Trouble with expectoration.... anyone advice on a cough assist?

[Shivcb]

Hi there, my father was diagnosed with PSP 2 years ago and has been declining slowly, most troublesome at present is his persistent throat clearing and coughing. My father lives in uk, unfortunately us children all live abroad so it is hard for him and us to seek the right treatment for him. He has been staying with me last 3 weeks. He is constantly trying to clear his throat and not just after he has eaten it is all the time, it seems he is having trouble with his saliva and I wonder is it trickling into the windpipe and causing him to cough so much. His coughing and clearing is very loud and forceful and he can make himself sick untill he clears it. I’ve heard of cough assist machines and I wonder if this is the answer but is it a physiotherapist that prescribes this or speech therapist. He said he has seen a speech therapist who has said this is normal and nothing can be done 😒 thankyou for listening x

S

[Hidden]

My husband has been on this and it has worked well,he takes 1.20 mls every three to four hours.

Glycopyrrolate solution is used to reduce excessive drooling caused by medical conditions (such as cerebral palsy). This medication works by decreasing the amount of saliva you make..Others will chime in.

Dee

[SarahB1972 in reply to Hidden]

Hi there, I have used a cough assist machine at work, and not as yet, with my mother. My experience is it is a very effective piece of equipment. I have used it with people who have MND and PSP, and have got to the stage when they have not got enough muscles strength to actually take a deep enough breath to forcefully produce a cough, and therefore require the machine, to force air into the lungs and then suck it out, mimicking the actions of a cough, and a suction machine is then used, to suck out anything that has been bought up into the mouth.

If I remember correctly it was the physios, that supply these.

I hope this is of some help. Take care.

[Kaylewis]

Medication to dry up the saliva may help. Mum has scopoderm patches and mucodyne thickened of course. X

[kenh1 in reply to Kaylewis]

My wife also has scopoderm patches for 2 - 3 years they work really well.

[Rowan8831]

My husband has been prescribed mucodyne, which works really well x

[Cuttercat]

We used the cough assist as well as the suction machine. Both were very helpful but the coughing will never go away

Charles did not use the machines himself. I always helped him. But you Father May be in earlier stage.

Cuttercat

[SewBears]

Best of luck to your dad!

My hubby experiences congestion and constant coughing, especially at night. His doctor ordered a swallow test and we found out that he has Oropharyngeal Dysphagia, moderate stage. This was diagnosed by a speech pathologist.

For treatment, he’s been going to Voice therapy 2 times a week. Electrodes are attached to the outside of his throat and the throat muscles are stimulated while swallowing. He has had about 8 sessions so far and it is helping. He can clear his throat much easier and he is sleeping better. I’m told that this isn’t a cure but it is prolonging the inevitable. Sigh...

I’m not sure if this information is helpful but I thought I would share.

I give my best to you and your pop!

[Suebatt]

Hi

My partner had one which did help him and he also had sodium chloride through a Nebulizer 4 x a day this was given by dr and physios plus he had a suction machine which was used after the cough assist

Hope you can get sorted

Take care

Sue x

[Shivcb]

Thankyou all for you wonderful comments and advice, gives me some ideas I can discuss with his gp, So hard to navigate the way 😔 wishing you all much love and thanks

Siobhan

[Bhakthan]

Ever tried nebulization with Duolin and Budecort post meals at five day intervals? We use a suction pump immediately after a irritative throat clearing cough session occurring midway during meals. Both these have improved matters.

For phlegm collection at throat, I give a mix of water, ginger, black pepper, salt boiled together and served with honey.