Bad cough.

[NTu21]

Hi

It's me again looking for help!

My husband developed a bad cough following his chemo treatment and was told to go to his GP as it could be an infection. The GP got him on antibiotics for one week which didn't change anything so he got him to do a blood test and phlegm test which showed no infection and therefore antibiotics were not the answer. Then the GP got him to have an X-ray which showed fluid build up on his lungs and gave him pills to help drain it. But still no change. In fact the cough is getting worse. We do not know what to do. We don't sleep anymore because of his cough and I feel sorry for him and it's painful to not be able to do anything for him.

Does anyone have or had the same?

Please help.

NTu21

[jillygirl]

Hi there NTu21, I am sorry I cant really help . If I were you I would get back to your husbands oncologist or even A&E . They should be able to drain the fluid from his lung.

[NTu21 in reply to jillygirl]

Thank you Jilly for your reply.

We will get in touch with the Macmillan nurse to see if she can speak to the onchologist.

Take care.

[Jackie46]

Definitely contact your lung cancer nurse.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hello NTu21,

I am sorry to hear that your husband has a persisstant cough this can be a distressing and exhusting symptom espically if it is keeping him awake at night, as others have advised you should speak with your lung cancer specialist nurse or oncologist, they wll be able to recommend any treatment for the underlying cause.

If you wish to discuss anything you can call us on our nurse led helpline freephone 0800 358 7200

All the best

The Roy Castle Support Team

[NTu21]

Thank you all for your kind replies.

My husband's nurse is on holiday so we have spoken to one of the other Macmillan nurses who checked everything and said the X-ray didn't show any fluids in the lungs and that we were confused. Also there was no indication of an infection from the tests. So we need to wait until he has his scan next month or have an earlier appointment with the onchologist before the scan!!! Meanwhile the cough is getting worse and the shortness of breath too!!! No idea where to go from here.

[Lallylal]

Hi. My husband also had a totally debilitating cough. He had it even before he started chemo but now it's got much worse. Just starting another lot of antibiotics and steroids. I'm really hoping they'll do something this time. He's coughing up a load of horribly sticky phlegm. I wonder if this is due to fluid on his lungs but none of the experts have ever suggested this. I also wonder if this is just one of the horrible side effects of stage 4 nscl. If it is, I wish someone would say so. At least then we could try to accept that it's something he needs to learn to live with.