Cough Spells

[thelizardqueen]

I know that when I'm sick, my guy will occasionally hear me coughing, but he's told me that he's just gotten so used to it (did I mention he snores like a chainsaw anyway, so he probably drowns me out. LOL). Short of having either you or him sleep on the couch, I would also suggest getting him some ear plugs. I wouldn't suggest taking cough syrup with codien, as us CFer's are not supposed to suppress our coughs (and cough syrup with codein in heavy duty!). What about going to a health food store, or check your local tea aisle for some respiratory tea? I take some when I'm at my worst coughing, and it does sooth the cough somewhat. I don't remember what its called, as I haven't had to use it in awhile, but its definitly worth checking out. You can usually find it at your local grocery store in the tea aisle, or a health food store. What about getting a humidifier? I know when my apartment is dry, I tend to cough more, and a humidifier usually helps somewhat.

 

[CFHockeyMom]

Sean's had this happen a time or two. His Dr. said to use Robitussen DM (I'll have to double check the "DM" part) before bed. I know normally cough supressants are a no-no with CF but his Dr. said as long as the cough wasn't productive we could use it. Of course, that's a short term fix only.

 

[CFHockeyMom]

Sean's had this happen a time or two. His Dr. said to use Robitussen DM (I'll have to double check the "DM" part) before bed. I know normally cough supressants are a no-no with CF but his Dr. said as long as the cough wasn't productive we could use it. Of course, that's a short term fix only.

 

[coltsfan715]

Hey there,
I do this every now and then. Sometimes my fiance notices - mainly when Iam coughing extremely hard - as he is a heavy sleeper. I have post nasal drip so most of my coughing is caused by that. Sitting up seems to do the trick usually. With post nasal drip all the wonderful gunk from your nose drips down the back of your throat and when you are laying down it can just kind of "pool" in the back of your throat .. thus causing the coughing. I usually notice it more if I have been having a stuffy nose or allergies.

I try to at least go to sleep in a semi sitting position. I normally position 2 pillows on top of each other and just lean back a little (maybe a 45 degree angle or something (I can't sleep sitting straight up). Usually I just tell him if I cough and it bothers you push me or wake me up or something (thankfully he has only had to wake me up once in the 3.5 yrs we have been together) cause normally I can reposition myself and that takes care of it.

Also I sometimes take Robitussin before I got to bed ... if I have had a stretch of days where I am coughing every night ... it helps me get some sleep if I need it. Also it isn't exactly cough syrup and it is nasty beyond belief but that throat numbing stuff works if you have post nasal drip. I don't know if it is recommended by docs to use or not with CF, but I have used it when I have become desperate to stop coughing long enough to sleep through the night.

I haven't tried the earplug thing but if he is comfortable sleeping with something in his ears, that sounds like a great idea. Hope you find something that works for you.

Lindsey

 

[coltsfan715]

Hey there,
I do this every now and then. Sometimes my fiance notices - mainly when Iam coughing extremely hard - as he is a heavy sleeper. I have post nasal drip so most of my coughing is caused by that. Sitting up seems to do the trick usually. With post nasal drip all the wonderful gunk from your nose drips down the back of your throat and when you are laying down it can just kind of "pool" in the back of your throat .. thus causing the coughing. I usually notice it more if I have been having a stuffy nose or allergies.

I try to at least go to sleep in a semi sitting position. I normally position 2 pillows on top of each other and just lean back a little (maybe a 45 degree angle or something (I can't sleep sitting straight up). Usually I just tell him if I cough and it bothers you push me or wake me up or something (thankfully he has only had to wake me up once in the 3.5 yrs we have been together) cause normally I can reposition myself and that takes care of it.

Also I sometimes take Robitussin before I got to bed ... if I have had a stretch of days where I am coughing every night ... it helps me get some sleep if I need it. Also it isn't exactly cough syrup and it is nasty beyond belief but that throat numbing stuff works if you have post nasal drip. I don't know if it is recommended by docs to use or not with CF, but I have used it when I have become desperate to stop coughing long enough to sleep through the night.

I haven't tried the earplug thing but if he is comfortable sleeping with something in his ears, that sounds like a great idea. Hope you find something that works for you.

Lindsey

 

[thelizardqueen]

I would suggest maybe talking to your CF nurse about this? Or your doctor? Maybe they have a few tricks and suggestions. I too sleep at an elevated postion at night to help with coughing when I'm sick. Sleep with two pillows under your head maybe. Maybe its a simple matter of sleeping in a certain position too? - I notice I cough more when I'm on my back, as opposed to my stomach.

 

[thelizardqueen]

I would suggest maybe talking to your CF nurse about this? Or your doctor? Maybe they have a few tricks and suggestions. I too sleep at an elevated postion at night to help with coughing when I'm sick. Sleep with two pillows under your head maybe. Maybe its a simple matter of sleeping in a certain position too? - I notice I cough more when I'm on my back, as opposed to my stomach.

