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Does anyone have a morning cough?

Posted , 6 users are following.

moon53540
moon53540

I was diagnosed with multiple PEs at the end of March. I had been unwell for some time before I was diagnosed and one of my symptoms was this cough every morning. Even though I am on blood thinners and my clots have now dispersed, I still cough stuff up every morning. It is mainly clear phlegm, so nothing to worry about with blood or bacterial infections, but still very annoying. Does anyone else get this? Does it ever stop?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • peter54321
    peter54321 moon53540

    Posted

    Yes would be the short answer, although it is a bit more complex:

    Like you, it was a long time before my PEs were diagnosed and I was coughing up mucus in the morning, eventually with blood in it.

    After diagnosis and treatment, this continued, but not all the time. Sometimes there were periods when I didn't get mucus. No rhyme or reason behind this, so I asked my specialist. He said that damage to the lungs can cause the production of more and/or thicker mucus when the lungs are irritated.

    So, what I have found is that dust, pollen or some chemicals can cause the mucus. If I am away from them, the mucus CAN clear up.  If the mucus is thick - best to drink more water as it helps.

    HTH Peter

    p.s. So as not to alarm others, I did have an unusually large number of clots and have been left with a lot of scarring, so I guess far from the norm.

    He also said it is also fairly common in smokers and ex-smokers, which I guess bears out the lung damage cause.

    • moon53540
      moon53540 peter54321

      Posted

      Well that makes sense, as the phlegm is mainly from the right side and that is where the majority of my clots were. How do you know if you have a lot of scarring? Does it show up in the CT?
    • peter54321
      peter54321 moon53540

      Posted

      Sadly, they even show up on an x-ray. 

      On the upside, I have always had great lung capacity, so even with them, my sats are pretty good (had to be some benefit in being a bagpipe player in my youth..)

  • canadagal
    canadagal moon53540

    Posted

    I have hundreds of clots in both lungs 5 years ago and my respirologist told me I had scar tissue from the clots so I cough up green sputum to this day, maybe you also have scar tissue.
    • moon53540
      moon53540 canadagal

      Posted

      If you are coughing up green sputum, is that not a bacterial infection? Does your doctor know? I was led to believe if it was clear or white it is fine but green or yellow is bacterial.
  • rona92956
    rona92956 moon53540

    Posted

    Hi yes. Do cough a lot more since my p e my dr put me on cough tablets that help 

    clear the mucus from my lungs my worst time is at night 

     

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