Coughing a lot through night

I have had B for 8 years, had chronic coughing  many times  through the night totally unpleasant, however  it was found  steroid  tablets stopped the coughing,8 in the mornings for 7  days    but I need to point out that now since the 5 the of. August this year my doctor  has prescribed  the brown steroid spray. To be taken  twice in the morning  and again  at night. This to be done  regualy wetheryou are well or not  this is a prevention  I am told so far this has helped me  speak to your doctor   About this information and I wish you well.   From ER Indoors

Hi Judy

I am assuming since you have been diagnosed with bronchiectasis you have had a ct scan and are now under the care of a respiratory specialist - you should be.  Consulstant should have referred you to a physio.

I don't generally like to suppress a cough in bronch if it is productive, as it is basically doing the physio for you.  I have over the years, however had those nights of constant cough cough cough.

I have recently found from a bronchiectasis forum, and this is going to sound crazy but give it a go, you might be surprised:  Use good old Vicks vapour rub, not on your chest but, wait for it (on the soles of your feet) and cover with a pair of socks.  

I occasionally have steroids and do have a steroid inhaler but these are not for my bronchiectasis but for my asthma.  I try to keep the orals to a minimum.

Try the loony sounding Vicks thing.  It does work for some.

love cx

On 8 steroid a day at the moment for chest infection got go back about inhalers hospital tried me with one inhaler said it did not seem to help some said stop taking it he was going to discharge me last year then said he should do two more things and he would discharge me this year one was ct scan which showed the trouble always felt that he thought I was making up was in hospital about 5years ago a doctor said in middle of the night I had food it turned no from the test had a cope nurse the team sent me to respiratory doctor always felt that he thought I was making it up not pleased they had know over a year what it was and did not inform me

There are many ways you can bring B back under control. The lung clearance exercises (mid morning and mid evening works for me) plus regular exercise plus good diet - including superfruits and veg - for the natural vits/immune system boost are the foundation and a must.

Keep a diary of how you feel and go discuss it with your chest consultant (regular GPs do not have the experience and if you can afford a session at a private hospital with a reknowned lung defence unit - getting one of them on public healthcare or insuance is a bonus) is then absolutely essential to make sure:

1. The best antibiotic is found (antibiotics do control my cough as well as placating the other bacterial effects of wheezing, flash fevers, tiredness/exhaustion); needs a thoroughly analysed sputum sample in a big hospital lab; several days cooking is required - too many cheap clinics/hospitals come up with a same day result which will not have captured the deep-seated bug if one is affecting you

2. Other supplementary drugs are tailored for you - cortiscosteroids (as an inhaler like Symbicort, or as a pill like Prednisolone on a carefully tailored dosage over a few weeks including a declining tail; anti inflammatories/longer acting breath relievers like theophylline; mucus thinning agents like carbocysteine/acetylsteine: releivers like 'Berodual' for breath shortness. Some of these are primarily for asthma or COPD but I have found them very helpful in keeping a good comfort level. I suspect some doctors do not prescribe all those cos the books do not associate them with B treatment

3. Don't be afraid to pop a couple of paracetemol if your coughing gets bad. They have an anti-nflammatory effect and sometimes when I wake at 4am and feel that inflammatory hoary feeling in the chest and an involuntary cough the paracetemol will quieten it down and give me a refreshing few more hours of sleep.

I am not a medical pro - just a sufferer whose diagnosis progressed over 32 months from acute bronchitis to early stage lung cancer (discounted) to non-aggressive lung lymphoma (treated with radiotherapy) to bronciectasis. I've been given a whole load of differing medications over that time by several different specailists in the UK and Thailand. Check everything out with a medical pro and make sure that, if you are taking a cocktail of differing drugs, that the doctor/pharmacistr has considered clashes and side effects.

I'm lucky in that I seem to be ok on my regimen of 'Symbicort', Puroxan (a third world alternative to theophyline and much better IME) antibis when needed and occasional puffs on a cheap releiver or occasional paracetemol. Once I drop the antibis its only a matter of time before the next infection comes along and needs jumping on. My consultants allow me to be my own best prescriber for comfort.

[Just for completion I very occasionally take on an as required basis Ozemaprole for gastric effects and pill side effects and a hay fever nose spray to clear my sinuses (one of my ears will infrequently block up with mucus). It's not as bad as it sounds - most days I am only taking 3 different things!]

I agree with lots Steve has posted, especially the lung clearance.  The only thing I would say is not everyone can afford to go private or believe in it either and it doesn't guarantee you will get the best treatment.  I feel you are being short changed by your medical team.  I strongly belief, from 67 years of experience of having good, rubbish and excellent consultants, that you need to find a respiratory consultant who has a special interest in cf/bronchiectasis.  If you let us know a large city you have access to, we may be able to help you find one and you can then ask your doc to refer you.  I feel whether you bronch is mild or severe you should be monitored by a consultant and I can't understand why they would discharge you.

You don't say if you have been taught lung clearance or how to use many of the gadgets available - the flutter: acapella choice.  All bronchs are different and prefer different methods.  

One thing we all have to be is our own advocates with bronch.  So learn all you can.  I would put up the British Thoracic Guidelines up for you but links take so long on here it would be quicker for you to google it.

Sorry moved to see a reply from someone else and post went back to beginning and wouldn't let me move to where I was.

The guidelines advise that a sample is sent in at the beginning of an infection but that abs should be started straight away and changed if sample shows the pet you are growing is not sensitive to it.  This works for me and if I waited for a sample to come back I would be hospitalised.  I have less orals now (and am intolerant to many) as I now nebulise abs for 28 days on and 28 days off.

Wishing you well and that you will finally get the treatment you need and deserve.

love cx

i have had bronchiectasies all my life i am 74 and its trial and error with all medication, if you do not get rid of all the mucas in your lungs before you go to bed yes you will cough all night. i have long periods of antibiotics, i am on my third month now after a bad infection and using my ventolin inhaler (at least 4 puffs) when i can not cough any thing up and it really works well for me. steroids do not help me at all and some antibiotics that i have had over the year no longer work. plenty of exercise that gets you out of puff will help you get that mucas from your lungs, is very important that you do this. best of luck and hope you get some sleep.