Can't breath when getting upright of a morning

[Cut3ypie]

When I wake up of a morning.. Its literally hell on earth.. I'm fine laying but as soon as I stand upright.. I can't breath for mucus. Coughing just makes my breathing worse but I sound like darth vader.. I've given up opening my bedroom curtains until later in day.. But trying to get down the stairs is scary. It's like someone's got a hand over my mouth and it doesn't matter how deeply I try to breathe. I still can't get a good bit of air Inn.. I've got severe emphysema, I'm only 42....and yes it is my fault.. But I'd like to know if anyone else suffers like this in the morning? It'd be nice to know I'm not alone 😞

[Oshgosh]

I need to spit first thing n the morning. It used to be much worse,I used to cough all night.

Then the asthma nurse prescribed me Carbocysteine.

It thins the mucus and makes it easier to get it up.

I usually take a bottle of water to bed.

Before I had Carbocysteine,I used to take chestycough medicine.

It helped a little.

Your diagnosis is different from mine,so you need to speak to a GP.I’m not a dr,just speaking from experience.

I try to get up around 8 am,it’s tempting to stay in bed,but,the sooner I get up the sooner I can clear my chest.

Take care.

[Cut3ypie in reply to Oshgosh]

Thank for your reply.. I use the wedge pillow with 2 pillows ontop and a v pillow.. No joy. I'm on carbasistine which thins out mucus (huge help there when Dr suggested it). I do the huff cough which helps but of a morning I've not got the breath to do it.. Or it makes me heave!I get upright as soon as I wake. Cuz I know what's coming and I want to get to my nebuliser.

A 3rd of my lung is dead and I've got 38% lung function.. And I air trap at 21.5%.....

Ive spoke with my community nurse about it... Shes said when u sleep u relax and that's where my air trapping turns to mucus trapping so I wake drowning in a way. Only thing my lungs are doing is holding oxygen atm.. But of a morning I'm on 89 stats for at least half hour. I just dread each morning

[Oshgosh in reply to Cut3ypie]

Have you tries a flutter device or an Acapella.I’ve got an acapella,sometimes I use it in bed before I get up.then go and have a good spit.I got mine from the respiratory physio.ask the nurse .it’s better than buying from Amazon . I’m glad you’re on Carbocysteine,it made such a difference to me.

I do take tissues to bed to have a spit.

I can’t sit up in bed as my neck and spine start to kick off.so it’s a bit of a science getting comfortable in bed

[CDPO16]

It would probably help to sleep propped up rather than flat if that's what you do now. I have very severe emphysema and haven't laid lower than a 45 degree angle for years. As Oshgosh said, medication may help to loosen the mucus too.

[Cut3ypie in reply to CDPO16]

Hi, thanks for reply.. I'm on carbasistine to thin mucus.. Which was a huge help.. As b4 that.. I was having to think.. Do I stop breathing an hold palvic floor.. Or do I breath a wet myself.. Breathing won.. But since carbasistine that's not happened so there's a thing to be grateful for

[CDPO16 in reply to Cut3ypie]

I'd have chosen breathing over pelvic floor contraction too! I do hope that you can find some ease from your morning mucus problems. Given that you have medication and sleep propped up I can't offer any more suggestions. My best wishes to you xx

[Chalky2 in reply to CDPO16]

I find an adjustable bed is really helpful it is so much better than lying flat and far better than loads of pillows

[CDPO16 in reply to Chalky2]

Yes it is and I have one but they are very expensive and maybe not everyone can afford one unless they can get one on loan from the NHS

[Lol1944]

I have found a wedgerunning from waist level to u der my pillow a great help. Just foam wedge with washable covers

[Cut3ypie in reply to Lol1944]

I av a wedge pillow with 2 pillows ontop with a v pillow to rest against. I will admit some nights I do remove wedge(it hurts my sides) but there's no difference in what happens when I wake if I remove wedge I av 3 pillows with the v pillow. I guess it's a grin an bare it type thing unfortunately. Thank u for ur reply

[Lol1944]

If carbocisteine not thinning the mucous enough to get it up it maybe worth trying n-acetyl Cysteine 600mg per day. I use this for holidays tosave packing 8 tabscarbocisteine every day. I purchase but many health trusts do now prescribe it. Nothing lost by trying it. Breathing through clogged Airways is no good

[Alberta56]

Your situation sounds awful. i can only suggest you go back to your GP and keep going back until you get some satisfaction. Ask to be referred to a consultant- they should have more ideas to try.