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Original poster

Cough, cough, cough, what should I do ?

81 replies

DustyLee123 · 03/12/2023 01:35

Feeling ill since Tuesday, but felt it coming on days before that. Needing paracetamol and ibuprofen, with lozengers for the throat and cough medicine. Coughing up green stuff. Went to the GP Friday, said it’s viral so carry on.
im up now because this is the fourth night where I’ve done nothing but cough and piss myself over and over. Every time I get into bed it’s cough, cough, cough. I’ve tried taking an antihistamine to get some sleep, but I’m lucky if I’m getting 4 hours in total. I can’t see how I can go to work on so little sleep, and piddling when I cough. I’ve had enough so I’ve got back out of bed for a pity party. The night is so long when you’re not sleeping.
i just don’t know what to do to make it better.

OP posts:
Porridgeislife · 04/12/2023 13:28

Night nurse tablets and Robitussin Dry Cough medicine both help me with a cough.

Covonia is just sugary water so won’t help.

Original poster
DustyLee123 · 04/12/2023 13:48

Apparently my cough is a symptom of Covid. The same cough I had when I went last week 🙄

OP posts:
Wednesdaysotherchild · 04/12/2023 14:14

I tested last night (just in case) and my cough cough cough is covid. Turned positive within a minute!

I managed 5 hours of sitting up sleep last night. Also using reusable pads as I have zero faith in my pelvic floor with this cough.

I’m immuno-suppressed/clincially vulnerable so seeing GP (virtually) later to see if they think anti-virals are needed.

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piscofrisco · 04/12/2023 14:18

GP gave further antibiotics and if I'm
No better by Thursday call back for steroids. Ugh.

piscofrisco · 04/12/2023 14:19

Sorry that was for @wavingfuriously

grumpypedestrian · 05/12/2023 01:31

I’ve been going for this exact cough repeatedly since before Covid and the GPs still try to tell me it’s Covid. I lie and say I’m negative as I know it’s not Covid, but it’s annoying that my medical notes clearly show my history and they try to fob me off.

caringcarer · 05/12/2023 01:43

You need 4 or 5 pillows and sleep sitting up. If you lie down coughs always get worse. Steam from the shower might help before bed. Also put an incontinence pad in your knickers.

BadeballSkihipto · 05/12/2023 01:51

Try to drink night. Liquired

Okaygoahead · 05/12/2023 01:58

Many Central European cough syrups contain a tincture of thyme, and I find that that sometimes is the only thing that helps, other than codeine. Thyme tea can also help. I once had a terrible persistent cough while in the US and found that every commercial cough syrup had basically the same components, just in slightly different formulations - and one of the main components has just been found to be at best a placebo but otherwise essentially useless. Certainly none of them made a blind bit of difference for me, and I got a bit desperate as I couldn’t find thyme tea in any supermarket or drug store.

You should be able to find thyme tea in a health food shop, but if not you can just steep some fresh thyme. Add honey.

Elderflower14 · 05/12/2023 06:07

I'm coughing like mad and feel dreadful... Just done a Covid test and it was negative.. Have left a message at work to say I won't be in.

Draconis · 05/12/2023 06:50

Try giving up all sugar for a few days. It could help.

Original poster
DustyLee123 · 05/12/2023 10:41

This bastard of a cough I’ve had has reminded me of two people I know who had a similar cough before covid kicked off. It does make me wonder 🤔

OP posts:
Original poster
DustyLee123 · 05/12/2023 10:42

Draconis · 05/12/2023 06:50

Try giving up all sugar for a few days. It could help.

I do need to give up sugar, but that’s all that’s keeping me going at the moment!

