To want to stop coughing

[AddictedtoStrepsils]

Dry cough due to viral illness that my whole family have had.

9 nights so far of coughing ALL night long. Am sleeping sitting up, propped up by pillows. Steamed myself last night and tonight using boiling water and a little olbas oil. Constantly have a strepsil in my mouth because it does help to prevent coughing fits.

I am miserable. The cough makes me ache so much. I am exhausted.

Is there anything I can do?

I swear by night nurse for a bad night time cough!

I know this is pathetic but night nurse makes me nervous!

Go to doctor or Pharmacy

Yanbu. I am on week 11 of coughing
Nothing in my chest and not found anything that helps apart from sleeping more upright (this then gives me a painful neck)

You have my sympathy. Try Covonia nighttime (not the regular ones) and Ricola sweets; they helped me.

I had a bad cough (following a mild chest infection) for almost three months this summer. Worst at night and would wake myself up having a coughing fit in the night. So glad it has finally gone.

Ive just finally shifted a horrible cough. Coughed so much I strained my stomach muscles. I know you're not keen but you need some stronger drugs to knock you out. Nothing else is going to help like medicine will. Codeine suppreses coughs as well, if you have any (not recommending you mix it with night nurse).

Thanks All.

It’s rubbish isn’t it.

Currently in the spare room propped up by about 10 pillows!!

A tot of brandy or whisky in warm milk for medicinal purposes might help.

You could try some Cocodomol. Codeine is a cough suppressant and can be used for 3 days only. Available at pharmacies over the counter. You can get a dissolvable version too which may soothe your throat.
It's miserable isn't it.

I take anti anxiety meds - I bought the Benylin that is for suppressing my cough and you can’t take them together! Was gutted as was so looking forward to a decent sleep on Friday!

Will check that codeine will work…would it be sufficient to buy codeine/paracetamol combo you can buy in the chemist?

Will a pharmacist give me cocodamol for the cough or will I need to say it’s for pain?

And is it safe to suppress it?

I can't give you any advice on what will work I'm afraid but I'm completely understanding your frustration. I've got one too, I worried I was going to annoy my husband so I just came downstairs in defeat 😞

I’m downstairs too. We’ve got a sofa bed that I’ve pulled out. I’ve not even tried to sleep yet as know I will
cough 😢

Dreading work this week already.

Sorry to everyone else also suffering

Prop the mattress up instead. It's much more comfier than trying sleep propped up on so many pillows. Just pop a pillow or two under the head of the mattress. Putting Vicks vapour on your feet and wearing socks helps too

Another terrible night. I slept for maybe 2-3 hours. Just woke and can’t stop coughing. Must have slipped down too much and been too flat.

I need to be up for work in an hour - or could get up now and go in early. I’m exhausted

You need to be drinking plenty of fluids in the day, even though this is a non-productive cough, keep well hydrated all day and a herbal tea before bed. Eat well during the day, fruit, veg and whole foods and avoid any immune suppressing toxins like alcohol for a bit.

I know you are worried about night nurse but just one night of a knock out sleep will give your body vital healing sleep to get you on top of recovery. You probably only need it for one night to tip the balance of feeling better.

OP sip herbal teas all day long for your chest, even if you’re not a fan. The warmth will help your chest.

Try lying on your front.

Ginger, peppermint, slippery elm, thyme, turmeric and marshmallow root
are particularly good

Also Napiers (herbal company) will give you 15 mins free and then prescribe a tincture or a tea for you

It's just a handy side effect / use of codeine, it used to be in some cough syrups until recently (now prescription only). Just regular over the counter co codamol can help - as per packet instructions / short term use of course. Sorry you've had another bad night. I agree with pp, sleep is so vital to heal but it's so hard when you're bloody coughing all night

Check with pharmacist re your other medication. Your body will heal faster if you get enough rest for a few days.

You could also try one of those humidifiers in the bedroom with a bit of Olbas oil so the air isn't as dry.

Have you been to GP? I have cough variant asthma, never wheeze or had an asthma attack but when I get a cough that hangs around after a virus I need my inhaler then and if it's really bad a short dose of steroid tablets. The being worse at night and needing to sleep sitting up are how mine is.

Usually the inhaler alone clears it, three times in my life I've bene on a week long course of https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/prednisolone/about-prednisolone-tablets-and-liquid/.

No I haven’t been to the GP. I just assumed because it was dry and not productive, that it wasn’t a sign of infection?

I hate wasting their time but this is awful.

Ive been to Tesco for herbal tea. I’m at work but have my own office so will hide in here and sip my tea all day

I also got night nurse for tonight - pharmacist said fine with my existing meds.