Need help

[Carol533]

Have Copd and have been struggling with clogged. Nose for long time due to 24 hour oxygen cocentrator. And mucus build up in lungs .any home remedy's would be greatly appreciated

[mskpjb]

Hi Carol533 Try a spoonful of Vick in a small bowl of very hot water and breathe in for a while ( be careful not to scald yourself ) . Really you should ask your doctor or the pharmacist to help with this if it's a long time problem. Sheila x

[spooks36]

Ask your pharmacist for some Menthol crystals (if they still do it) and put a little in a bowl with hot water and inhale. or ask their advice which might be best. good luck with it. hope it clears soon.

[joke]

I put thin film of vaseline on theboutside of the nasal prongs that go in your nose I also ingest saline nasal spray 2 a day gentle blowing several times a day begins to ease the blockage away hope this helps keep up breathing exercises

[Ergendl in reply to joke]

Should Vaseline be used on oxygen tubing?

[sarcoid1234]

Re the mucus in your lungs, the following might be useful to know.

I have a lung condition (sarcoidosis) and produce a lot of phlegm every day. I wonder if the following would help you. To clear my lungs of phlegm every morning and before bed I do Active Cycle of Breathing technique (ACBT) - also known as huffing - which was taught to me by a physiotherapist to cough it up and then I don't cough during the day. If I don't do ACBT at nighttime my lungs "rattle" and can't lie down. There is lots on the internet, especially Youtube, teaching Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT). I was taught by a physiotherapist to do it lying down on each side but it can be done sitting up.

Also you could ask to see a hospital physiotherapist who could assess you to see if you would be suitable for a nebuliser. You have to be tested to see if you are suitable. They are not very expensive to buy. After seeing a physiotherapist, I am prescribed individual ampoules containing 7% salt solution which I put in the nebuliser and which produce ‘steam’ to loosen the mucus and make it easier to cough up.

Or you could put your head over a bowl of very hot water with a towel over your head to loosen the mucus which I used to do before I had my nebuliser. I also have a Flutter device which I bought which helps if the phlegm occasionally gets particularly stuck (Look on the internet to explain what this is). There is also a device called an acapella which is similar. There is also an Aerosure Medic electric device which is similar, but costs a lot of money.

I never go anywhere without a packet of Fisherman's Friend (includes menthol and eucalyptus), as if I do feel the urge to cough I suck one (a very strong taste so takes some getting used to) and the urge usually disappears.

One last thing. My phlegm is white, but I have been told that if it goes yellow or green that may mean I have an infection and may need antibiotics from the doctor and I should ask my doctor's receptionist for a little pot, cough in to it (in private!), and the doctor will send it to the local hospital for analysis to know which is the best antibiotic to fight it.

Before I was taught Active Cycle of Breathing Technique by a physiotherapist i used to have to sleep sitting up, but can now lie down to sleep.