Is there anything either prescribed or over the counter that can make mucus more watery and easier to shift. At present I keep coughing and although I can feel it, it is not moving.
Mucus?: Is there anything either... - Lung Conditions C...
Mucus?
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happygrin
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44 Replies
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Not sure about over the counter medicines but there is a medicine called mucodyne which was prescribed by the doc. Sometimes Vicks on the chest or oblas oil. Also he uses saline solution in the nebuliser which is also helpful. Hope you get it cleared soon! TAD x x
Great advice from Tad and I would agree that I have not heard of anything over the counter. Pete used to have terrible trouble shifting mucus but when he was admitted to hospital 3 years ago, they prescribed Mucoclear which has made all the difference. He uses it in the nebuliser. As Tad says, saline solution can be good too. If needs be, go and see your GP for advice. Good luck. xxxxx
Hi
From what I have read, one of the things that can make things a bit easier is drinking lots of water on a regular basis, I think this means water not water in coffee fizzy alcohol etc.
I believe that after a while this can make the mucus less 'sticky' and easier to shift.
No personal experience but I have heard it works ... others here may know different tho
Hope you feel better soon
Beth
you're right about the stickiness a drinking loads postscript, 2 litres a day in any form except caffienated drinks, fizzy pop & alcohol. De-caf is okay I'm told at PR
I heard that straight water will help. I was told at rehab that if I breath out fast like a number of pants it sounds like HAAAH! it will move the moveable more easily it does work for me sometimes. i hope you get sorted as I know how it drains you.
Be Well
Phill
carbocistein on prescription
My nurse recommended a Shaker device which turned out to be the best £29 I have ever spent.
Hi
I use the acapella device which helps clear the mucus but you have to use a lot of effort to shift it and it can tire you out. water is good I use that and also standing in hot shower for the steam likewise steam over a bowl-don't really need anything just steam but again if you're feeling weak it can tire you out but at least you can free your chest of mucus for short while. I've got mucodyne to try but haven't yet as its got lactose in it and I'm intolerant. Maybe no dairy could help as well?
Good luck
Keep smiling 
happygrin - off prescription you can put near boiling water in a bowl with a towel over your head and inhale the steam - you could also add menthol/eucalyptus oil (tiny amount). A very old method but effective - my doc says he would recommend it but he can't because of safety. To overcome the scalding and messing about problem I use a plastic thermos which has a mask attached and it's so much easier. You can get it from Betterware. Their site is down at present but it's pale blue and is nealy £10.
On prescription - you could ask your doc re mucus thinner medications and you can also get the flutter on prescription now amazon.co.uk/Clement-Clarke....
Consultant led - Nebuliser for bronchodilator or saline if cons thinks necessary - loan of acappela, usually the acappela choice henleysmed.com/product/rtp2.... Referal to a physio to learn mucus clearance techniques.
In the meantime if you have not been shown any physio and you have no other medical problems you could just lay over a few pillows hips on top and head on bed for about 15/20 minutes each side, but only if you feel ok with it. Might help.
Good luck
love cx
Noticed the flutter link is not working so will try another evergreen-nebulizers.co.uk/.... As I say you can get this on prescription but if you chose the acapella (which can be used at any angle) you should be able to get a VAT medical exemption.
cx
I got the flutter from Evergreen for £45 without paying VAt straight away. Their invoice is VAT = 0. Very prompt service, as I didn't get anything from hospital, physio or doc!
You could ask consultant to refer you to physio hilingmic - you may get an acapella. Good to hear there was 0 vat on your flutter.
cx
cofdrop, yesterday I saw my pulmonary nurse and indeed, she is going to refer me to the physio on a "kick start" programme. I hope that, eventually, it will lead me back tot he gym, because I drew lots of benefit (body, mind and soul) there. Pulmonary nurses have vivid eyes and are quick to point out to things that the consultant is a bit aloof from!!! (at least here, where the chap is very proud of being a qualified consultant; not a bad chap really!(
Brilliant news - really pleased for you helingmic. cx
Can I suggest a breathing exercise that often works for me. Breath in and hold as long as comfortably possible, then breath out till as empty as possible and hold as long as comfortably possible, do this 4 times and rest. Repeat in cycles of 4 until you clear the mucus. Hope it works for you. Good luck.
helingmic• in reply to
TB1952 Well done! sometimes, one doesn't need gadgets ( like them!!!). Now there's a technique for coughing up mucus which is called THE ACTIVE CYCLE OF BREATHING TECHNIQUE (ACBT) here's a PDF link nnuh.nhs.uk/docs%5Cdocument....
