overnight choking on mucous

[Tiggertheterrier]

Hi all. Haven't posted for a while as in rehab from broken wrist.

Update on lungs: consultant still suspects ABPA and due to see her in clinic again soon. Appointment with Respiratory nurses next Friday to supply me with saline nebs on nhs( I have been buyibuying them up to now. Welsh nhs would not let me have them). Mucous production recently doubled in quantity, sample given to GP, on precautionary antibiotics, but I don't think it's a bacterial infection. I suspect tree pollen has irritated my already angry lungs!!

Anyways, question for today - does anybody get woken in the night by a choking sensation, throat feels all closed up, clogged up by mucous. And I DO sleep propped up as have one of those adjustable beds. This then triggers a loud bout of deep, rattling coughing. I do my lung clearance an hour before I go to bed, but still get these disturbed nights. My usual response is to sit up, have a sip of water and maybe a puff of Ventolin, then ACB to shift ththe mucous. I have an air purifier going in the bedroom too. It can be extremely frightening as often I can't breathe any air in through the obstruction.

Current meds: Relvar am, Incruse pm, Montelukast pm, Fexofenadine am, Qvar pm, Carbocisteine 375 4 times a day ( cannot tolerate a higher dose), VentoVentolin as needed. Dymista nasal spray twice a day. Saline nebs once a day, ACB and Aerobika 3 times a day.

any helpful tips gratefully received!!!!!

thank you.

[Patk1]

Yes I know exactly how u feel. Whn u r struggling to get air in its vital to keep calm. I use pursed lips controlled breathing technique ( see aluk website). It allows u to get air behind mucous so u can cough it up.I use hypertonic saline nebs twice a day,after salbutamol.

I also adjust dose of carbocysteine,according to how mucous is - if too thick I increase,if too much & flooded with it, i decrease it.

It is scary >( but calm persistence clears it. I'ts exhausting after bad does.

I read yesterday,tree pollens are earlier this year,with global warming x

[Tiggertheterrier in reply to Patk1]

thanks Patk1, I have a feeling the Resp nurses will increase my nebs to twice a day! I have been experimenting with ththe Carbocisteine dose, 6 is far too many and tummy gets agitated, 3 nnot enough, so at the moment it's 4. Tried NAC but it didn't work for me. Xxxxxx

[Alberta56]

That sounds really nasty. I hope you find a solution. xxx

[Germantara]

I hope you get sorted

[Normc]

I keep getting these requests but think I am the wrong man to offer advice. You don’t sound too well to me but don’t thinkVentolin will help you with the blocked throat etc through the night. It does make breathing easier for your lungs. I too was on carbocisteine which I thought was to make coughing up mucus easier or that’s the way it worked for me. Ventolin was a miracle for me when first supplied to me… out of breath take Ventolin & 10 minutes later breathing was normal Again. That’s what it was for me.

Normc

[shazbat]

Hi i agree with a few replies above. I don't take the Carbocisteine as prescribed. I found it was making excessive mucous. When I really struggle with extra thick or sticky mucous I take them perhaps twice daily. But when I'm clearing easier I reduce them or don't take them. I think they are a great drug but only when required my doctor is fine with that.

[Tiggertheterrier in reply to shazbat]

it's something I'm going to discuss with the Respiratory nursing team on Friday!

[shazbat in reply to Tiggertheterrier]

I hope it goes well. I decided to take control of my health. Everytime I went it was another drug. They check for clashes in drugs but I don't think anyone looks at all your drugs and the effects they have together. I'm now breathing better than I have in years. I just tried different ways of taking them. I'm not suggesting you do that but it worked for me. I have been able to substantially reduce the use of my ventolin. I also found I was using my inhalers incorrectly that has made a massive difference. Good luck.

[AsthmaandLung Administrator]

Hi Tiggertheterrier

I am sorry to hear this is happening, below is a link to the page Patk1 mentioned, you may find it helpful.

asthmaandlung.org.uk/living...

Best wishes

Helpline Team

[kassipoppi]

take 3 deep breaths and then wash your mouth out