Wellness

[janeec]

Caffeine is a bronchodilator and will open up the airway.  Warm coffee is the best.  If you don't like coffee, try instant hot chocolate with a teaspoon of instant coffee in it.  Do not drink really cold beverages as they can cause more coughing (bronchospasms).  During a coughing spell, drink tepid water.

One main ingredient for cough suppressants is alcohol.  A physician told me to use honey with bourbon.  It is already premixed and easily found in the liquor store.  Evan Williams honey with bourbon.  Just sip and ounce or two, and it will decrease the cough.  It is a central nervous system depressor.  

I hope you feel better.

[RedTop]

I'm currently dealing with the same upper respiratory thing, thanks to pollen and other allergens that are extremely high right now.   Claritin and Mucinex are working for me, but the biggest annoyance is the cough, which is breaking up.  

The easiest way for me to cut the mucous is honey and lemon juice warmed in the microwave and taken by spoonfuls.   My body does not tolerate honey in any way, so this is a guaranteed way to help me get rid of mucous.  I also cannot tolerate eucalyptus cough drops, which is another guaranteed way for me to rid myself of mucous.   

[Tinkrbl44]

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@noodleann wrote:

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@msh8970 wrote:

I have had some kind of cough/cold for about a week now. Started as sore throat, watery eyes, runny nose, and a cough. The cough lingers now and feels like I have some kind of junk/phlegm deep in my throat or even my chest, that I just can't bring up. I cough and I feel a little tickle deep, but it is stubborn and won't come up or go down. I also had a bad sore throat years ago that left my tonsils blown up and my airway narrowed, so that is fun, and maybe why the junk is having trouble 'coming up'..

What is good to expectorate this junk..? I've tried Mucinex and various cough syrup/expectorants.. 

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This is definitely something that requires professional attention. You don't want to ameliorate some symptoms with home-grown concoctions, only to become quite sick later because a bacterial infection was smouldering that could have been caught and treated easily.

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@noodleann    @msh8970

I find it stunning that people think there's a "home remedy" for everything and no need to ever  see a doctor!  ESPECIALLY when it is breathing-related!     

You can mess around with home cures for rashes and such, but anything that can compromise your ability to breathe needs to be checked by a doctor .... STAT!

[Noel7]

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@janeec wrote:

Caffeine is a bronchodilator and will open up the airway.  Warm coffee is the best.  If you don't like coffee, try instant hot chocolate with a teaspoon of instant coffee in it.  Do not drink really cold beverages as they can cause more coughing (bronchospasms).  During a coughing spell, drink tepid water.

One main ingredient for cough suppressants is alcohol.  A physician told me to use honey with bourbon.  It is already premixed and easily found in the liquor store.  Evan Williams honey with bourbon.  Just sip and ounce or two, and it will decrease the cough.  It is a central nervous system depressor.  

I hope you feel better.

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@janeec

I also use coffee to help with a cough.  My colds are worsened by asthma and I've often read coffee helps asthma, it helps me.

I've tried many, many OTCs and only one works for me, and it works well:

CORICIDAN COUGH AND COLD, or Cough & Flu if necessary.

It's recommended by the AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION because it will not raise your blood pressure.  It's like magic, in my experience.

[vsm]

@msh8970SEE AN ENT (ear/nose/throat) DOC!!!  I waited too long to deal with this problem and ended up permanently damaging my vocal cords from the coughing.  Be smarter than I was, and if a chest x-ray is recommended, have it.

[Yardlie]

I think you have received a lot of good advice. Start with your doctor. By now you could have bronchitis or walking pneumonia.

One thing that is supposed to help a cough is rubbing Vick's Vapo Rub on the soles of your feet...then put socks over them. People swear by it to alleviate coughs, but doctors don't know why it helps. I use a Menthol Relief Stick that I get at the Dollar Tree on the soles of my feet to relieve restless legs. This only relieves the symptoms though. You could have a bacterial infection in your lungs and need antibiotics.

Sounds like a trip to Urgent Care is needed if you can't get in with your doctor. Hope you feel better soon.

[Noel7]

It seems something nasty is going around.  It's like a cold on steroids.

[mousiegirl]

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@msh8970 wrote:

I have had some kind of cough/cold for about a week now. Started as sore throat, watery eyes, runny nose, and a cough. The cough lingers now and feels like I have some kind of junk/phlegm deep in my throat or even my chest, that I just can't bring up. I cough and I feel a little tickle deep, but it is stubborn and won't come up or go down. I also had a bad sore throat years ago that left my tonsils blown up and my airway narrowed, so that is fun, and maybe why the junk is having trouble 'coming up'..

What is good to expectorate this junk..? I've tried Mucinex and various cough syrup/expectorants.. 

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@msh8970  Earlier this year, DH and I had a horrible virus and the coughing went on for more than a month.

[embgm]

I just returned from the doctors. I have had all the same symptoms for the past week. Diagnosis ... sinus infection. I received an antibiotic and told to take Delsym for the cough. Usually symptoms still present after 7 days warrants a doctor's visit. Feel better.

[Big Sister]

@msh8970  Are you by any chance on a medication called "Lisinopril?"

If so, one of its side effects is a persistent cough.