Tips for relentless coughing at night?

[WH52]

I’ve been fortunate to have had fairly mild covid symptoms so far, but yesterday the cough became very persistent and omg last night it was horrendous. Constant feeling of needing to cough up a lung. If I try to suppress it (I have a young baby who I didn’t want to wake) it makes it worse. I spent much of last night burying my face into my pillow to try to mask the noise, and a few times when it was really bad I got up and went into the living room at the far end of the house to really go at it coughing for relief does anyone have any tips for easing it even slightly? Going to try sleeping sitting almost upright tonight, and I have throat sweets and water next to the bed to sip/suck at. Anything else I can try or do I just suck it up?

OK. So. Don't flame me. But.

<whispers> co-codamol

Don't tell the pharmacist what it's for but codeine helps coughs.

It depends if its a 'tickly cough' from an irritated throat - for that throat sweets (especially numbing ones) can help, or iced water from a sport bottle (easier to sip)
Hot honey and lemon can be good.

For a 'chesty cough' a steamy shower/bath before bed and a hot drink might help to loosen up the secretions and make them easier to 'cough up'

I seem to remember research recommending chocolate as being something that helps - can't hurt :)

Otherwise there are some meds that can be helpful, but some are sedating so you might not want this with a young baby.

As Pp said codeine. I had covid last year and I suffered with my chest. My nurse prescribed codeine which did help but not enough only because I had a blood clot. If you are not unwell or struggling to breath dissolvable codeine. If your struggling you may need steroids or an inhaler x

@ObvsNC I think we have some co-codamol left over from a previous injury, would try it!

@willingtolearn it’s a chesty cough, a lot of phlegm (sorry for tmi). Had a shower earlier so hopefully it helps, and a family member included a Cadbury bar in a bag of groceries dropped off earlier and I’ve already polished it off this evening so hoping it’ll have the desired effect Night Nurse would have been my friend in a previous life but you’re right in that now that I have my little DD I need to be alert in case she wakes during the night for feeding or becomes unwell herself. Which is a whole other worry

@Cece92 yeah I had a flu a few years ago pre-pandemic and ended up needing an inhaler then too. DP was actually saying earlier this cough I have now reminds him of then, as I don’t get sick often at all luckily. Hoping that won’t be the case again this time around.

I empathise. I'm just getting over covid now and the cough has been awful. I have done these on rotation - ice cold water, cough sweets, sucking fruit gums, chewing airwaves and finally hot drinks. Now the cough has moved from my throat to my chest so I'm sat with a hot water bottle under my chin. It is getting better though. Hope yours improves quickly.

Pholcodine linctus is the only thing that eased mine and DH's covid coughs, you can buy it over the counter at the pharmacy.

Vicks vapour rub helped mine loads.

I had whooping cough a few years ago and was absolutely exhausted from literally months of bad sleep due to coughing.

The only thing that helped me (and I felt I'd tried everything anyone suggested and more) was Night Nurse.

The relief of a decent night's sleep after one dose of that was amazing! However, I felt sluggish and drugged most of the next day so once I went down to a half dose, it really helped.

Good luck finding something that works for you.

Vicks liberally on the soles of your feet and socks on. Don't ask me why but it usually works.

Dessert Spoon of lemon juice, ditto of honey dissolve in a glass of hot water and keep by the bed. Even when it cools it works.

An inhaler isn't a bad idea either

I'm 6 weeks post covid abd got 1 more antibiotics left and awaiting a chest x ray as frankly this has been horrendous. My gp said she is getting lots of people with these symptoms post covid.

Sadly for me the codamol didn't help.. hope it does for you op. Best I have found is starting in almost sitting position and not dropping down until I'm almost asleep

@WH52 please keep a close eye on this cough. I left mines a month post covid and was so unwell. I spent 2 days in hospital and then was doped up to the max over Xmas and new year. If you feel it's not 'normal' cal your GP. My daughter is 9 and she had to get an inhaler after covid as she could not shift her cough. The inhaled helped within days. X

Frustratingly typed all this out and then lost it so hoping I remember everything.

This is all from experience as I have post nasal drip so have the constant Phlegm feeling in my throat and a constant cough, and anytime I get ill my cough gets worse.

Difflam/Covonia spray - will numb the throat and reduce the tickle
Purple strepsils - numb and soothe the throat
Decongestant nasal spray - will reduce the amount of phlegm produced, but try not to use it for too long as it can give you secondary congestion when it wears off.
Sleeping sat up/propped up - stops the phlegm from travelling up.
Honey and lemon tea - the honey soothes and they both help with the infection.
Night nurse - helps you sleep (but not recommended if someone can't take care of baby).

I had covid a month ago during the first headrest (joys) and slept downstairs sat up for 5 days until I felt I could sleep led down without my throat getting too worse. I would keep the spray by my side and if my throat bothered me would spray again, as long as it was within the time limits.

I was just going to say that! About 10 years ago, the GP prescribed me a codeine cough medicine. I don't think they do it any more but whenever I have a cough keeping me awake (usually one or twice a year) two soluble co-codomol does the trick.

Don't get the brand solpadeine though - it includes caffeine and will keep you awake.

Already been mentioned but definitely cocodomol

@WH52 We had Covid 5 weeks ago and have been left with the same sounding cough as yours, hence my being awake too. I was desperate so tried all sorts from the pharmacy as in lozenges and natural cough treatments. Nothing worked. Then I found these: ‘Jakemans Throat and Chest Flavour’ they have helped all of us. Sucking one right now. It’s not a cure, but it definitely helps me sleep. I tried sleeping in an arm chair to stop my coughing but after four nights my back had enough. What I also bought was a nebuliser with mask, it helps during the day. I cannot take codeine as suggested in other comments or co - codamol as I get an instant migraine. Odd, I know but cannot go near it anymore. Hoping someone here comes up with a long term solution ♥️

i used to get what my go called an inconsolable cough, which I thought was very evocative. There was no relief from it. A ventolin inhaler prescribed to me helped. There are also OTC cough suppressants which relax the diaphragm from spasms - sorry I can’t remember the name (possibly mentioned already.) Trip to the pharmacy?

I am just getting over having Covid now. I am asthmatic and every night I have not been able to lie down. I have sit up in a chair. I have taken so much Fostaire inhaler plus blue reliever I have probably overdosed but just couldn't breathe. Two nights I took Predinose my GP gives me for emergencies when asthma is really bad. That is gone now though. Today is 9th day I have had it and also first day I have felt a bit better. The hot weather made it worse. I have had such a high temperature too and been taking paracetamol and Strepsil sweets. I had ice cream too for sore throat and constant iced water. I had ice pack for my head too. Try sleeping sitting upright.

This stuff is amazing. Good mouthful before bed and you'll be out cold and not coughing

Ventolin, plenty of water and throat lozenges helped me through the night.

Wow thanks everyone for all your suggestions and advice, some great ideas on this thread! Just up feeding DD there and we all have had a few hours uninterrupted sleep because I lay almost upright against pillows but on my side, if that makes sense. Coughing resumed now that I’m awake of course but I can come out of isolation today so will be heading to the pharmacy armed with your recommendations.
On a lighthearted note, hoping all this coughing will help tone my post c-section stomach muscles?!

Are you breastfeeding?

You can not take anything with codeine if you are.

Don’t prop yourself up - sleep on your stomach.

@babysoupdragon2 no not breastfeeding