 

[anonymous]

to everyone complaining about a cough keeping your your loved ones awake...I know it is hard dealing with everything but if i were any of you that were the ones that had to deal with the coughing...CHEERISH IT!! That may sound funny but my fiance I was with for 4 years had CF in every possible way from not gaining weight, he was 89 pounds at 20 years old. He coughed every night ALL night. Had pancreas problems...everything. Well he died and I wish all the time that I could at least hear him cough or moan or something. He died at almost 21. That was about 5 years ago. So my advice cheerish it and hold them close because you never know when the last time will be. <img src="i/expressions/brokenheart.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

to everyone complaining about a cough keeping your your loved ones awake...I know it is hard dealing with everything but if i were any of you that were the ones that had to deal with the coughing...CHEERISH IT!! That may sound funny but my fiance I was with for 4 years had CF in every possible way from not gaining weight, he was 89 pounds at 20 years old. He coughed every night ALL night. Had pancreas problems...everything. Well he died and I wish all the time that I could at least hear him cough or moan or something. He died at almost 21. That was about 5 years ago. So my advice cheerish it and hold them close because you never know when the last time will be. <img src="i/expressions/brokenheart.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

Dear Anonymous

I am sorry to hear about your Fiance'. You are such a nice person to want to share your thoughts. I agree with you to cherish the coughing with your loved one.

It could be snoring or anything else. We are all human and make funny sounds. I think getting upset with coughing will only make it worse. Sometimes I use to rub my upper chest in a circular motion and the coughing would stop. An accupuncturist taught me this. I would always do this when I was in a public place having a coughing attack. It always worked. IT stopped the nagging feeling and feeling of tightness
Risa

 

[anonymous]

Dear Anonymous

I am sorry to hear about your Fiance'. You are such a nice person to want to share your thoughts. I agree with you to cherish the coughing with your loved one.

It could be snoring or anything else. We are all human and make funny sounds. I think getting upset with coughing will only make it worse. Sometimes I use to rub my upper chest in a circular motion and the coughing would stop. An accupuncturist taught me this. I would always do this when I was in a public place having a coughing attack. It always worked. IT stopped the nagging feeling and feeling of tightness
Risa

 

[thelizardqueen]

What about putting Vicks vapor rub on your chest? It may ease the congestion a bit.

 

[thelizardqueen]

What about putting Vicks vapor rub on your chest? It may ease the congestion a bit.

 

[Allie]

Anonymous, I know what you mean. After awhile, you get so used to hearing it that it get harder to sleep without it. I slept by my husband for 8 years, and I went from sleeping in total silence before him to having to have something on because it's too quiet. It's one of those things you don't think about missing until it's gone. My heart goes out to you.

 

[Allie]

Anonymous, I know what you mean. After awhile, you get so used to hearing it that it get harder to sleep without it. I slept by my husband for 8 years, and I went from sleeping in total silence before him to having to have something on because it's too quiet. It's one of those things you don't think about missing until it's gone. My heart goes out to you.

 

[65rosessamurai]

I guess I'm still in a "trial stage" on the forum.
You know how people come up with questions that had once already been asked, or a topic that had once already been started? Well, I had something happened that I had later recalled seeing a topic being made on it. I then proceeded to search for the topic with success, and figured I'd use it, rather than start the topic all over again!!
Apparrently, no one caught the fact I had resurrected the topic, which wasn't touched since Nov. of last year!!
So, I guess the learning experience to this is to be more descriptive that i had just re-started a former topic, or just flood the forum with my version of the same topic.
Anyway, as for the solution, I got some ideas from what everyone responded with. I will try to get the room cleaned a little more often, even if I have to do it myself. Then, get back into gargling before beddy-bye time, and keep some water, or something near the bedside. Also, hope the "honorable princess bride" can get used to the "dishonorable ogre's midnight roars" (my coughing)!

 

[65rosessamurai]

I guess I'm still in a "trial stage" on the forum.
You know how people come up with questions that had once already been asked, or a topic that had once already been started? Well, I had something happened that I had later recalled seeing a topic being made on it. I then proceeded to search for the topic with success, and figured I'd use it, rather than start the topic all over again!!
Apparrently, no one caught the fact I had resurrected the topic, which wasn't touched since Nov. of last year!!
So, I guess the learning experience to this is to be more descriptive that i had just re-started a former topic, or just flood the forum with my version of the same topic.
Anyway, as for the solution, I got some ideas from what everyone responded with. I will try to get the room cleaned a little more often, even if I have to do it myself. Then, get back into gargling before beddy-bye time, and keep some water, or something near the bedside. Also, hope the "honorable princess bride" can get used to the "dishonorable ogre's midnight roars" (my coughing)!