Bronchiectasis persistent cough

[Enable]

I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis last week. I am on Carbocisteine 2 x 3 times a day. What's depressing me is my cough. Its dreadful the first hour of the day , I'm coughing up lots of sputum and wrenching . I'm having frequent coughing episodes during the day as well coughing up more sputum , I have to keep going to the toilet to cough it out and even when it's not coming up I'm still coughing a dry cough. Since being diagnosed I've slept every night in the armchair because if I lay down I just cough all the time and can't sleep. Is there nothing I can be given to help me with the cough ?Many thanks

[teddyd]

I was like that pre and post diagnosis. Once they started me on azithromycin and changed inhalers several times. Things got a lot better. I also got a nebuliser from the hospital which also helped.

[Patk1]

Have u seen a lung physio? If not id ask to.the mainstay treatment is expectorating the mucous,to help reduce infections.i was on 2x3 times a day thn reduced to 2 timesa day.the high dose maybe too much,over- liquifying mucous so yr flooded with it.talk to dr/nurse as u can get control of it x

[O2Trees in reply to Patk1]

Good point from Patk1. When I was put on carbocysteine my lungs couldnt cope with the runny mucus the carbo produced. Carbocysteine works wonderfully for most, but it doesnt suit everyone. As you go on, you will learn about your lungs and what helps and what doesnt. Dont be afraid to be clear with your health team about your needs. As Peege says below, we all have to be proactive and take control of our conditions.

[starskyd]

I was like that and I hated it. Try a flutter valve from gp/,physio, they really do help, I was given one and it helps loosen mucus, also try azthromycin... I was on them 3 times a week, my only warning to that is I did get tinnitus with them....Flutter valve and pulmonary rehab were brilliant foe me.

[peege]

Hi, it's a huge learning curve Enable and learning as much as you can will certainly help you and you've made a start by coming on this marvellous forum. There are a lot of members who've been or are where you are. Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a six week course provided by the NHS, it consists of specific gentle exercise that benefit people with lung disease at different levels. I was lucky that my then area of Wimbledon believed that getting people earl to prevent worsening lung damage so I was mild-ish to moderate when I did it in 2013. The other half of the course was education, I found it so very helpful.

Azithromycin 250mgs is an antibiotic, I take it Mon, Wed Fri November to April. Without it I'd be getting lung infections all the time, the mucus sitting in a warm damp lungs easily growing bacteria is why its vital that you expel that stuff. You will learn to judge yours to tell if it's infected.

Pulmonary physiotherapists can teach you the correct methods to expel it.

Unfortunately its up to we patients to be proactive in getting the treatment we need.

There are breathing exercises on youtube, The Huffing Technique can help expel the mucus regularly. As others have said there are devices that can help ie areobika pipe.....some use a straw to blow into a glass of water.

Good luck to you and never hesitate to come back, no question is too trivial.

[JAmanda]

I was given fexofenadine to stop the cough. It’s an antihistamine so not sure why given it but it seemed to work.

[Nula2]

Hi Enable, I have bronchiectasis and I'm on 2x3 times a day Carbocysteine which does help thin the mucus (despite the side effects!). You might find an Acapella device benefical too. Your resp team should issue you with one. It helps shift the mucus from your lungs. Also moving as much as you are able. Although I can't walk far or fast any more I try to have a bit of a walk most days and I find this helps to shift it too. I sleep on a wedge pillow (from Amazon) and have bricks under the head end of my bed to help raise my top half. This is a lovely forum and you will get lots of ideas and support. Think the thing I've learnt is it's all about self help and a seeing a Bronch specialist. Take care 🙂xxx

[Dottie11]

I was given reflux medication to add to most of all these wonderful comments above. Have silent reflux. My cough is lungs, allergy and reflux. Mutilple meds. Good luck

[Lutontown]