OP posts:
shearwater2 · 05/12/2023 10:50
  • Medicinal port and brandy of an evening- lovely.
  • And actually the brandy element does have some active ingredients which may be helpful. It is very soothing and may help you sleep.
  • Prop your head up on high pillows to get a more restful sleep.
  • Decongestant, particularly original Lemsip, is the best at stopping the nasal drip, and tickle, which makes you cough
  • Spoonful of honey is as soothing as cough medicine for your throat
  • Regular painkillers - being careful of the amount if you are having Lemsip, and alcohol!
  • Gentle exercise, if it's not on your chest, to loosen the mucus.
  • Hot baths/steaming your face
  • Home made soup with plenty of onions and garlic as a base
  • Keep dairy intake down as it increases mucus
AutumnCrow · 05/12/2023 15:14

I spoke to a GP today after another terrible night, and I'm now on Doxycycline as it seems to have the makings of an upper respiratory infection. If the illness doesn't kill me, the neighbours probably will.

(I've done 4 covid tests over 12 days and they're all negative.)

gamerchick · 05/12/2023 15:19

Night nurse suppresses a cough.

BigMandsTattooPortfolio · 05/12/2023 15:40

I still have my cough after 4 weeks. I’m feeling well apart from the odd bronchial outburst and sounding like an elderly man of 87 who’s smoked 40 a day since he was 8. I’m wondering if it will ever go away.

HerbalRefreshmentt · 05/12/2023 15:59

I'm at the end of my second week and the cough is slowly going away, much much less gunk and its more dry and less frequent. Ears are so clogged I have caught myself a few times thinking I needed to take out my headphones, though they were making some noises earlier today that they may open soon. I hope so.

So exhausted today and no appetite but hungry now and then? I figure the exhaustion is from the coughing yesterday and vomiting in the sink.

I've got a thyme plant out back, I think I'll try the tea suggestion.

Original poster
DustyLee123 · 05/12/2023 16:21

I have to say that the Broncho Stop seems to be helping. It’s disgusting though!

OP posts:
Original poster
DustyLee123 · 05/12/2023 16:24

I put on a pair of Tena knickers and had a glug of Night Nurse last night, what a glamorous life I lead, but I did manage some decent sleep.

OP posts:
Mykittensmittens · 05/12/2023 16:30

This might sound odd but have a good
think about whether the cough is coming from the chest itself, or is it post nasal drip. When you swallow can you feel some of the gloopy crap going down the wind wipe? You might not even sound bunged up or have a runny nose - it could be draining from your sinuses. that slowly siding down WILL make you cough. And if you cough some of it out it might taste nasty and be greenish - that could be a sinus infection. They don’t always come with sinus pain.

In which case a decongestant (tablet, or spray, but only use a spray for 3 days in a row) may help. Or sinus rinsing - nelimed for example.

Hayder · 05/12/2023 16:52

i ask my patients to do a covid test as I have lupus and need to know at what level ppe to wear (during the height of covid I was meant to be shielding but made the choice to still come to work) Also it means I won’t ask them to sit in the general waiting area where other potentially vulnerable patients sit and will get them to meet me at an alternative entrance.

wavingfuriously · 05/12/2023 18:42

@AutumnCrow doxy is a safe drug..sorry to hear all this..

AutumnCrow · 05/12/2023 19:31

wavingfuriously · 05/12/2023 18:42

@AutumnCrow doxy is a safe drug..sorry to hear all this..

Cheers, @wavingfuriously, that's kind of you to say.

I know it's 'just' an antibiotic, and I'm very grateful for it, but I also know it'll upset my guts and I'll get thrush. Poor DP was despatched for fluconazole and live kefir! But I have a shit immune system so can't really mess about with a possible respiratory infection.

Interestingly, DP had to go to multiple pharmacies to get hold of the fluconazole. There's a shortage, apparently. I wonder if there are a lot of women on antibiotics at the moment suffering the thrushy bonus?

@Hayder, I get what you're saying. I dread going into GP or hospital waiting rooms these days as they are not particularly safe for immune-compromised patients. There aren't enough vaccinations in the world to make up for the hermetically sealed, PPE-free, overcrowded outpatient waiting area at my gastro-enterology department. Awful when you think how many of the IBD/Crohn's patients will be on Infliximab, Adalmumab etc. Thank you for what you do Flowers

Original poster
DustyLee123 · 07/12/2023 21:51

How are we all doing? I think I slept all night last night 🥳🥳

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