Recovering from severe, prolonged coughing attacks
October 31, 2017 12:42 PM Subscribe
I have a neurogenic chronic cough which gives me really, really bad coughing fits. I regularly cough until I throw up. Lately since the attacks are lasting longer and are more severe, it's hard to recover. I feel dizzy and oxygen-starved and fatigued, and it can take a couple hours to recover. What are some things that might help after the fact? (Please no cough remedies--only looking for post-coughing tips.)
Drinking lots of water slowly and splashing your face are the 2 things that I feel silly mentioning, but could definitely help. Splashing water on your face because of the mammalian diving reflex.
posted by ambrosen at 1:09 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ambrosen at 1:09 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
I tend to be super stressed out after a lot of coughing. I like a warm whisky hot toddy with honey. It can be relaxing and remove some of the stress.
posted by answergrape at 1:10 PM on October 31, 2017
posted by answergrape at 1:10 PM on October 31, 2017
Does humidity help? Either a humidifier or a hot steamy shower, or even just a bowl of steaming water with a towel over your head?
posted by fiercecupcake at 1:54 PM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fiercecupcake at 1:54 PM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nthing tea, or any clear, warm drink such as hot water with lemon.
Something spicy can help thin out any mucus you may have, which always makes me feel better, like I can get more air. I like chicken broth (or chicken boullion) with a touch of vinegar and enough cayenne powder to make your nose run when you drink it.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:58 PM on October 31, 2017
Something spicy can help thin out any mucus you may have, which always makes me feel better, like I can get more air. I like chicken broth (or chicken boullion) with a touch of vinegar and enough cayenne powder to make your nose run when you drink it.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:58 PM on October 31, 2017
I like hot heating pads, I sit up in an easy chir with the pad between back and chair. The heat eases the tight chest muscles. I also sip plain hot hot water.
posted by Ftsqg at 3:28 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Ftsqg at 3:28 PM on October 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
If ginger tea is a thing that you like, try ginger honey crystals. They're very strong but tasty little tea packets that you can add to warm or cold water. They're super soothing on your throat and makes me feel way better after coughing fits and sore throats.
posted by zug at 4:59 PM on October 31, 2017
posted by zug at 4:59 PM on October 31, 2017
Heating pad across my shoulders & sipping a nice cup of tea or coffee helped. My completely non medical theory was that caffeine is supposed to help with blood flow so it'd help oxygenated blood get to where it needed to faster. I only had coughing fits with a case of whooping cough so what helped me might not help you.
posted by wwax at 4:59 PM on October 31, 2017
posted by wwax at 4:59 PM on October 31, 2017
A physical therapist might be able to help.
Having more control of your diaphragm during attacks / knowing how to treat it tenderly after attacks would probably be really helpful.
posted by littlewater at 5:40 PM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Having more control of your diaphragm during attacks / knowing how to treat it tenderly after attacks would probably be really helpful.
posted by littlewater at 5:40 PM on October 31, 2017 [1 favorite]
Please see a speech therapist. Have you had a full workup to make sure that it's a neurogenic cough? Have you tried everything--inhalers, acid reflux medication, and most importantly, nerve medications to help calm down the nerve? Have they shoved that obnoxious camera down your throat to check for redness and signs of damage? Have you gotten a second opinion?
I have a severe, chronic cough that would leave me gasping, gagging, puking, red, the whole nine yards. It is MILES improved with the right medications and speech therapy. There is so much you can do to address this. Please don't accept this as your new normal. I could not live with my cough. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't work because it's impossible to get anything done when you're having frequent coughing fits that are THAT severe.
Please, please see a speech therapist and find a doctor who can prescribe the right medications to calm down the nerve. This is NOT something we can help you with. You need to find the right professionals who actually know what to do and treat it aggressively. Do not accept this as your new normal. It doesn't have to be.
posted by Amy93 at 9:01 PM on October 31, 2017 [3 favorites]
I have a severe, chronic cough that would leave me gasping, gagging, puking, red, the whole nine yards. It is MILES improved with the right medications and speech therapy. There is so much you can do to address this. Please don't accept this as your new normal. I could not live with my cough. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't work because it's impossible to get anything done when you're having frequent coughing fits that are THAT severe.
