Cough relief - any life hacks for soothing a cough?.

[PurpleBottle]

It's been years since I had cough. I am down with cough and I am on deaths door with it. I am unable to sleep with it but I have to keep on going. I am in work today but I am fucking dying and exhausted.

I am cycling between taking a cough syrup and childrens liquid paracetamol.

My throat is very sore too. I think it is coughing extremely aggressively that is hurting my throat.

It only just came on me over the past few days and I feel awful with it.

I suspect it might be too early to go to a GP with it and they will likely only tell me it's viral.

How do I sooth this especially coming into a weekend and the Christmas.

I still have to work for another few more days and finish Christmas shopping but I actually feel dreadful. I wanted today and yesterday as sick days but I was dragged into work.

I am not well.

You don’t sound well. See a pharmacist . They can probably prescribe something to help. It used to be Benylin with Codeine but I suspect that’s no longer on the list.
I had COVID a few weeks ago and Vicks vapour rub, couple with some very old Fishermen’s Friend lozenges definitely helped.

It won't help with feeling unwell, but for a scratchy, coughy throat the best thing is Cherry Drops. I do not know why, but they work, and taste delicious.

Hope you feel better soon.

Covonia and cough sweets.

My go to is hot lemon and honey optional whiskey. Failing that Lemsip with some honey in. But don’t drink it down - sip it as it cools, don’t know why but it seems to soothe better.

Co-codamol or any cough medicine with codeine in will do the trick

Pineapple juice is good for a sore throat.

All the above but also drink warm water instead of cold and try and keep air around you warm. Anything cold will make it worse.

Lemsip with honey and Boots cough syrup (can't remember exactly which one but it's something beginning with G)

I've had a cough for 3 weeks now and these products are getting me through it.

Halls extra strong - the ones in the black tube.
Hope you feel better soon OP

Yes codeine is cough supressing just make sure you don't double up on the paracetamol. Paracetamol (which is in codeine) is anti spasmodic which should also help the cough if it is irritated.

Take simultaneously with ibuprofen which is anti-inflammatory. I tend to alternate the three dosages of the above and save the fourth dose for bedtime so maximise sleep possibilities.

If the cough is iritated and dry and comes in unpredictable boughs take small sips of cold water or a hot drink to help with the irritation while the irritation dies down.

I feel for you. I was barely ill before i had covid, and ever since i seem to get these endless coughs.

My doctor prescribed an inhaler (im not asthmatic) which does help is you take it regularity, see if you can get one.

Another option is an antihistamine in case the cough is an immune response. One a day of the hayfever tablets might help longer term. Again check to make sure if the above interfere with each other.

Honey, lots of hot drinks and paracetamol to manage your symptoms. Steamy showers can help too. Hope you are feeling better soon

Fresh pineapple is proven to work better than cough mixture. I used this when going into job interview with success. Get the pineapple down you!

good old warm milk and honey about one hour before bed.
will help you produce phlegm that makes coughing more pleasant (well, I mean less scratchy really).
plus it's a natural source of melatonin which can help you fall asleep.
sleep a bit propped up, almost sitting.

hope you feel better soon.

Night Nurse! It will knock you out so at least you get some sleep. Only available over the counter not on the shelf. Life saver.

Inhale steam (head over a bowl of just-boiled water) at least once a day, more if you can. This is more effective for lubrication than liquids you drink.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol as far as poss. Plenty of hot drinks - water with lemon and manuka honey.

Is is a phlegmy or dry cough? If phlegmy try to reduce dairy.

Talk as little as possible. You're right that your throat will get irritated and then that will aggravate a cough by itself.

Why are you using children's paracetamol? Are you dosing yourself appropriately for you as an adult? If you're using the 120mg/5ml dose you'd need to be taking 10 measured spoonfuls to be the same as 2 paracetamol tablets (at 500mg per tablet). If it's the 250mg/5ml dose, it's 4 spoonfuls.

If you need the liquid suspension because you can't swallow pills, you need to see someone medical.

You could also gargle (and spit!) with boiled but cooled salt water.

An adult sized dose of paracetamol. DH was astonished to discover paracetamol is very effective, when he stopped taking the same dose his mum gave him when he was 8.

Scrap the cough syrup and add some ibuprofen.

You need doxycyclin antibiotics: my Dr prescribed these today I felt at deaths door yesterday znd already They are working. Call your surgery tomorrow' first thing.

You can't state that - this may well be viral and antibiotics have no effect on viral illnesses. OP does need to see someone, but naming a specific antibiotic is absolutely pointless.

A humidifier is brilliant for coughs, works in a similar way to steamy baths, we have a vicks one that cost very little. It can be left on all night and helps more than any medication we have tried.

I'm using adults paracetamol too. I am reducing the adult dosage to one table and the 500mg will be made up from Calpol. I find the Calpol syrup soothing on the throat. I aim syringes of the stuff into the back of my mouth and hold it for a few moments and it helps.