COPD cough

[D0n49]

A very Happy New Year to All - here’s to 2022 bringing us good health.

This may seem like a silly question, but is a permanent cough part and parcel of COPD please? My Mum has had a barking cough for over two months now, and after a number of courses of steroids and antibiotics it still has not cleared.

We ended up in A&E about four weeks ago, as advised by the GP, and it was confirmed the cough was not being caused by her heart, with bloods showing the end of an infection.

Whilst the frequency has lessened (it flares up at night) and the productiveness varies, I recall my Mum being cough free and a lot less breathless after her admission to/treatment in hospital in August. Conscious her airways sound inflamed and from what I have read this is what causes permanent lung damage.

I have requested she be referred back to the Respiratory Consultant, but there are no appointments until May. Also I have asked for a referral to our local Respiratory Team who I hope can better advise on the management of her condition.

She is currently on Fostair twice a day, and has a salbutomol inhaler which she doesn’t use as she finds it provides no relief. Should her inhalers work to relieve the breathlessness and/or cough please?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as always, thank you!

[Welshcatlady]

Hi I don't have a permanent cough, but then my COPD is mild. Usually I cough just to bring up mucus. I would get your mum to talk to her GP, if only to put your mind at rest.

[D0n49 in reply to Welshcatlady]

Hi Welshcatlady,

Thank you so much for your reply. I reach out to our GP more or less every other week at the moment. Right now a sputum test has been sent off, and she started more doxycycline on Friday, but she just doesn’t seem to be getting any better and I am so worried about the long term impact it’s having on her already damaged lungs 🥺

Thanks again xx

[Welshcatlady in reply to D0n49]

You seem to be right on top of the situation, let's hope she gets her results quickly and they can treat her condition with the correct meds. x

[D0n49 in reply to Welshcatlady]

Thank you! I have been trying for almost two months now xx

[Welshcatlady in reply to D0n49]

Good morning, just wondering how your mum is? Hope her cough is much better now. Take care x

[katieoxo60]

Hello DOn49, I have a permanent cough with my COPD, which is somewhat to do with the Asthma in the background. When the cough is prolonged after infection I find steroid tablets usually clear it but it can take months rather than weeks to get my cough under control again. All you can do is keep talking to your mums Gp and see what they think, as hospital appointments are hard to get.

[D0n49 in reply to katieoxo60]

Thank you katieoxo60.

I am sure the cough has cleared up fully when she has been treated with IV AB in hospital. But this time around she is on her fourth lot of antibiotics and has had three lots of steroids.

It tends to be worse at night when she lays down, and the problem is it effects her sleep, as well as the jarring causing pain in other parts of her body. Then there is the severe breathlessness - it’s has never been this bad. I am just scared this has all been going on too long.

She has an appointment with our GP today, soI am praying he has something constructive that will help her.

Please take care and thanks again xx