Have you been tested for a chest infection? I always have sputum pots in stock so that I can put in a sample to my surgery for testing. I have bi-basal bronchietasis, had it since 2014, and I think it was caused by a long bout of infection by Staphylloccus Aureus bug, which was only knocked out by an intravenous AB course. I used to have numerous chest infections; I tried out a lot of bugs and AB's; until in 2018 Black Mould which was found in our bathroom was eradicated, and NO chest infections since, (except for a 10 day hospital stay with pneumonia and pleurisy). Mould can grow anyway it is damp, so leaky roof or pipes in the bathroom or kitchen. Also, I'm the same as you, I sit up to sleep. Started in an easy chair in the living room but have now got an adjustable bed. I find if I lay down I start filling up with muck. I'm also on a few items of medication which I'm sure are helping. Did you have a CT scan which they determined you had bronch? If so, you must have a consultant at the hospital who can help you. Anyway, don't be despondent, I'm sure you will get sorted. And carbocysteine 2 x 3 times a day may be a bit much, as already suggested. I take 2 twice a day.

[Tdster43]

Really excellent and positive feedback from the community so far. One thing it took me (embarassingly too long) to understand and question more; Cough is not a single thing!!! Many patients have different coughs. The wet productive cough (in the mornings) is often an annoying but effective things clearing out old mucus and bacteria. You mentioned a DRY cough that is irritating... and non productive ..I suspect this additional to the morning cough..?

If so you may want to find out if you have a 2ndry problem such as vocal cord dysfunction/ intermittent laryngeal obstruction (sort of the same thing different name) or asthma.

Its worth looking at this; toolkit.severeasthma.org.au...

toolkit.severeasthma.org.au...

I am very lucky we have excellent speech and language team who are part of our bronchiectasis clinic. Its been humbling to see what have extra help can do to transform our patients quality of life (not surprisingly treatments to suppress bacteria in the lower airway in themselves may not be enough to help an irritated upper airway!)

[Nula2 in reply to Tdster43]

Hi Tdster, hope you don't mind me using this thread to ask your advice. I notice a lot of members use a saline nebuliser. I have bronchiectasis and recurring aspergillosis, my biggest problem is breathlessness and clearance. Would a saline nebuliser help me? I understand if you'd rather not answer but thank you for reading this 🙂x

[Mooka]

If you haven’t already you need to see a physio. They teach you to get rid of the mucus and control the coughing. Also a bit on the pelvic floor exercises. They can also advise on whether you need a device to help expel the mucus. As lutontown said you may need to get tested for an infection. If your mucus is green you will need antibiotics. Good luck you will get used to controlling this.

[lvn0619]

I went from 3% to 7% hypertonic saline twice a day following albuterol. I do both treatments with the AerobiKa device to remove harmful mucous from the lower respiratory tract. Then I do the active cycle breathing exercises. Our immune systems are weak and we are open to opportunistic antibiotic resistant infections. Please read everything you can about bronchiectasis and available treatments. Sputum testing should be checked for MAC and fungal infections each time. Antibiotics and steroids cause more damage if not used appropriately based on sputum cultures. Steroids weaken our immune systems more and allow these opportunistic antibiotics resistant bacteria to invade our lungs and cause more lung damage but sometimes they may be necessary. I now also have a pulmonologist who specializes in bronchiectasis. I wish I had educated myself more about this disease when diagnosed several years ago . I boil my my AerobiKa and nebulizer equipment for 10 minutes to sterilize after each use. Tubing cannot be boiled and some nebulizer equipment cannot either so do your research on this. The cough may lessen if you expel the mucous at least twice daily. You should see your Bronchiectasis specialist to be evaluated for a possible infection. The respiratory therapists will teach you how to do these treatments and exercises properly. Be patient with yourself and be diligent about your treatment plan.

[swimmer]

Hi Enable. Have you considered whether any medication you are taking, perhaps for another health issue, is contributing to your coughing? Some meds are contraindicated with bronchiectasis. Just a thought. Hope you will soon have much better control of your bronchiectasis. Very best wishes.

[Alberta56]

My AeroByka worked wonders for me. It's worth a try.

[Karenanne61]

I was prescribed codeine linctus for my persistent, intractable cough and it's really helped. I have severe copd and bronchiectasis. (Prescribed by palliative support team)