Hi,
My dad is on his 5th round of chemo tomorrow and is managing ok...the only thing that gets him down is coughing 24 hours a day (so it feels ) he has tried linctus/sweets/codeine medicine from the gp and inhalers,pleaseeee can anyone suggest anything else,
Thank you in advance 😊
Lizzyann333 I've used honey neat and that's helped me or with lemon hope it works nothing worse than constant coughing best wishes x
Is/Was dad a smoker? If he is smoking? he should stop immediately as it will possibly lead to complications. If he was, it can take several months for the body to adjust to the change. One of the noticeable symptoms often being a persistent cough. We are also heavily into the "hayfever" season in the UK some anti-histamine may help, but he should seek the advice of his Oncologist.
Hi no dad hasn't smoked for over 30 years but the oncologist has stated his stomach is up in his chest which am sure doesn't help,the oncologist only gave him codeine syrup but thank you for your reply 🙂
Thank you 🙂
HI
I am thinking then, that like most on here your dad is post op now? I am eighteen post op (Transchiatal Oesophagectomy). I do cough most morning on waking, but it will gradually clear after a couple of hours. I also suffer heavily from hayfever so take steroid tablets and spray to clear the congestion.
If your dad has reflux? that would add to any coughing due to the acid burning and irritating his throat. I suspect that he needs to treat the trigger for the cough rather than the symptoms.
If you could post up what treatment your dad has had to date - including any surgery and what he he is being treated for others may be able to help more.
Thank you Bruce, dad cannot have surgery as it has spread. But I will put more details up of his treatment. Somebody may be in the same boat and had success treating their cough.
Lizzy
Okay that is good information. Somebody may well have something more helpful for you. Chemo removes our immunity to almost everything. Things that would have been normal become amplified. The Oncologist or nurses should be able to help as they would have more experience here. This is a great place to try though so please do keep looking here.
Good luck.
Bruce
Thank you for your replies Bruce...much appreciated ☺️
These coughs are very debilitating and get you down. It is worth checking whether there is any kind of infection, which presumably the doctor has looked at. Reflux sometimes causes coughing, so there is some mileage perhaps in checking whether this might be the cause. Gaviscon might be worth trying just in case this makes a difference. But the most important thing is to consult the oncologist / specialist nurse as there is a possibility that there are side effects from the chemotherapy that they will know about and know how to combat.
Thank you for your reply 👍
Usually codeine is very effective as a cough suppressant. Does it show any effectiveness when your dad uses it? Is it effective, but doesn't last very long?
Given the surgery, it is important that the form of medication (liquid, tablet, etc) be suitable so that it is absorbed properly by the body.
Given the very limited information, I would say that if not effective, a higher dose should be considered by the GP given the situation. If it works but doesn't last, a cough syrup with hydrocodone can last longer than codeine. Many times too, a syrup containing alcohol can be very irritating if it runs straight into the small bowel as in after myotomy of the pyloric sphincter.
I am a pharmacist who has had esophagectomy. I will help in any way I can. \wc
That's brilliant thank you for your suggestions 👍
