Nighttime wheezing

[D0n49]

Hi All,

My Dad was diagnosed with COPD quite a while ago, after years working in the building trade he has asbestos in his lungs.

He is currently struggling to get a good night’s sleep, as when he lays down he experiences severe wheezing. He has a wedge, but can’t comfortably sleep upright.

We visited the GP on Friday and I asked her to refer him back to the Respiratory Consultant, but she advised we should have realistic expectations and potentially nothing can be done.

Does anyone have any tips please? I have suggested he get an adjustable bed to make the upright sleeping position more comfortable, but he says no 🥺

Thank you in advance as always!

[Caspiana]

Hello Don,

I'm sorry to read about your dad's difficulties. I would say an adjustable bed is certainly helpful. 😁

Some other tips.

* Try to avoid too much napping during the day.

* Get as much physical exercise as possible, it may seem detrimental as he is breathless but exercise does help they lungs to expand and expel pghlem.

* Is he on oxygen therapy?

* Keep a regular daily routine which includes going to bed at the same time.

* Does he use a nebulizer before bed? / inhalers?

* Has he been tested for sleep apnea? This certainly would make things much, much worse.

* Maybe his medication could be reviewed as well to see if that can help.

I would not give up on seeing a respiratory consultant, it is right to see what else can help ease his bedtime discomfort. xx 🌿

[D0n49 in reply to Caspiana]

Thank you so much for a thoughtful reply Caspiana.

He does love a daytime snooze bless him 😊

But saying that, he usually deserves it after working throughout the day. The Respiratory Nurse put him on carbocisteine tablets to help with expulsion.

No he is not on oxygen therapy, but he is using his Trimbow inhaler before bed and sometimes his salbutamol.

I have asked for him to be seen by the Sleep clinic too, as I think his original referral got lost pre-COVID.

Hoping the wait is not too long! The worrying thing is I think the GP Surgery has mixed up my Parents records as she claimed Dad had seen a Respiratory Consultant the month before - but that was my Mum 🤦🏻‍♀️

Thanks again for your help! Hope you are keeping safe and well xx

[pepparuby1]

I use a v pillow really helps although it’s not because I’m wheezing more about being comfortable

[D0n49 in reply to pepparuby1]

That’s a good idea, thank you so much 😊

[pepparuby1 in reply to D0n49]

I cannot sleep flat I think I might snore I’m not sure but feel much better with head chest uplifted a bit

[Patk1]

I sleep on a pile of pillows,really comfy.he will have to persevere + find whats best to accomodate his breathing

[D0n49 in reply to Patk1]

Thanks as always Patk1. It gives me hope that he doesn’t wheeze too much in the day, so it should be possible at night, just need to get him comfortable at the right angle!

Take care xx

[Patk1 in reply to D0n49]

Yes.i pile bout 4 up normally,more if breathings bad and need to sit upright.gd luck xx

[D0n49 in reply to Patk1]

Thank you 😊 xx

[B0xermad]

Slightly propped up on his side might help,but I too had go and get an adjustable bed in the end

[whit]

I bought an adjustable bed (expensive) but worth it.

[Egpa]

It's difficult to ease the coughing, I have bronciactsis a d asthma so I know that feeling very well, I have found a back rest very helpful as you can set it to what is comfortable for you, a hot drink before bed and ventolin helps a lot. Good luck.

[D0n49 in reply to Egpa]

Thank you Egpa 😊

[Ergendl]

We just changed our mattress at Dreams, which has a great way of helping you choose a mattress, and kept our bed base. They installed the new one on Tuesday and took away the old mattress. What a difference it has made already!

[D0n49 in reply to Ergendl]

Thank you Ergendl. He loves the comfort of his current mattress, he just struggled massively with wheezing when horizontal (as he usually slides down his wedge) 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Izb1]

I have problems with wheezing at night and starts when I lie down. I have found that if i use the ventolin inhaler around dinner time and do my huff n puff exercise to clear out the mucus before bedtime it really helps. I also bought a wedge which took some time getting used to but hardly notice it now. Hope you find a solution for your dad and dont be put off requesting to see the consultant again. If you remember the name of the consultant you could phone his secretary and ask their advice on getting an appointment, otherwise , go back to your gp, Im sure they cant refuse . Good luck x

[D0n49 in reply to Izb1]

Thank you so much for that brilliant advice! Going to make him use his salbutamol inhaler more, and we you-tubed the huff method last night (as both of my parents are still waiting for respiratory rehabilitation classes).

Thanks again xx

[sheshed01]

I bought an adjustable bed and using the smart vest and am now sleeping thru the night after months of no sleep for days, feeling so much better. With no sleep life is zombielike every day but now I can enjoy living again, as much as possible with severe COPD. If the vest is available for you it took a few weeks to feel the effect but made a huge difference so I would recommend it if you can get it. Love and best of luck in all you can do.

[D0n49 in reply to sheshed01]

Hi sheshed01, I am not familiar with the smart vest, will have a look into that now!

Thank you very much for taking the time to send such a helpful reply 😊 Lots of love and good health to you xx

[Hidden]

Prop the pillows up a bit if possible. And have a drink at the side it can help with mucus also what my grandma used to do for me is leave a bowl of water in my bedroom as a kid as it helps the air in the bedroom. Ask for chest physio i found tht helpful. Maybe a brisk walk can help. Hope this helps a little x do what you can tell him but not that its uncomfortable.