Please, please see a speech therapist and find a doctor who can prescribe the right medications to calm down the nerve. This is NOT something we can help you with. You need to find the right professionals who actually know what to do and treat it aggressively. Do not accept this as your new normal. It doesn't have to be.
posted by Amy93 at 9:01 PM on October 31, 2017 [3 favorites]
(I know that goes directly against what you asked for, and I'm not trying to derail, but I've been dealing with a severe cough for two years now and I guarantee you it can improve from this. Feel free to PM if you want to talk.)
posted by Amy93 at 9:07 PM on October 31, 2017
posted by Amy93 at 9:07 PM on October 31, 2017
Response by poster: Amy93-I went to doctors for over a year to get the diagnosis I have. I've tried everything you've mentioned and more. I have worked with a speech therapist. I have tried different nerve medications. My neurologist tells me that this simply has not been covered much in medical journals and is just beginning to be discussed there. When I asked not to receive cough-related advice, it was because I have already tried far more remedies to soothe the nerve and quiet the cough than most people can imagine. It was because I've seen pulmonologists and allergists and GI doctors and neurologists and speech therapists and ENT's and had all manner of tests done. Your cough may be different from mine. If there is relief to be found, it is not going to happen right away. And right now my whole days are being thrown off because morning coughing fits have me starting my days oxygen-starved and lightheaded and dizzy for hours, and I need to learn how how to bounce back from that and re-oxygenate my brain. That is an immediate need because I need oxygen to my brain before I can concentrate on anything else. When I asked not to receive cough remedies, I had a very good reason reason for that. I am trying to solve the biggest problem I am facing right now.
posted by mermaidcafe at 5:44 AM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by mermaidcafe at 5:44 AM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sounds like youre on a tough situation. The only thing that I've found that helps me after a coughing fit is rest, maybe some water. Hopefully someone else has better ideas on how to recover. Good luck.
posted by Amy93 at 8:20 AM on November 1, 2017
posted by Amy93 at 8:20 AM on November 1, 2017
If you are feeling oxygen-starved, I wonder whether some type of asthma inhaler would help, even after-the-fact of coughing fits. I'm not sure what would be the right one for you, but I have found mine also helps me get back to feeling more normal when used in response to breathing problems (rather than used in advance of breathing problems) -- I'm not a doctor, but I think it opens up stuff in the lungs and helps get more air in?? You could check with your doctor as to whether there might be one that would work well for post-coughing periods. I would also check whether it's possible to get oxygen at home -- I don't know what the requirements are for insurance to cover this, but if this is to the point of you feeling dizzy and oxygen-starved, maybe it could be an option to have access to oxygen at home for post-coughing situations.
posted by rainbowbrite at 1:04 PM on November 1, 2017
posted by rainbowbrite at 1:04 PM on November 1, 2017
I wonder why none of these doctors have suggested supplemental oxygen?
posted by pintapicasso at 1:21 PM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by pintapicasso at 1:21 PM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I have a chronic GERD cough and dealt with four months of bronchitis this year. I know well the cough-until-puking lifestyle, and I am so sorry you're dealing with it.
My doctor perscribed me an inhaler and an oxygen tank/nasal cannula, and advised me to take a dose of normal-strength Pepto-Bismol* after the puking episodes. Full dose of the regular stuff. I'd take the Pepto, sit on my cool bathroom floor for ten minutes, inhaler per prescribed dosage, then oxygen. Made all the difference. I kept the oxygen in my bathroom vanity cabinet because I was always there after the puking anyway and could reach for it easily. The inhaler really helped me get the most out of the oxygen. I couldn't do the full nose-mouth mask for the oxygen because the closeness over my mouth made me panicky that I was going to puke again, and yes, you can safely puke with a nasal cannula (it happens).
*Don't use the extra-strength, because that lets you have less in quantity, whereas the quantity is in part what makes things better and soothes the acid and quivery barf reflex that leaves you gasping for air.
posted by juniperesque at 4:35 PM on November 1, 2017
My doctor perscribed me an inhaler and an oxygen tank/nasal cannula, and advised me to take a dose of normal-strength Pepto-Bismol* after the puking episodes. Full dose of the regular stuff. I'd take the Pepto, sit on my cool bathroom floor for ten minutes, inhaler per prescribed dosage, then oxygen. Made all the difference. I kept the oxygen in my bathroom vanity cabinet because I was always there after the puking anyway and could reach for it easily. The inhaler really helped me get the most out of the oxygen. I couldn't do the full nose-mouth mask for the oxygen because the closeness over my mouth made me panicky that I was going to puke again, and yes, you can safely puke with a nasal cannula (it happens).
*Don't use the extra-strength, because that lets you have less in quantity, whereas the quantity is in part what makes things better and soothes the acid and quivery barf reflex that leaves you gasping for air.
posted by juniperesque at 4:35 PM on November 1, 2017
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posted by DrAstroZoom at 1:06 PM on October 31, 2017