I have COPD and bronchitis i'm breathless and have a cough
my question is once the cough starts i can't stop it just goes on and on i can draw a full breath in and it can continue for hours on end sometimes virtually all day....
i bring up small amounts of sticky mucous and think great thats it cleared but it just carries on
then other days i hardly cough at all
it tires me out and causes my breathlessness to be worse
so
has any one any tips to help me please
So strange I don’t cough barely at all if I’m on opiates. Vicodin, but as soon as I go off it's like my body has an allergy reaction to not taking it. Thoughts?
it’s likely because the opiates will supress the cough. This can be good but can also allow build up of mucus in lung which can cause problems!
Hi DanceQueen. I sympathize with you my cough is so much better since when I take my inhalers first thing in the morning straight after I have my breakfast or you can eat a plain biscuit was told by the nurse that would take any residue from the inhalers from the back of the throat you should make sure you also gargle as it says on your inhalers..
Do you take càrbocisteine capsules to loosen your mucus.
Also learn the huff and puff method hope this helps
Best of luck
Dilly is tite learn the huff cough method ,also when I was suffering like you found it was the inhailer I was using ,when it was changed my coughing stopped, only cough normal now with this complaint
Hi Alice. I'm having the same problem with cough. What inhalor did they move you on to. Hope you dont mind me asking x Maz
Hi max, it is a couple of years ago now ,I think the one that made me cough was called clinil ,iwas put on fostair after that,I was fine on fostair,of late I've been put on trimbow ,it is like fostair only it is supposed to be better for breathing ,I'm ok on it ,there was also another one that was related to clinil that made me cough to ,I carnt think of the name of that one,remember maz what suits one may not another
Thanks Aluce. Just trying to get as much info as possible. I read that for people with copd you can get pneumonia by using inhaled steroids and I'm a bit worried about that. Going to try and get blf in monday and ask them some questions. Just thought I would ask here first xxMaz
Good idea maz
Hi Maz.careful with Fostair as you know what happened to me . Hope you are well.xx
Sheila.
I have remembered about what happened to youShiela. That's why I'm asking questions. Hope your safe and ok xxx Maz
Hi Maz. I am really well thanks. Positive the Olbas Oil in my Humidifier has sorted my mucas thank goodness. Back to normal now , took a few weeks to get the Fostair out of my system. Bad weather today so haven't done anything. Prefer to be out and about but not going in this weather. Keep well. Sheila x
Hello, I too have COPD..Bronchitis at times. I read about a Flutter Device and asked my Doctor. She ordered me one. I think this helps me! Plus it brings a lot of Mucus up and I feel like I have more room to breathe! If I think I am going to get Bronchitis...I go on my Nebulizer 4x a day! I also use Mucus Relief DM every day! Every little bit helps! Janet127
i will look into that thank you
Have you seen a Specialist?
yes and i go back to see him again in october
Have you tried something like N-Acetyl-Cysteine. It loosens my mucous and makes it easier to cough up. Works for my COPD. I wonder if you are having an exacerbation, they creep up on you. Do you have emergency meds like prednisolone and antibiotics? Otherwise see the Dr. don't let it turn to pneumonia. Coughing is exhausting, don't let it go in too long. Hope you feel better soon and get fit to face the Autumn
i have a rescue pack of anti biotics and steroids
but i saw my doctor yesterday and she said my lungs are clear yet today i feel i cant take a deep breath and am getting so breathless on activity
Oh well! Plenty of fluids then. Have you got some breathing exercises. BLF have lots of info. Sit up straight. Breath through the nose, say for 4, lifting your abdomen, then huff out through your mouth for 8. Everyday is different for me, I have been fine for a couple days, plenty of energy, breathing fine but this morning I have woken up exhausted! Perhaps I over did it a bit. You didn't mention your inhalers.
I'm on ventolin ...seratide ...braltus inhalers and memetasone nasel spray and fexofenadine for my allergies...
