Coughing and breathless in a morning

[Bingo88]

Good morning Everyone. Hope we are all keeping as well as possible. Just wanted to know if anyone else has had the same problem I have every morning since I developed a cough in January with the freezing temperatures. I went to the Respiratory nurse on Tuesday and everything was fine but she gave me 6 weeks of Carbocisteine 375mg tablets to take incase I had any infection left in my lungs. Only started them yesterday so will see if they sort out the problem. If I have a snooze in the daytime on the sofa I don't have problems then. Hope your all enjoying the weather the best you all can. Take care. Brian

[Alberta56]

I wake up at the moment feeling congested. I think it's down to the high pollen count. I hope the Carbocisteine will sort you out. xxx

[Bingo88 in reply to Alberta56]

Thank you. I have only been taking it for 1 day. 3 tablets x 3 times a day and noticed my mouth is very dry already which is what others have found as well. Hope your keeping as well as possible .Brian

[Patk1 in reply to Alberta56]

Pollen forcast very high = grass nettles,spring flowers x

[CDPO16]

Hi Brian, we all shallow breathe while asleep and it may be breathing more deeply when you wake in a morning that causes the cough and breathlessness. If you don't already, sleeping propped up may help. An afternoon nap probably doesn't have the same effect as it's for a shorter period. Hope this helps, Carole.

[Bingo88 in reply to CDPO16]

Thanks so much for your reply. I did ask when I was 1st diagnosed about getting an adjustable bed but was told it wouldn't help. I also sleep with my mouth open which probably doesn't help because I always have a dry mouth in the night. Even after drinking water. Hope you have a wonderful day and weekend Carole

[CDPO16 in reply to Bingo88]

I disagree about the adjustable bed. I have an electric hospital bed on loan and have the head raised along with the central section under my knees to stop me sliding down. It has certainly helped me but it still takes me a good hour to 'come too' in a morning.

[Bingo88 in reply to CDPO16]

Yes sadly there seems to be a lack of consistent training. Because whatever the questions. You get 2 sets of answers from different people. I do sleep on 2 pillows so perhaps I should try 3. Thanks for your replies and caring

[peege in reply to Bingo88]

Hi Brian, there are bed raisers that can be purchased not too expensively and placed under head end of the bed. Some use books. There are also wedges that go under the top end of mattress to raise your top half. Of course there are adjustable bed to buy (if NHS are unforthcoming with one) but they're expensive - even with VAT knocked off. Might help.

[Bingo88 in reply to peege]

Thanks so much I will look into the options available to me. Thank you

[blueferret in reply to Bingo88]

I use 4 pillows to help stop the build up of mucus through the night but I have to 3 to shoulder and then one on top or I end up with a really bad crick in my neck. I still take an hour at least to sort myself out in the morning, gete my meds , trimbow, etc. and let it all kick in. O2 was 86 when waking this morning which was a bit worrying but came back up to mid 90`s fairly quickly.

[Bingo88 in reply to blueferret]

Thanks for your reply. Yes my 02 can be a bit low in a morning. Especially if I have been having a coughing episode. But it recovers quickly. I need to get mor pillows and try and elevate myself more. Hope your keeping as well as possible. Brian

[Nula2 in reply to Bingo88]

Hi Brian, I take Carbocysteine too and get a very dry mouth. I use mouthwash, toothpaste and gel all designed for people with dry mouth (from Boots the chemist or Amazon) it doesn't cure it but relieves it for a while. I bought myself a "wedge" pillow and sleep on that with two soft pillows on top. I find this does help with breathing (seems to be helping with lower back pain too). 🙂Take care xxx

[Bingo88 in reply to Nula2]

Thanks so much for your reply. Yes I have problems with a dry mouth and always have water overnight on hand. Been thinking about getting a V pillow. Hope your keeping well

[sassy59]

Great replies there Brian. Wishing you well. Xxx

[Bingo88 in reply to sassy59]

Thoughts are with you as well love. Hope everything will be fine for you and I hope Pete is doing well. Take care. Brian

[sassy59 in reply to Bingo88]

All going in the right direction thank you. Pete is doing ok too. Take care Brian. Xxx

[Bingo88 in reply to sassy59]

Pleased to hear this

[Morrison10]

I take 6 carbocisteine daily, 2 three times each day. They definitely reduce the thickness of my sputum making it easier to get rid of. Best wishes, Jean x

[Bingo88 in reply to Morrison10]

Thank you for your reply Jean. I don't have a Sputum as I told her I do get a bit of clear stuff from my throat after coughing. But it's just like the stuff from your nose and it's clear. But I will give them a try. Thanks you. Brian

