PHLEGM

[whit]

the last week i have so much phlegm its causing breathing problems, i take 4 carbosistine a day but they have never seemed to help, i take 2/3 salbutomol nebuliser per day, i did try saline nebulizer but it seemed to make me more breathless,i have done the huff cough ing with a little success,is there anything else i can do. thanks now for all replies.

[Lol1944]

I used to be prescribed 8 carbocisteine a dau until some silly jumped upstart reduced it to six. I found 6 to be less effective and since then for many years I have taken 8 each day. I believe in self medicating not necessarily doing as some medics think is best for me. I have not so far been criticised by my r3spiratory specialist for doing what works for me.

[PurpleEllie in reply to Lol1944]

So sorry you are having such a problem. I used to take Carbocisteine, and like you it never really helped. My Respiratory Consultant changed it to one Acetylcysteine effervescent tablet a day and it is so much better. As a bronch I still have lots of phlegm everyday, but now it is much less sticky and so easier to huff up. Hope you get some relief soon.

[O2Trees]

Sorry you're having so much bother whit. Carbocysteine doesnt work for everyone. I cant take it as when I have an asthma flare-up the mucus is always runny,and that is as Im sure you know what Carbocysteine is designed to do - ie make mucus thinner. No idea obviously if this applies to you. But if you're having so much trouble please contact your GP or respiratory nurse. You could suggest a medication review as it sounds like your condition is not being properly managed. Good luck!

[Patk1]

Do read up on lung clearance techniques - active cycle of breathing and postural drainage r helpful.you prob b need to be doing after yr neb at least twice a day.i use disposable cups as have a lot and dispose of in nappy bags with tissue in cups if u do dedicated sessions, it should b better.i also ⬆️⬇️carbocysteine depending on how it is.if too liquid or too thick.its about being proative with self care.not easy,not nice but necessary xxxx

[Spacecat1]

I hav same problem maybe up carbestine up to 6 a day

[Lee_Scoresby]

This is an interesting thread for me as I recently got to the state of coughing a lot. People around me were more aware of it than I was sometimes as I seemed to blank out each occurrence in my mind. But they heard it and winced at the sound. I am using an Anoro Elipta inhaler once a day for my emphysema but had had nothing prescribed for my cough.

I was finding increasingly that my phlegm was getting very sticky (like strands of yukky yellow or dark brown Evostick adhesive, I would say) so it was refusing to let go of my airways and come up. So I asked for something to slacken it. I am now in the first month of taking 2 carbocysteine every 8 hours. I read that it’s not an overnight wonder, but hopefully should show signs of effectiveness within a month.

Meanwhile, my impression is that I don’t deliver bouts of the old nasty hacking cough that I had quite as often in the daytime (backed up by what others have noticed) but feel it comes back in the evening when I‘m sat watching TV or something. I see the Cough Nurse week after next so we’ll talk it through then. If it’s reducing, I’ll probably be advised to go to 4 carbocysteines a day.

I’ll read up on lunch clearance techniques as Patk1 suggests (thanks Patk1) but I’ll need somewhere private to practice as it’s sure to be too distressing to family or anyone close enough to hear.

All the best, you guys.

[Patk1 in reply to Lee_Scoresby]

Hope it helps.i usually do it in bedroom as it is a bit noisy.pnce its clear I cough less so puts us more in control.do mention it to nurse as lung physio will give u gd advice& tips on effective techniques.x

[Lizzie34]

do the huff exercise slowly. Breath as deep as you can, hold 3 seconds, blow out with pursed lips. Do 3 times then a good huff. Repeat

[PAP48]

Have you got a clearance device? I have an Aerobika which helps with clearing mucus from the lungs. For me, it’s brilliant, there are other devices such as a Flutter device but fir me the Aerobika is best, prescribed by my respiratory nurse. Hope that’s helpful.

[Alberta56]

I totally agree with PAP48. When I had a bad chest infection my nurse prescribed an AeroBika which worked like magic. I was amazed how much green gunk it enabled me to cough up.

[Lee_Scoresby]

I’ll remember to ask her about this Aerobika thing. Thanks

[Lutontown]

Perhaps you have a chest infection? Hope you keep mucus sample pots in stock. Put a sample of mucus into your surgery and see if anything grows. Because it sounds like the amount of mucus you have is not your norm.

[Izb1]

Sounds like you have been given good advice Whit, the only thing that helped for me was antihistamine as this dries you up, but there must be an underlying condition causing this so would get it checked out x

[gilfuhrman]

try Mucinex. Works for me in US.

[Molly70]

Tried carbocisteine for 3/4 days. Had mild flu like symptoms & slight swelling of lips accompanied by cold sores. Also was very lethargic. This coincided with starting the pills & of course l could have had a cold or flu. Stopped taking them & after a few days l was back to normal coughing but otherwise OK. Anybody else had similar experiences? NB this is on my wife's telephone!

[Rostom]

Agree with the 'huffing' suggestion. Low tech and works well - as long as you are not too depleted of breath.

Could I suggest that you ask your doctor to put you on a 'Pulmonary Rehabilitation' course. One learns how to clear chests/understand chests a little better etc. Can recommend the course,

[Verbena_67]

Have you tried the vests?

[whit]

What vests?

[Verbena_67 in reply to whit]

There are vests that vibrate.

[whit in reply to Verbena_67]

never heard of them, where do i get them from?

[Verbena_67 in reply to whit]

I know one is Smartvest. There are others but can't remember the name.

[whit in reply to Verbena_67]

I wil look it up, thanks

[eleanordigby in reply to whit]

They’re not available on the nhs, whit, except for a small number of children with cystic fibrosis & who can’t do normal airway clearance exercises.

[Dizzart]

I’m no expert but I had excessive flegm for which I now take Montelukas. It doesn’t suit everyone but you can read a lot about it here. I found my breathing really cleared and would never have heard of it without reading health Unlocked reports from other people, so I rang my gp. and he said ok give it a try. Good luck hope you find a cure 👍🏻

[gilles]

my wife has ILD and she is taking fenu-thyme 3 times a day and its working for her the specialist told her it works for some people not everyone but its worth the try good luck I hope it works for you