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 :(

Don't bother with cough mixture...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002lpjz

You have already had antibiotics. The fact they have not worked shows it's viral.

There is no point going down that road again.

People expect viruses to clear up far more quickly than they do sometimes.

There is no 'cure' for a virus- it's about time, rest, good food, maybe zinc and Vit D supplements, hot drinks , early nights etc.

Yellow mucus is not usually serious- it's your body fighting the virus and inflammation.

Have you or anyone tested for Covid?

I hope you feel better soon.

i did see an improvement with the antibiotics. On the last day/day after the 5 day course finished I was barely coughing, coughing up no mucus and felt okay. Just the odd cough but even people I work with said it seemed better.

3 days later I was getting a lot of comments that I was coughing again, I noticed it too but this time a lot more mucus.
the last two days however I feel much worse, headache (which I take is from the high blood pressure) which isn’t going with pain relief, I’m exhausted, irritable, coughing up a LOT.. the list goes on. I’ve definitely gotten worse in the last two days

thinking back I had starry vision last week too which if I remember right can be to do with BP

I completely understand viral takes a while to go sometimes. But to see little improvement and then go down hill again surely isn’t right.. im glad im getting checked. Sometimes we have a gut feeling something isn’t quite right and considering how long ive been down with this isn’t like anything I’ve experienced other than when i had the exact symptoms last year, which resulted in two lots of antibiotics to clear as the first lot only just touched the sides

But you also said that stopping coughing could be a coincidence.

I completely understand viral takes a while to go sometimes. But to see little improvement and then go down hill again surely isn’t right.. im glad im getting checked.

Sadly that is how viruses go.
It's 100% normal to feel better then worse.

Once, when I had a really bad virus it took me 6+ months to recover. I was up and down.

Your BP will likely be high cos you're under stress and in a hospital setting- white coat syndrome. Same for your hear rate- you're wound up.
One-off BP measurements mean not a lot- you really need 2 readings a day at home with no stress.

I think you need to be patient and not expect to be better in a month.

I’ve experienced other than when i had the exact symptoms last year, which resulted in two lots of antibiotics to clear as the first lot only just touched the sides

But your cough may have got better anyway without ABs. This is why they are not prescribed unless a swab shows infection. They say it can take 3 months for a cough to go.

Did you ever check for Covid? There's a lot going around, and flu.

I hope you feel better soon but you do need to rest. How old are you?

Update.. infection markers very high on bloods and chest xray shows pneumonia.
been given stronger antibiotics so I hope they clear it properly this time

Oh gosh you poor thing. I still remember my pneumonia. So pleased you went in and 🤞🤞 you start feeling better soon. If you get worse at any time go straight back or 111.

Thank you so much, I will do. Fingers crossed they kick in quickly! I’m home in bed now, feeling horrendous tbh 😢 glad I went in though! Bed is where I will be staying for the foreseeable!

thank you for your help x

I was coming on here to say this ! Has also helped me fend off countless coughs and colds. Sometimes I will chop it finely and mix with a spoonful of yogurt.

Oh dear. Glad you're sorted and get well soon! x

Well done for going in and glad you have a proper diagnosis now.

From experience and much trial and error with a mucus cough for more than 6 weeks and also trying 2 lots of antibiotics plus an inhaler - eat and drink things as close to your bodies natural temperature and PH level as possible. Temperature and PH affects mucus production. Coffee and orange juice are a no as well as no diary. Have a spoon of good quality apple cider vinegar a couple of times a day - it really helps to cut through the mucus.

This is good to know thank you.
I didn’t have much appetite so I ate a tin of mandarins so good to know that probably wouldn’t help!

tell you what, it’s a humbling feeling living alone and feeling so unwell.
I can’t believe how much it’s hit me today, I’m terrified to get up out of bed. My head is pounding and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so unwell. I had a good 2 hour nap and I had that dreaded wake up feeling horrendous still moment where you just want to sleep sleep sleep sleep sleep and feel better..

I pray these antibiotics kick in quickly

Ahh op. Do you have anyone you know that can check in on you?

I don’t want to worry my dad as I know if I were to ask him to he’s going to be up all night with worry so I’ve messaged a couple of friends and said if they don’t hear from me for a while can they let someone know..

I know that might sound super dramatic but I’m feeling so unwell and I get such bad health anxiety the best of times so I think it just gives me piece of mind!

That’s a really good idea. I’ve been married for a long time but lived on my own for a few years. One particular bad d&v and I just managed to crawl between to bed and bathroom. My mum was fuming I hadn’t said anything but like you didn’t want to worry her.. I feel for you. It’s horrible feeling so vulnerable.

Wow yeah!! I can completely empathise with you there! It is such a horrible, vulnerable feeling but at the same time you don’t want to bother anyone!

I think cos this is a repeat of last year, but I feel worse I’m anxious that for some reason the antibiotics won’t do anything quick enough but I can’t worry myself for what hasn’t happened I guess 😢

thank you for the support everyone x

Exactly the same here, almost 4 weeks for me now, I have just got a hand held saline nebulizer from Amazon only used it twice but it definitely is easing the suffocating cough, whatever virus it is it's definitely worse on waking up, just feels like I'm about to clear something then run out of steam...soooo draining my ribcage feels like I've done a 1000 sit ups😖

How are you feeling today ? Hope you are on the mend lovely xx

Still the same atm :( still coughing up so much crap, headache and lethargic but hoping the antibiotics kick in soon.
I took my blood pressure last night and that’s come down so that’s a positive at least xx

I’ve had a couple of prolonged coughs in recent years. I went to the GP when it had been ongoing for 5 weeks and she said ‘you’re so congested I can’t hear your chest’. That time I did take antibiotics as I was finding it hard to breathe, and they worked.

Hope you start feeling better soon. X

@anonymousflowergirl
hope you’re starting to feel better?

I’m feeling much more human today! Still coughing but don’t feel like I’m half alive. Headache is mostly gone, definitely slowly on the mend! Back to work tomorrow I imagine. So thankful the antibiotics have kicked in x

Yeah! Glad you’re feeling better OP. I’m still coughing like a committed smoker - bought Mullein drops yesterday that you put under your tongue, seemed to help a bit but time will tell.

Oh bless you :( do you feel okay in yourself other than the cough?
I knew over the weekend I wasn’t right as I started to literally feel like I was going downhill quickly! If you start to feel really poorly defo get checked out x