I know I don't take enough fluids ...I will drink more
That's a real bag full! You should be fit for the disco. My Dr said I could have up to 4 puffs of Ventolin 4 times a day if I felt like it. I very rarely do but it is good to know I can. I don't have Seretide but have Serevent (Salmeterol) because the Braitus seems to wear off by late afternoon. Have you tried a nebuliser with saline solution. I use mine, Nurses permission, when I have an exacerbation. It does help. Maybe it's another allergy. Good luck with the Ct Scan. You seem to be getting the best care
Hi ....maybe you should consider a visit to you Physiotherapist...they are quite good at loosening mucus....i drink lots of water, herbal teas, lemon water, N- acetylcysteine, huff and puff method....I use Ativan if i go into a panic....keeps me calm....God bless
thanks for your input
i have been referred to pulmonary rehab but goodness knows how long ill have to wait for that
i have a rescue pack of anti biotics and steroids
but i saw my doctor yesterday and she said my lungs are clear yet today i feel i cant take a deep breath and am getting so breathless on activity
Hi...this is the nature of this sickness...it strikes a any time, on and off days...rehab will do you a world of good....at least than you can be monitored...try to get some Dr Vogel cough remedy/ drops
thanks i'll look for those
....worth investigating....DR VOGEL COUGH FORMULA....
I have spotted this one at Boots I will give it a try
Hi,
I have been like you described at times (exhausting and rather frightening when it happens) extra doses of ventolin helped but didn't stop it completely. I was eventually told by my former hospital consultant that he believed the cause was unstable asthma. An increase in the dose of my steroid inhaler gradually settled things down.
I'm not suggesting at all that this is your problem, just wondering if any of your inhalers contain a steroid. I also have emphysema but that rarely causes me to cough. It doesn't seem as if mucous is causing you a problem if your GP said your lungs are clear, but you do seem to have some irritation for whatever reason. I hope that you get some relief soon.
Yes I am asthmatic too....I have ventolin...seratide and braltus inhalers ....memetasone nasel spray and fexofenadine for allergies
Wish I could help more x
It's so good of you to reply to my post
So thanks for that .....it's like I have support out there
Be careful not to overdose...I tend to do this and then suffer with burning lungs afterwards or burning sensation in lungs (not nice)
I have v severe COPD, no Asthma and none of my inhalers contain steroid. I understood those with Steroids were for Asthma patients?
I believe that steroid inhalers are sometimes prescribed for COPD sufferers if they have frequent exacerbations. I was prescribed a steroid inhaler, prior to a diagnosis of late onset asthma, for COPD that failed to respond to long acting bronchodilators alone.
That maybe the answer. Touch wood I haven't had a bad exacerbation since last Autumn/Winter I did have some wheezing in Spring but antibiotics saw that off (couldn't face the prednisolone!) So despite my 29% lungs I think I have been luckier than some. Stay well
Are you on Azithromycin?
No. Braitus. Ventolin. Serevent. Hope you are well
I was prescribed seratide for my asthma then I was diagnosed with COPD and told to continue with that and add in Braltus and as I said the nasel spray is for my allergies...that's the problem I have multiple health problems re my lungs ...also high blood pressure..osteoporosis....Polycythemia(a blood condition) to name but a few....
It's a wonder I'm still alive hahahahaha
Things are sent to try us, trouble is, they often succeed!
Seretide haven’t they mentioned Relvar Elipta?
As a precaution, ask your doctor to refer you for an electrocardiagraph to check your heart condition. Heart and lungs can both cause cough and breathlessness and you don't always have ankle swelling in the early stages of heart problem and i do speak from personal experience. As I say, it's a precaution, but one well worth doing.
One way or another, I do hope you get sorted.
John.
Thanks so much for your reply
I have had an echo on my heart and that seems to be going along ok(glad something still.works)
is this cough normal with copd//emphysema
persistent cough for 3 years
Coughing and breathless in a morning 
Coughing up green sputum. 
Chesty cough worse on one side
