COPD

Hi linz29 of all the problems I have with ipf, the coughing is my worse enemy. Every time I try to put my head down the coughing starts, even when I am sitting up trying to sleep its the same, only when I am totally exhausted do I sometimes get a nap. I hope something comes up to ease this coughing.

Hi Linz,

Your husband's history sounds identical to mine, I keep getting one infection after another.  In January my consultant ordered a special ct scan for the lower lungs and I had to give 3 specimems of sputum, as he thought this may be the problem of constant infections.  It turns out that I have bronciectisis and shown a chronic infection in the lower lungs.  I am taking a month's supply of strong anit-biotics, 2 weeks in, they seems to be helping, I had rehab class today and sailed through, today is the best I have felt in the last couple of years.

I am NOT saying this is your husbands problem but it may be worth talking to his doctor.

Hope it helps knowing somone is in a simular situation and wish you well.

anne

My husband has been unwell since December and has been on various antibiotics and steroids since. He has now been admitted to hospital to see if they can get to the bottom if it. He is having a scan tomorrow morning as the x-ray showed that his chest infection has gone, but he is still feeling very breathless (this time last year he was cycling 25 miles a day!!). I wonder if Anne26156's problem is applicable to him? I will post the outcome - if we get one!!

I had a persistent cough for 2 years before doctors got to the reason for it.  It took blood tests, urine tests and sputum tests to ferret out the bacteria that was infecting me.  Like your husband In that time I had flare up after flare up and when taking antibiotics felt fine.  Soon as they were done coughing started again.  Seems I was infected by something called psuedomas mendocina and I caught it from cats.  They carry some disease and in their feces you can become infected.  Even by petting them and by gardening.  So, no more petting cats and no more gardening without gloves and very special care.  I was left with pulmonary hypertension as a result of this nightmare cough.  Hope you get to the bottom of what is causing his cough.

Hi Linz

My own experience is I rarely cough, except when my airways narrow and there are irritants in the air, pollen, house dust, dust outside, smoke of any kind, aerosol sprays etc, then I will cough.

For narrowing of the airways, inhaler medications are very useful.  What inhaler medication is your husband using?

I personally use a steroid inhaler, short and long term broncho dilaters.  The ventolin inhaler (reliever medicine) can be used generally 4 times a day if needed.  I rarely do need to use the reliever medicine unless my airway have narrowed because of irritants and I use it mainly just before sleeping. I have emphysema myself.   People with the Bronchitis component of COPD and those who have asthma in addition to COPD may need to use the ventolin more often to help keep the airways open.

Some people have a non productive cough because they have mucus which is not fluid enough to cough up, usually though this affects breathing as well as coughing, the important thing for all people with COPD is to drink plenty of water, its important to stay hydrated and doing so helps thin any mucus making it easier to cough up.  Other patients require a medicine like mucodyne.

It may be worth another chat with your doctor, perhaps your husband needs additional medicine to help with this problem.

Further irritants such as cleaning aids you may use in the home frequenly that could cause the irritation to the airways, perfume, aftershave, soap, soappowder.  I find my own airways and lung let me know easily and quickly when something is irritating to the airways and usually I do cough in this situation.

Can you remember when the coughing started?  was your husband coughing before COPD was diagnosed?  do you have pets birds etc.  pet dander and bird fanciers lung can cause irritation to some people airways and lungs.

Hope you get to the bottom of the cause of the coughing and resolve the problem, do let us know how things are.

Best wishes V

PS if you husband isn't yet on a steroid inhaler, this may be something that can help, do discuss with your husbands doctor.

 

My husband came out of hospital on Friday evening, having had the CT scan. This showed he still had the infection (despite a clear sputum sample) - it was haemophylus influenzae!! He has been told to continue to take amoxicyllin daily, together with another antibiotic every other day, and all the rest of the cocktail of drugs he has been put on, until he sees the consultant (as an urgent case!) in two weeks' time, although we have yet to get an appointment. Apart from being happier at home, he is feeling no improvement in his breathing and can do little except get washed and dressed each day. We run our own hotel and I am totally worn out doing everything - I do hope they get to the bottom of it soon!!!

Hello Linz ! Have you asked doctors if it is gerd this can cause the symptoms you describe and is very common among copd sufferers. I have suffered from it for years despite medication and have sometimes been coughing all day for months ! The cough mimics what is or has been called the smokers cough but is unproductive as you describe