Ill explain what the physio did with me in hospital which is very similar to TB1952 technique - I'm not competing promise!
He said: Breathe fairly normally, but fairly deeply 3 times, then only breathe half way up but exhale more deeply (to get the air behind the mucus). Finish off with a long breathing in and a huff. You can repeat the process 3 times, something should come up.
Mind you the gadgets are for thick mucus. I prefer the flutter because it's a bit easier to use than the Breathing Technique.
I don't know the Acapella, it sounds similar to the Flutter, though, although with the Flutter, they ask you to tilt your head backward a bit to open up the airway.
Hi happygrin I've been given Acetylcysteine tablets from the hospital I attend they seem to help,they are soluble it makes them easier to take.I've got a carrier bag full six months supply. I thought at first they were joking giving me so many they are rather big tablets you see.Good luck.
Lots of plain water on a regular basis. Not in tea or coffee just water. Hope this helps
EVEREST, I can confirm this. My pulmonary nurse told me that I should drink a glass of something every hour. she even approved of hot chocolate with whole milk to give more energy!
Hi helingmic I was told that milk creates mucus. I have started just yesterday to use a salt pipe and find that it has already started to work for me. I used it twice yesterday for 10 minutes each time and once this morning. Last night I never coughed all night and only started to cough this afternoon but no where as bad as I have done before. So it seems that the salt pipe is starting to work for me.
Hope this is of use to you
Regards
Everest
EVEREST; yes, I've heard that milk flocculates in the stomach and is not always well digested. The reason why I drink whole milk is that I lose weight in no time. when I got out of hospital in 2010 it was egg mayonnaise on toast and many chips to get my weight back to 10 st!
As for you, this is brilliant. Let's eat in celebration of the salt pipe! People talk here about hypertonic saline which can be nebulised, if you have a nebuliser. I only use saline to get rid of mucus. Good luck with the salt pipe
Hi Everest. What on earth is a salt pipe?
A salt pipe is a ceramic pot about 4 inches tall with a spout at the top and air holes in the bottom. You put salt crystals inside and inhail through the spout ex hailing through your nose ( don't breath back into the pipe as this causes the crystals to solidify making them useless ). Inside the pipe is a filter that keeps the crystals enclosed within the pipe. It is possible to refill the pipe with a new set of crystals ( each refil lasts up to approximate 2 years). When using the pipe for the first few times you will get a salty taste in your mouth, this will disappear with use. If you need more info try to Google Himalayan salt pipe. You will be suprised with the results.
Himalayan salt pipe you can get them on eBay x
Hi and welcome to the site. You have replied to a very old thread. If you want to see the recent stuff then scroll up to the top of the page and click on 'Posts' to be taken to the newest postings. 
hi yes there is some medication you can get its called mucadine it realy does help get rid of the phlem hope this helps
My hospital taught me something called autogenic drainage, what difference it made to me
Thank you everyone for your replies, advice and suggestions. Physio and breathing exercises I am already doing and they work a bit. Not a great water drinker but will take that on board. Find that steam and nebulisers make me feel as if I am drowning. Do not want to seem wimpy or ungrateful though. Guess it's a visit to the doc. Thank you once again. Hg x
Try raspberry vinegar - very good for the chest. Otherwise steam might help.
I blow through a straw in half full bottle of water about 10 times twice a day .... it always helps bring up some mucus. Its a tip I got here
Cleaning teeth is another way of getting mucus up, doctors and physio have told me something in toothpaste makes the mucus loose and helps to bring it up.
I have found Benylin Mucus cough medicine helps with sticky mucus when I cannot cough it up. Also ask your physio/nurse to show you how to huff - it is tiring but does move the mucus.
yes i took them for a while but it led to me having extreme stomock pain . ask your doc.
ypressurees a product called cavonia mucus which contains ipechuana and liquorice but dont take with high blood
cavonia mucus which contains ipecachuana and liquorice but dont take with high blood pressure
Hello happy grin, your GP should be able to prescribe muchodine for you. They usually do the trick depending on how many you take per day.
Try humming the vibration breaks it up & take tablespoon of apple cider vinegar drink warm tea..no dairy
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