Mucus cough that won’t go.. nothings working!

[anonymousflowergirl]

Has anyone else had this mucus cough that just will not go?!

I’ve had it over a month now. I’ve tried cough medicines, inhalers, even prescribed antibiotics but it’s not changing? I’m not ill with a cold or anything. I did have a little one but not anymore.. just seem to be coughing all day long and sometimes I’m coughing up mucus but it’s definitely a productive cough.

don’t know what to do.. doctor listened to my chest Thursday last week and said it’s clear but due to length of time was given antibiotics.
I can’t say I noticed a difference if any, I’ve finished them now. Maybe was slightly better for a couple of days?? Then today it seems crap again.

any advice :(

Oh, I’ve got the same! Following to see if anyone’s got any bright ideas. Had a mild cold with a very sore throat but the cough is lingering like a bugger! Over a month now.
I’ve tried Vicks shower tablets, they help. And probably the most helpful has been cattagh (that’s almost certainly spelt wrong) tablets. They are a big help, but I’m so fed up of the coughing, so is everyone round me!! Luckily it doesn’t bother me to sleep, so that’s something I suppose. Bloody germs!

Sometimes after an infection (whether viral or bacterial) you can get something called post infectious cough. It’s not due to ongoing infection, it is caused by residual inflammation after the infection. You know it’s this when you feel better but are still coughing.

It generally lasts 3 - 6 weeks and should gradually improve. The only real cure is time but warm drinks, cough sweets, steam, and gentle exercise once you feel up to it can help.

You should see your GP if you are coughing for longer than this or you seem to be getting worse instead of better though.

(Am a GP, but not your GP)

Omg I’m the same!! I’m not coughing in my sleep only once I’m awake! Not even cos I’m up and about moving, I can be sitting doing nothing but it’s only when I’m awake..

im going to boots tomorrow to get some of those! I did find broncho stop pastils helped ever so slightly but nothing is properly shifting it.. it’s awful isn’t it 😭

I actually had the exact same thing last year, had antibiotics, nothing, inhalers, nothing, then was given stronger antibiotics and it cleared up.. whether it was coincidence timing wise I don’t know but it went on for about 8-10 weeks in total.

hopefully someone can shed some light or give us some advice.. Hope you feel better real soon!! X

It’s a post viral cough most likely, it’s pretty common and lasts 6-8 weeks after the initial virus. There is no evidence that any treatment works, just time https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861265/

go back to the doctor if it’s still there after eight weeks

@Pinkandpurple225533 @RindyCellathis makes so so much sense what you have both said. Thank you so much! Would explain why I’m not feeling unwell but still lingering cough.. never heard of this before so I appreciate the info! xxx

I usually need steroids to clear up the post viral cough if still productive. However I get a lot of chest infections and am on immunosuppressants so everything takes longer. In the meantime jakemans throat sweets are a life saver. The menthol ones. Really help.

Thank you so much! I will get some today.
I am so fed up of coughing so much and coughing up mucus :( feel like it’s got worse / more productive the last couple of days as well.. it’s so draining 😢

Yes it is. I think I keep jakemans in business tbh! I also have chronic bronchitis so cough most of the time. I’m used to the dirty looks since covid.

good luck

Had something similar about 3 years ago and after 10 weeks of coughing the GP finally took it seriously. The only thing that worked was steroids, tablet form, to take the irritation down. They worked a treat but I was spaced out for a whole week and coming off them was an interesting experience.

I was on 20mg daily for 5 years. As you say it’s an interesting experience coming off them. Last infection I was on 40mg reducing after 5 days
fun times!

