Lots of gunk on ds's chest - worse when he lies down - do we need to go to the docs ?

[bringmeashrubbery]

I'm not very good with coughs etc as I never seem to get them so don't know what to do - please bear with me. Ds (27m)has got some sort of cough - his first. He has lots of gunk on his chest - you can hear it rattling - and the last couple of nights he has slept terribly - it gets much worse when he lies down, to the point where he can barely breathe. In fact he has made himself sick a couple of times. He has no temperature, no cold as such. Can anyone reassure me that it is 'just' a cough and nothing more sinister, and any tips to make him more comfortable ? Thanks

i think its worth a visit to doctor considering that surgery's are going to be closed over next few days and youll have to go to prime care, maybe miles away and at crazy time.
Hope hes etter soon

Raising up the end of his bed slightly might help.
Try a couple of books or similar under the legs of the head end of his bed (making sure that the bed won't slip off), or a couple of folded towels under the head end of his mattress. Doesn't need to be raised terribly high, just slightly.
If you can't speak to someone at your surgery for reassurance, try your local pharmacist who may be able to recommend something

if its on his chest it needs to come up, if it was in his nose you could use menthol plug ins or my cheaper alternative, mix vicks in an old bowl with boiling water(more to weaken, les for stronger smell) and it vapourizes into room.hth

If his chest is sucking in below his ribs when he breathes, he needs urgent medical attention - it is a sign that his lungs are under pressure and could be due to bronchiolitis or pneumonia. I would take him before Xmas, just to be sure, tbh - primecare or A&E on Xmas Day is not pleasant.

Message withdrawn

ok - am waiting for a phone call from the doctor. He is not sucking in his chest under the ribs. The phlegm is just rattling away on his chest and isn't really moving.

Thanks for all your advice.

one of my mindee has been like this for a fortnight, doc prescribed mild inhaler