Has anybody any useful tips on how to reduce coughing fits. I get in a terrible state with mine as usually they come on with no warning - just a tickle in the throat or nothing at all. Once started I am not able to stop until I have coughed for a prolonged period and cough becomes less and less. These coughing attacks make me feel very distressed as apart from coughing my nose runs and eyes water.
I have had 2 episodes of uncontrolled coughing that went on for hours. It was very distressing. For me it stopped when my inhalers were changed. Maybe your doctor or nurse may be able to suggest something.
It helps to know that somebody else knows how this feels. It is very, very distressing. One minute I can be walking around quite normally and the next gasping for breath and cough, cough, coughing. I am going to the chest clinic next week so I will be able to mention the coughing attacks then. Thank you for getting in touch.
You are welcome. It's a while since I had the problem but I remember it well. Gasping for breath in between the coughing fits was the worst. I dread getting a cough again even now. Good luck at the clinic, let me know how you get on xx
I can relate to this and nothing seems to work. Thankfully this hasnt happened much since my sinus op. I used to carry fishermans friends around along with Jakemans to ease this. As CDPO16 suggests it could be your inhalers, best to speak with the nurse x
Hi Spanielblue I know this kind of coughing is very distressing and totally wipes you out. I have often discussed this with my GP who could never give me any meaningful help. My coughing fits usually happen when I’m asleep. Over the years the only thing I have found which gives me a measure of relief is Benylin Chesty Cough mixture. All doctor have said that cough mixture doesn’t work but I can only speak from my own experience. I have tried numerous different cough mixtures but the only one that gives my any relief is the one above. I don’t normally have a cough or any phlegm just out of the blue an uncontrollable coughing fit can start. Maybe worth a try. Barbs x
If u have mucous,do read up on lung clearance techniques. Do keep well hydrated,to keep mouth and throat moist.i find gargling helps to relax the throat,also coating throat with glycerine,or tspn clear honey is gd.some people like liquid medicines,but I find honey coats throat for longer. It is worth reading up+ using controlled breathing as it does help u to relax,focus and stabilise breathing
Hi. Potters herbal remedy cough mixture used to work wonders for me but alas I think it’s no longer on the market as I had my chemist search for it a few years ago. I hate the coughing fits and what comes with them especially lack of bladder control. At the moment I use covonia cough mixture - they have a few different types- and Jackmans throat and cough sweets or fisherman’s friends. X
I dare not take cough sweets when I have a coughing fit- thankfully not so frequent since diagnosis and pulmonary rehab. A glass of water usually helps me to stop coughing.
I'm sorry you have this problem but I'm also very glad you've spoken about it here as now I know I am not alone with this very distressing cough.
A resp physio has recently said that she thinks my cough reflex may have become over sensitive and has given me hints and tips to help control a cough. I already do most of these things instinctively as they work for a 'normal' cough, but the 'explosive' cough that comes out of the blue will not be controlled by any means.
I risk wetting myself, often fart with it and also risk worse!
My eyes run, my nose runs with copious ammounts of snot and I am doubled up until, eventually it subsides.
Sometimes, my husband will give me some hard pats on the back and this may ease it a little.
Also, if I can stop coughing long enough to inhale my Ventolin, that may ease it. I often feel as though I'm choking with it.
When I finally stop, I am temporarily exhausted and it takes a while before I can carry on with what I was doing.
It's most embarrassing when out or in company, especially if I'm standing when it happens as it also hurts my lower back a lot and I end up in a very distorted position trying to stop myself damaging it.
I'm sorry to hijack your post and take the opportunity to splurge, but I honestly thought I was getting something wrong and to hear that others share the problem is such a relief!
Let's hope we find a way of beating it soon!
xx Moy
The side effects, you mentioned, of your coughing fits reminded me of a funny birthday card I saw recently.It said : You know you're getting old when you can Cough, Sneeze, Fart and Pee all at the same time !! Now that's multitasking🤔
This is exactly what I'm like and I also have to try and calm myself my cough and my breathing down to be able to take my ventolin.. it can be scary xxx
This is exactly what happens to me!!!! My daughter says, when we're out, people must think she and my husband are insensitive as they look like they are ignoring me. But they can do nothing. The respiratory phsio visited and gave me some help. I now have a mask for my ventolin so my husband can help me puff some near my face in the hope some gets inhaled, I have a flutter device to try and clear secretions before they become troublesome. I do yoga which helps with breathing.
Helps to know others suffer like me - well not that I want people to suffer but you know what I mean. I have seen a therapist but that was before my coughing became frightening so will mention it to whomever I see at the chest clinic next week. I too have a flutter device but I didn't find it helpful at the time because mucus wasn't always there to bring up; also, I have a hernia so doctor said I should avoid coughing. However, I can still walk about and enjoy gardening so should be thankful for that. If the specialist I see next week tells me anything new, I will post it on here. Thank you!
Hi. I don't use the flutter device all the time either, I find it exhausting and I have TMJ dysfunction so it makes my face very sore, as does coughing. I've had 2 hernias, last one repaired in lockdown. I think the only help is the resp physio and speech therapy. Sometimes I do take cough medicine if I've had nights of really bad coughing, I've been told we shouldn't but sometimes I need to sleep. 🙂💤
I find that the only thing that works for me is Halls Soothers. A speech therapist I was referred to as my voice was affected also suggested Boots blackcurrant cough sweets covered in sugar. My cough was so bad in 2019 that I was buying Soothers by the box. Beware the sugar content! I do hope that you find something that helps you. Pat x
Yeh they can be very distressing and you can’t catch a breath, scary, what I do is huffing if p phlegm is preventing me taking a breath, I know it’s easier said than done because you can’t breath, stay calm, try huffing think of something else? I know sounds easy but I was same as you I thought I was choking, moral is keep calm think of something else or focus on something it worked for me you can only try 🙏🏻
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