[Chip_y2kuk]

Carbocistine isn't to help with infection it's only purpose in life isnto break down mucus and make it less sticky... your nurse must think you have mucus left over from being unwell it does tend to settle and can cause quite a nasty cough ... I do respiratory physio and super salty saline as well as Carbocistine to clear mucus and keep my airways free of junk

[Bingo88 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Thanks for the advice. Yes she said I might have stuff left from January. Just wish she had dealt with it sooner. I have to be careful with salt because I have chronic kidney disease as well. Hope you enjoy your weekend. Brian

[peege]

Hopefully the Carbocysteine will loosen any residual mucus in your lungs Bingo so you can more easily get rid of it. I too had a rotten virus in January, still not right with more asthmatic coughing, mucus in my lungs & breathless. Jolly annoying, I already take Carbocysteine daily.

[Bingo88 in reply to peege]

Thanks for your reply. Let's hope we both stop coughing soon. Enjoy your weekend. Brian

[Lunamar]

I take them twice a day and find they do really help.

[Bingo88 in reply to Lunamar]

Thanks I have just completed my 2nd day. So too early to say yet

[Biker88]

Hi Brian, I had a persistent cough which was worse at night, and I found a backrest under the pillows helped, I have since got an adjustable bed which has made a lot of difference. Eventually my cough was identified was an allergic reaction to stomach acid due to hiatus hernia, so Omeprazole, Carbocysteine and an adjustable bed have made life so much better

[Bingo88 in reply to Biker88]

Thanks so much for your ideas. I asked if an adjustable bed would help when I was 1st diagnosed but was told No. But you get different answers from various professionals. Hope your keeping as well as possible. Brian

[Tykelady]

After my face to face review in April I was given a nasal spray as she suspected I had post nasal drip and rhinitis because of the horrors of the morning clearance. What a difference it has made now I just have the COPD congestion to deal with.

[Bingo88 in reply to Tykelady]

Thanks for reminding me. I started using a nasal spray for a congested nose in a morning. But need to get a new one because its run out. Hope your doing ok

[Patk1]

In my experience,it's v common,with various lung diseases to struggle with mornings.carbocysteine is gd at thinning mucous and makes it easier to expectorate.do u sleep propped up on pillows? Also,maybe try sleeping on sides to reduce mouth breathing xx

[Bingo88 in reply to Patk1]

Yes I do turn over on either side in the night because of Hip aches. And never sleep on my back. Going to try sleeping on more pillows. Thanks for your suggestions. Brian

[Patk1 in reply to Bingo88]

I pile them up to bit lower than sitting position.it does help.x

[Bingo88 in reply to Patk1]

Thanks. I am going to get some tomorrow and see if it helps me. Thank you. Enjoy your day. Brian

[Timberman]

I take 4x375 Carbocisteine every day to loosen my mucus and allow me to clear it. It is usually given to emphysema and bronchiectasis patients on a continuous basis so I am a bit puzzled. Has the cough persisted? You refer to a respiratory nurse so I assume you have COPD in some form. Have they asked for a sputum sample to check for an infection?

[Bingo88 in reply to Timberman]

Yes I have severe copd and Asthma as well. They have asked for a sputum sample a week before my next appointment. Thanks for your reply

[Patk1 in reply to Bingo88]

Ru using yr inhalers with a spacer Brian + ru using salbutamol to see if it helps when having coughing fits? Soz 20 questions x

[Bingo88 in reply to Patk1]

Good morning Patk1. My morning inhaler is a cassette type where you pull the cover back and suck in a dose of Trelegy. My sabutamol I have a Spacer to use with it. But I have never found it stops my breathlessness. I mentioned this to the Respiratory nurse last week and asked if there was anything else I could use during the day. And she said it must be your heart then if the sabutamol doesn't help. I don't have any problems when the pollen numbers are up at all. Hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for your suggestions. Brian

[armstrong2]

hi l have just started the carbocisteine 2 3 times aday ..l have had pnuemonia ontop of having emphysema ..l have to remain taking them now for the remaiming of my life ..they stop the thick sticky mucus clogging up and dries it up so our breathing becomes more manageable //it does work my cough is so much better and dryer..good luck

[Bingo88 in reply to armstrong2]

Hope everything goes well for you on these tablets. They do sometimes take a while to get used to. I was going more to the toilet for the first few days. I only took them for a week . But I have never had problems with getting the mucus off my chest the coughing helps to keep that easy . Hope you feel better soon. Brian

[armstrong2 in reply to Bingo88]

thankyou brian and likewise