Help with cough or advice please

[feathermucker]

For the second time in a month, I have a dry, debilitating cough. It's powerful and any coughing fits are prolonged. I have some cold and flu tablets, drinking plenty etc but I cannot sleep. I raise my pillows and elevate my head but it just doesn't work. I'm exhausted and emotional with it, which may sound pathetic but it just feels awful. I'm absolutely exhausted!

Does anyone have any advice, even sympathy for how to deal with this at all please, all tips are very welcome.

Anyone..........please

Have you been to the doctor? I had a terrible cough and got worried it was whooping cough so I went to the doctor and it turned out to be pneumonia. Antibiotics helped.

Also make sure your cold and flu tablets don't contain caffeine. Lots of the max strength ones do and it could keep you awake. There's one brand that does daytime and night time tablets. Hope you feel better soon.

has your voice changed? Could be laryngitis and you may need antibiotics. DH went through 111 after 3 nights of no sleep because of dry painful cough and we got an out of hour’s appointment at the drs. Dr also recommended honey, lemon and fresh ginger which helped.

Definitely get checked by a Doctor if this cough is prolonged or you’re concerned in any way.

If this is just a bad bug you’ve picked up and you’re 100% sure it’s dry and there doesn’t seem to be mucus on your chest you need a cough syrup with dextromethorphan. Covonia and Robitussin do one or you might find a cheaper off brand version. Only available behind a pharmacy counter.

Clever little ingredient, it actually turns off the brains ‘cough’ signal or lessens it anyway.

You have my sympathy OP! I've had a cough for weeks now. Doc says it's a virus, nothing to be done so I have to just get on with it. I hate being out in public having a coughing fit but I have to work.

I'm not sleeping well. The only thing I have found vaguely helpful is covonia cough sweets, if I'm having a big coughing fit they stop it in its tracks but only while I'm sucking the sweet! It's got me through a couple of meetings at work at least

Co-codamol

Thank you so much for replies.

I've been on the phone yesterday and this morning but nothing left at doctors appointment wise. I'm feeling weak as anything so I don't been know if I'd get there, but if they prescribe over the phone, my son could get the prescription for med

Good point about the caffeine but thankfully they don't contain it.

It's absolutely horrific!

Also the only way he was able to sleep was sat on chair with head on table (on pillow). He was so exhausted he was grey. Please call 111 and see I they can get you into a late night doctor.
good luck!

Have you tried cocodamol? I've found that's the best way to suppress a cough and get some sleep. Just be careful how many you take as they are addictive.
Robitussin does help too.

I just had this, my cough was dry for a week and the Dr sent me away. A week later i was getting more poorly and started coughing gunk up then finally got antibiotics which have helped so much!

Broncho Stop and Night Nurse

I have broncho stop which has helped a little bit

I had this hacking cough before Xmas. Couldnt sleep for coughing and felt awful. I tried night nurse for the first time and now I’m a convert!

Is that a liquid or tablet please?

Hot honey and lemon

Thank you

I thought night nurse had been banned? I used to love it.

Night Nurse is very much still available, they withdrew Day Nurse while they assess the suitability of one of the ingredients for OTC sale. The pholcodine which is a cough suppressant has been linked to bad reactions when under general anaesthesia even if taken months before.

Liquid

Always think about the possibility of reflux.

Signed 'a sufferer'

Honestly - put Vicks vapour rub on the soles of your feet. I was coughing all last evening, but after taking a couple of spoons of Covonia, and then putting Vicks on my feet before going to bed (have to wear socks, obviously), I think I only coughed once during the night.

I don't know how or why it works, but it definitely does.

I have Vicks so might try this

That was my thought too. I’m currently suffering a bout of reflux cough. My own fault as chocolate is a trigger and I couldn’t resist some mini eggs.

Me too, 3 weeks and finally saw the GP yesterday, he gave me antibiotics but told me to test for covid and if I'm positive not to take the antibiotics just ride it out.
I'm weak, breathless, hacking cough and I have a pain in my chest when I cough, pretty sure I've pulled a muscle or strained something coughing.
Your gp may not prescribe unless they've seen you in person, I'd phone the surgery and throw yourself on the mercy of the receptionist