I was diagnosed with bronciactasis a few years ago but have been fine until a couple of weeks ago I have this awful cough I saw the doctor last week and she said my chest was clear and gave me some antibiotics but I’m still having really bad coughing fits where I can’t stop and then I catch my breath and I feel like I’m choking it’s so frightening that I panic. I think it’s the mucous that’s causing it but I can’t cough it up. I’ve tried honey and lemon and inhaling steam with a towel over my head but it’s not working. Can anyone please suggest anything that would help. Sorry for the long message. Thank you.
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JanetJAM
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It sounds as though this could have been started by a virus which developed into a bacterial exacerbation.Check that your GP has given you a suitable antibiotic for 2 weeks ( guidelines for bronch) Try not to panic. Do the exercises to loosen the mucus ( lots on You Tube) and gently ease it out.
You have had some very good advice from the others. The device which helps loosen the mucus best, apart from a nebuliser and saline is an aerobika. It is free on the NHS
Hi. It's not Covid is it? If not you could try a Flutter Device. In the past, you could get a prescription for one. Maybe look up info about one via the internet and/or ask your respiratory medics to help you get one, if appropriate. Your will need to be taught how to use the device, but it could just help you expectorate the mucous. Hope that helps.
Hi janet, I have had the same symptoms I actually had covid back in September . My doctor thinks the cough and s.o.b. is due to the Covid attacking my immune system.
It was about 4 weeks ago I got the cough,, shortness of breath and fatigue. My doctor organised the respiratoy nurse to visit.
She knew what I meant that i wasnt strong enough to cough up any phlegm .
So in short -
I now have a nebuliser which is brilliant. also some tablets to help loosen the mucus. which are effervescent and work almost straight away. (acetylcysteine 600mg effervescent tablets)
perhaps ask your doctor to get you on the list for the respirator
It maybe a mucous plug is blocking a tiny airway,triggering the coughing.id look on aluk website for lung clearance techniques - Active cycle of breathing( acb) is helpful,especially if ulie on alternate sides.i also do gentle taps on lungs at same time,which helpsYes it is worth retesting x
Hi chook, read something the other day when looking up different meds for copd. There is something you can get that thins the mucus so much easier to cough up and I'm sure someone on here will give you some good advice. 👍 😉 merry Xmas
I’ve found that taking Carbocisteine tablets has really helped with thinning the mucus I produce, so I can expel it with the help of breathing exercises and using an Aerobika device. I hope this helps and you feel better soon.
With bronch you should have a respiratory specialist as it can be tricky. You also need a proper sputum test to identify the infection. Some like pseudomonas need careful treatment and can be difficult to shift. Specialists have access to resources GPs do not. Good luck
Hi Janet sometimes after infection chest is under stress and cough can last a few weeks but if mucus is the culprit then drinking plenty of water use a mucolyte such as acetylcysteine or carbocysteine would help clear it using a flutter or acapella device helps enormously also it can be a course of prednisolone from gp that can also settle the cough down. I hope you feel better soon and have a good Christmas
Hi Janet, coughs are usually caused by bacterial, viral and fungal infections but often overlooked are allergic and anxiety coughs. I coughed for many years until infections were ruled out and the cure was instant when I took Gaviscon, my cough was caused by stomach acid fumes irritating my lungs. I also have a stress cough when I encounter a perceived stressful situation.
What if anything is your usual treatment for Bronch? My wife has had Bronch for odd years, gradually getting worse over last years She now takes Azithromycin 3x per week. Azithro works not only as anti bio but also antiinflammatory. Talk to your lung specialist about this. In the meantime enjoy Christmas and have a Healthy New Year, Chris.
I'm on holiday in lanzarote and started with a terrible cough, started taking antibiotics which have helped covid test negative, haven't had a chest infection since April, so many respiratory infections going around at the moment, keep hydrated and moving, hope things improve x
Poor you, I have a very similar bug (with background bronch) and those exact same coughing fits, it's very frightening. Easier said than done but if you can manage not to panic, it will help: try slowing down, sitting down, breathing steadily through the nose if you feel it coming on. If your chest was clear (v good, btw!) it's an upper respiratory problem, your airways are very inflamed, so any little thing can set off this reaction. And because they're also producing extra mucus and you want to get rid of it, it's a sort of vicious circle. It's probably a virus that's taken up residence, so antibiotics can't get rid of it, but they will help to prevent a secondary (bacterial) infection. (I gather the latest covid tends not to make much mucus, but there are 000s of other respiratory viruses going about again - they made a comeback when life started up again after lockdowns etc.) Exercises, nebulisers and the mucus-thinners should help with the mucus, but sounds like the bug itself will just have to work its way out. Lots of water, warm with honey and lemon will soothe things a bit. Paracetemol is anti-inflammatory and gentle on the stomach. Watch the colour of your mucus (sorry!) If it's greenish, brownish or darker, you might need a different antibiotic, and should check with your GP anyway. Try to take it easy - it will get better eventually. Good luck!
Hi Janet, some Blood Pressure pills can aggravate coughs, I was recently taken off Ramipril, as my Chest man said that this could be the cause of my persistent cough.
I was put on 'Candesartin', which did not help at all, but did cause my Kidney to malfunction.
I am now back on Ramipril, on a lesser dose. this may have nothing to do with your particular cough, but I thought it worth mentioning.
I hope you find a solution soon, all the very best to you. Ron.
Hi , I’ve been ill for a few weeks now and my cough is the worst I’ve experienced ever. I’ve had a week in hospital and I’m home now but still struggling . The nebuliser I’ve used every day 4 times at home and more in hospital. It does losen the phlegm but I’m still not clear. Not Covid. Not bacterial. Not flu. No inflammation marker in blood test . It’s the strangest feeling like I’m drowning and choking . Hospital say it’s viral but they have no idea. I would definitely recommend a steam bath or head over basin of hot water. Only do what you’re comfortable with. And do not hesitate to go a & e if needed. I wish you well and Happy Christmas.
Hi this sounds exactly the same as me it happened again in the middle of the night it’s so frightening I feel like I’m choking and can’t breathe I think I will have to go to a and e if it keeps happening I hope your better soon thank you for your message.
Hi Sorry to hear you are suffering like this. I had something similar end of last year/beginning of this. I ended up going to a respiratory consultant who diagnosed Hypersensitive Cough Syndrome where a nerve in the neck/ throat becomes over sensitised and tells the brain you need to continually cough. He diagnosed also I have asthma but also mild Bronchiectasis - got prescribed new inhalers & a low morphine dose to desensitise the cough reflex - no further problems thereon. Hope you get sorted soon
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