COPD - nonproductive cough

[D0n49]

Is it normal for someone diagnosed with COPD to have non-productive coughs for extended periods of time please? Can anyone recommend anything that may help/provide relief please?

[MoyB]

Hi, Don49. I'll be interested to read the responses from others as I currently have a very irritating non-productive cough - although sometimes it DOES produce.

I have COPD, asthma and bronchiectasis and I never know which one is causing what. I cough every day. Up until last Autumn it was productive without fail - great quantities of the stuff. Since treatment for my last exacerbation with a 'new to me' antibiotic, I only produce a very small amount of pure white phlegm every two or three days. In between, I continue to cough - some days more frequently than others - and it drives me mad. xx Moy

[gingermusic in reply to MoyB]

The only way I get any relief at all is by nebulising salbutamol and saline 3 times a day also a hot drink of honey and lemon is really soothing and helps with the cough.

[D0n49 in reply to gingermusic]

Thanks for the advice gingermusic! I am not sure if I am being over sensitive about the cough as we are all had COVID, but I don’t recall my Dad coughing this much before and I worry it tires his body!

Thanks again 😊

[D0n49 in reply to MoyB]

Sorry to hear that MoyB. I hope you find relief too from any replies!

The coughing doesn’t seem to bother my Dad too much, but some days it’s all I can hear (probably having spent the last year altogether shielding) and it worries me that I should be doing something to assist.

Everything I have read says not to suppress coughs for those with COPD, but if nothing is coming up I am not sure of this holds true?

[B0xermad]

Hi D0n49 I always find if the emphysema side of copd is playing up my cough is dry and persistent only warm drinks keep it level and using salbutamol 3 times a day but if it's my bronchiectasis I have to do clearance techniques to get the mucus out, tricky to identify which one is causing the cough sometimes it's both in which case I do both clearance and warm drinks

[D0n49 in reply to B0xermad]

Thank you B0xermad! I hope you are keeping well.

I am not sure my Dad has been given the same level of support as others on this forum, he has been given a couple of inhalers and goes for a follow up with the Nurse to test his lung function each year.

He has had no training in breathing/mucus clearance, and it only came to light recently when the COVID Care Team advised he could use his salbutamol inhaler in addition to his morning relvar ellipta inhaler, but he is still reluctant to use it, keeping it for emergencies only!

[B0xermad in reply to D0n49]

Hi sounds like he didn't get to see the respiratory physio which would help him understand the condition better

[D0n49 in reply to B0xermad]

Thank you!

[katieoxo60]

Yes it is common, it is also common in asthmatics. Try not to get over tired, drink lots of fluid. I have ventolin and try to avoid triggers many of which are similar to asthma allergies. Avoid rushing around too boiled sweets to suck help and there are physio exercises that help control the cough. Hope these ideas help

[D0n49 in reply to katieoxo60]

Thank you katieoxo60, it puts my mind at rest that it’s not out of context. Will be sure to take on board your kind advice, thanks again!

[CDPO16]

I have very severe emphysema and late onset asthma. I have periods of dry coughing from time to time with no obvious trigger. Apart from being annoying if it goes on for a few weeks it doesn't bother me. I have come to see it as part and parcel of my COPD. Sipping at drinks can ease it and honey and lemon can be soothing but I do agree that suppressing a cough should be avoided.

[D0n49 in reply to CDPO16]

Sorry to hear you have multiple conditions CDPO16, but I hope you are keeping safe and well!

Thank you for taking the time to advise, I really appreciate it 😊

[Snackjack in reply to CDPO16]

I too have emphysema and have had a non-productive cough for about 3 years now and have periods of dry coughing with no obvious trigger, I also sip drinks and sometimes have a couple of spoons of runny honey, not that it is good for any of us to have this problem but I feel a bit relieved that it is not just me with this problem so thank you and all the others that have posted on this subject. Best wishes CDPO16😊

[D0n49 in reply to Snackjack]

Oh Snackjack I do feel for you all!

My Dad says it doesn’t bother him, but I just worry it exhausts his poor body and wanted to make sure it was part of the condition and not something I was overlooking?

Please take care 😊

[hypercat54]

I have asthma and copd. I think it is the asthma side which produces a lot of coughing. Asthma makes the airways very sensitive and smoother and any change in temperature can irritate it , especially cold air. It is a good idea in winter to wear a loose scarf around your nose and mouth or a snood.

Dust mites are a common trigger (and for me) so it's important to wash your bedding, including pillows, in at least 60 degrees to kill them. Pillow are huge dust mite collectors so it's important to either wash them regularly or change them every 6 months or so.

Also eating a lot of dairy makes your mucus thicker so it's important to drink more water to help thin it down.

I hope this helps bit.

[D0n49 in reply to hypercat54]

Thank you so much hypercat54, that is great advice.

To be honest, since we had COVID I wash everything at 60 degrees, change bedding more regularly than ever and binned all pillows out of paranoia! Will take the other tips onboard too - thank you!

[hypercat54 in reply to D0n49]

Good I'm glad it was useful. I have been living with asthma for 35 years so have picked up the odd thing over the years.

[Buzzytruk]

Hi ,. I have Small airways disease , which is similar to copd but not the same ...For a good number of years I have had no cough and only

thick discoloured mucus during an infection.

But since having to wear masks things have changed .

Now clearing throat all the time ......Because of little exercise this past

15 months I feel my lung function is very much down.

Hope that helps ..

Jo 😊

[D0n49 in reply to Buzzytruk]

Oh Jo, how frustrating for you! Thank you for taking the time to advise and please take care 😊

[garshe]

I have severe COPD but dont have a cough . xxSheila

[D0n49 in reply to garshe]

Interesting, thank you Sheila! Hope you are keeping safe and well x

[garshe in reply to D0n49]

I was great until a week last Friday I fell at home. Luckily didnt break anything but pulled all the muscles in my chest ,shoulder and neck Really painful and the strong painkillers not touching the pain..feeling sorry for myself and annoyed this happened. Keep safe xx💕

[D0n49 in reply to garshe]

Oh Sheila, I am so sorry to hear that!!! Please take care of precious You, and I wish you a speedy recovery xx

[garshe in reply to D0n49]

Thank you xxSheila 💕🙏

[r0yalalbert in reply to garshe]

Hope you soon feel better with less pain Sheila, x

[garshe in reply to r0yalalbert]

Thank you xxSheila 🙏💕

[Karenanne61]

I cough ALL the time and it exhausts me. I don't cough up any thing but I have to blow my nose after the coughing so my nose is very sore. 😥 Spoke to consultant last week, he said the cough sounds fruity but had no advise other to to take polcodeine cough medicine. It's not helping yet.

[Karenanne61]

Sorry its called pholcodine! And I hope its ok because it should not be prescribed to those with copd, bronchiectasis and asthma, which i have! With emphysema!

[D0n49 in reply to Karenanne61]

Thank you for confirming and the advice Karenanne! Fingers crossed the medication works for you 🤞🏻 please be sure to let me know how you get on!!!

[Karenanne61]

Thankyou! I hope it works too. 🙂

[Maricopa]

It can be the meds causing it.

[D0n49 in reply to Maricopa]

Thank you Mariacopa. That had crossed my mind, but it doesn’t seem to be constant like you would therefore expect?

Hope you are keeping safe and well 😊