@Thingamebobwotsit@NewAgeNewMewould either of you cough up yellow mucus? I’ve been told yellow doesn’t necessarily mean bacterial infection. But I’ve spent most the morning so far coughing and having to spit into a tissue 😢 I’ve started using my brown inhaler again in the hope that helps as it’s steroids but thinking maybe I need to go back to dr on Monday.. they’ve never suggested steroids even last time when I had the cough for 8-10 weeks last time :( it’s so draining and I feel quite embarrassed. I’m constantly getting comments at work like ‘are you ill, you’re coughing a lot’ and I keep having to say I feel fine just can’t shift this cough :(

The only thing I know that helps to clear this kind of post viral cough is …

every morning, crush a clove of raw garlic between two spoons. Swallow the smashed clove with a glass of water chaser

you will start tofeel the sinuses drying up almost immediately. Repeat until the cough has gone.

Usually takes less then a fortnight.

lots of fresh parsley helps keep breath fresh, too. Enjoy.

Have you tried steam inhaling? I’ve got a proper thing from boots but a bowl of hot water and towel over the head is fine. It tends to loosen anything that’s left lurking.

Coughs can take 2 months to clear or longer.
Inhaling as above ^^

Your GP can't do anything and it's wasting their time and yours.

Coughs just take time and the advice now is not to give antibiotics as they don't work unless it's a real chest infection. Your GP was a bit out of date as it's been said time after time not to give ABs. They don't work unless someone has pneumonia or real bacterial infection.

You can help decongest by using steam inhaling- bowl of almost boiling water, head over it, towel over your head to keep the steam in- breathe in and out through your nose.

You can add something menthol- like or Friars' Balsam (old fashioned and from a pharmacy) or a dollop of Vick or eucalyptus oil.

If you feel up to it, brisk walking outside to get the circulation going and naturally decongesting can work too.

Drugs etc won't shift it.

Try a salt inhaler op

Yes. Not every time and was convinced it was an infection, but turned out to be bronchitis (ie just very swollen and sore airways). Keep an eye on it and go back to GP if not better. The reality is there is very little you can do until it settles but the difference is - while the cough is annoying there is no temperature etc to indicate an infection.

I was advised to keep drinking manuka honey and lemon in hot water, which was the best thing for managing the symptoms as has no drying side effects - which lots of lozenges do. Steam made it worse.

I’ve got this, week 4 now.
i feel tired and a bit breathless, but have asthma. Croaky voice too which is making it hard to work.
I’m bulk buying jakemans, have Olbas inhaler and using more ventolin and clenil

I had it 3 months. I had to go on inhalers in the end.

Yeah I think I’m getting worse everyone 😢 the amount of yellow mucus I’m coughing up is ridiculous now.. and my head is pounding, my lungs ache.. idk if this is just it clearing or if it’s ramping up and getting worse.
really would have expected to see improvements by now 😢

I’d get yourself back to the out of hours GP pronto. My pneumonia turned really quickly over a weekend and I ended up in hospital. Better safe than sorry. X

Yeah I think I’m going to do so. I feel awful 😞 just trying to arrange childcare as I don’t want to drag my son there for hours on end.

this same thing happened last year. Mucus cough, antibiotics, got a bit better, then ramped up and got worse, within a week of finishing antibiotics I took myself up out of hours as needed strong antibiotics.

looks like a repeat :(

Good luck. Been there and got the t shirt. My gp goes straight to the hard core antibiotics with me know and then steroids as I get so many chest infections.

I find covonia cough syrup which you can buy in the supermarket is the only thing that helps me. It tastes disgusting but the relief is instant.

I got rid of it after a 2nd course of ABs. GP said there's a lot of AB resistant chest infections about at the moment. Doxycycline worked for me. Good luck.

I come up to my nearest hospital and asked to go to the urgent care walk in section, told them my symptoms and they said I need to go to a&e first.. so had blood pressure done which was high, and high heart rate.
sent for ECG, bloods, chest xray so far.. trying not to panic myself as I hate things like this 😢 glad they are doing tests and hopefully figure out what is wrong.

im still coughing up lots of yellow mucus, still have a headache, no appetite, absolutely exhausted 😩

will update in case it helps anyone