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Original poster

Tips on how to sleep and not cough all night please

38 replies

NormalForNuneaton · 30/10/2023 20:45

Last night, I'm not exaggerating, I spent more time coughing than sleeping. How can I avoid the same happening again tonight?

I tried sleeping propped up, I even went rummaging through handbags and drawers until I found some cough sweets. Nothing helped.

Any tips please

OP posts:
VanillaImpulse · 30/10/2023 22:50

Mumaway · 30/10/2023 22:06

Pholcodine at night, plus steam inhalations, and keep the bedroom cool

Pholcodine has now been withdrawn

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64951267

Codeine linctus is great if you can get it but most pharmacies don't sell it as it's abused

MMBaranova · 30/10/2023 22:59

Prop. Three pillow propping. It does help as part of the package.

Cheap blackcurrant pastilles from Superdrug. They are often down low and you get distracted by more expensive ones that aren't as good. They just coat your throat and are small so you are unlikely to choke.

If you are at DEFCON 3 you add in my Gran's remedy. Port, Lemon, Brandy, Honey. 'You can leave the honey out and put in some Sherry if you need to'. Stir well and warm it up. Not hot.

dicedicebaby · 30/10/2023 23:21

Mumaway · 30/10/2023 22:06

Pholcodine at night, plus steam inhalations, and keep the bedroom cool

Can't buy pholcodeine anymore 😕

CrunchyCarrot · 30/10/2023 23:27

Hot water bottle (not too full or hot) in a cover, placed on your chest. I found that very effective, relaxes the muscles and urge to cough.

Hellsbellsy · 30/10/2023 23:29

Co-codamol- literally stops it in its tracks and aids sleep!

AllLopsided · 30/10/2023 23:47

No good for tonight, but Covonia cough mixture - it's a real old-fashioned type of cough medicine and has worked many times for me when nothing else did this trick!

Lysianthus · 31/10/2023 00:07

RoseHarper · 30/10/2023 21:38

Vicks on the soles of your feet, may be placebo but works for me.

Works for me too

JanglingJack · 31/10/2023 00:28

If it's a dry cough and only at night it could be post nasal drip or acid reflux, you'll be inhaling it into your lungs and irritating them. A simple antacid or omeprazole, or a steroid nasal spray could stop it within days. I had my cough for 2 years over lockdown etc and just put up with it. D'oh.

Original poster
NormalForNuneaton · 31/10/2023 02:35

Well I managed 3 hours before waking to cough a lung up 😉

I'm now propped right up, sucking a Soothers cough sweet , trying to distract myself.

We didn't have any Vicks unfortunately. Shame they don't do tha5 linctus anymore as it sounds like that was effective.

OP posts:
AbbeyGailsParty · 31/10/2023 02:42

This worked for whooping cough years ago but I found you had to do all 4 things together for it to work.
Some otc cough medicine put into a warm drink of water, honey and lemon. Stir well and drink while warm to hot but not boiling.
Hot bath or shower with as much steam as you can get going. If possible wring cloths out in hot water and lay on your chest.
Dry yourself quickly and rub Vicks into your chest and upwards towards your throat. Keep yourself warm.

Hope you feel better soon.

DoughnutDreams · 31/10/2023 02:43

MMBaranova · 30/10/2023 22:59

Prop. Three pillow propping. It does help as part of the package.

Cheap blackcurrant pastilles from Superdrug. They are often down low and you get distracted by more expensive ones that aren't as good. They just coat your throat and are small so you are unlikely to choke.

If you are at DEFCON 3 you add in my Gran's remedy. Port, Lemon, Brandy, Honey. 'You can leave the honey out and put in some Sherry if you need to'. Stir well and warm it up. Not hot.

You can all keep your covid, but Granny's recipe sounds lovely!

QueenBitch666 · 31/10/2023 03:05

Strepsils or Strefen lozenges. I'm plagued with The Cough every time I get a bug. Suck one just before you intend to go to sleep. It eases the cough long enough so you can drop off. Sucking one as we speak 😕

Babyenroute · 31/10/2023 03:27

It really surprised me how well theses work for a cough. We got one for DS but my husband used it the other night and said he felt it really cleared bjs chest www.vickshumidifiers.com

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