Tight chest with no sputum expelled

I use a lot of things to get mine out, but I gotta ask: who said that lying down with hips elevated would loosen the stuff & bring it up? Long before I met my current pulmo I knew from experience that lying down on my back, then switching to either side for a while, could help get up gunk, and that lying down on my stomach -a position I can't do for long, was most helpful. This rotation/change of positions turns out to be used quite a lot in the fine art of lung pounding. My current pulmo would add that AFTER getting the stuff loosened up, one should lie down on one's stomach with the head hanging off the edge of the bed, tho not so long as to cause any problems. On a good day I can do that a few minutes.

Mostly I don't have to do that. Take some mucus thinners. My doc has me on 1200mg of plain guafenisin twice daily, drinking 8 oz of water each time plus tons o water throughout the day. I use nebulizer treatments to get most of my lung meds & they also help loosen things up. Sometimes I still use my sinus Roto rooter, mechanized way to get saline wash into sinuses of those with massive sinus issues. It's a pain in the neck but moisturizes further into the lungs than just squirting the plastic bottle doesn't.

There's a device you can buy online called an A Capella. It helps move loosened stuff up and out BUT someone knowledgeable needs to set it &train you in correct usage or it's wasted.

Hi robyn i to suffer with pain in chest i ave days wen cant get sputum up then makes me sick i also ave been suffering for last 2yrs with sputum all my GP ever gave me was antibotics till went to hospital then after barium swallow test ct scan was telled ave bx dont know if u like me ave gud days bad days wen some days spitting sputum up i really belive its all this coughin causing all the pain in our bodys but i ave chest pain regular i just ave to sit down im fast asleep at moment i only take carbocistiene med to help sputum get thinner to bring up but i dont think they helping more so take 6 day plus other nedication im on days i feel low yes its nice to know to share illness regards tony

I would like to add that there seems to be a fine line between coughing the whole amount out and over-coughing that gives you a sore spot in your lungs that starts hurting.  When I first started the nebulizer with NaCL, I coughed far too much for the quantitiy. I still have that pain. I try to be smarter about the coughing....coughing not too hard and holding my chest a bit. Not sure if that means anything, but it seems to work. One of the ladies on here told me that the last bit of mucus will come out a few minutes after you stop coughing and move around.  I have seen that happen, but not every time.  I was told "not" to use my Peak flow meter, but that usually tells me if I have cleared out the mucus....if you don't hit your usual number, you still have mucus in there. I would wait a bit before you use the Peak flow meter...too much blowing is not good, I suspect. This is only my opinion that works for me.  I don't have tremendous mucus quantity as yet so I may not be a good example. However, it is enough mucus to make me fatigued.  

Hi Robyn, what kind of lifestyle do you have? I know exactly how you feel and I can say from personal experience that my lungs feel more stretchy and relaxed when there is mucus as opposed to when I have none, so I know how uncomfortable you must be feeling.

I'm asking about your lifestyle because everyday activitiy in order to increase blood flow and overall flud circulation is extremely important. This is the no. 1 method for getting the mucus out for me. That's why I've made a habit out of going for a walk every single day.

Yes, pushing and coughing when your lungs are dry is very irritating and painful. I couldn't explain this to my physiotherapist! They insisted that I go to the hospital every morning for physio, but I would end up with lung pain which seemed like thick needles stabbing me all over.

Coffee seems to be very helpful, as far as I know, it's a bronchodilator. Ice cream too, because it makes you produce more saliva, so it's a sort of lube.