Ask GP for a referral to a breathing physio or speech and language therapist.

[twinkly29 in reply to Itswonderful]

Steam can be a big asthma trigger for some people so if Ash (or anyone else reading this) hasn't tried it before please do so with caution! Of course for many people it's not a trigger and even helps them which is great, it's just not something that's safe for everyone.

[Itswonderful in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks Twinkley 💖

[Poobah]

It sounds like you should have specific antibiotics based on the infection that you have and maybe a longer course? I've had antibiotics changed half way through once my sputum had been tested as they were wrong for the type of infection. If you've had this for 12 months and repeated courses of antibiotics, it's definitely time to push for targeted treatment. Hope you get a resolution soon.

[ash6]

Thank you all