Coughing, can't sleep, HELP!
Posted by SnowQueen690 on Mar 08, 2010 · Member since Jun 2005 · 1569 posts
Okay, I have been dealing with a cough for two weeks now, it started before I went vegan, and didn't change at all when I went vegan (I was hoping that knocking out dairy would stop it). Now today I think it turned into a sinus infection. I can't sleep at night due to the cough, as soon as I start to drift off I start coughing again and wake up. I am sooooo tired.
I have tried taking Nyquil, robitussin DM nighttime, tried sleeping sitting up, humidifier, nothing helps. Please, any advice, I really need some sleep.
I am an asthmatic, and I get URIs like that frequently. All of the OTC aids you mentions are temporary coverups for symptoms and don't cure anything, some can even make it worse.
If you are really desperate, a prescription for a prednisone burst will help, but the side effects aren't fun. Is the cough productive or dry? Have you had any hemoptysis (pink or red phlegm)? Any fevers or chills? Do you have chest tightness associated with the coughing? Depending on how you answer questions like that, a doctor may or may not prescribe antibiotics which may or may not help. Gotta love ambiguity. Most URIs are not bacterial, but most are treated that way anyways. Cough suppressants with narcotics will help calm the coughing so you can sleep. OTC cough suppressants don't have the reputation for working. Mucinex is commonly recommended by the doctors I work with though.
For me personally, I take hot showers, eat lots of veggies, drink eucalyptus tea, sleep with my head elevated, and pray it doesn't last long. Some thing in vaporub and other similar products makes me wheeze which only makes the problem worse. I don't know if any of this has helped. I totally understand what you are going through though.
See a doctor.
I don't know if you can get acetilycisteine over the counter there. You can here. Clears the respiratory system a treat.
I looked up N-Acetylcysteine and it is sold over the counter here. It has "mucus disolving properties by breaking down the proteins in the mucus" when inhaled.
I have got to try that!
Thaks!
I looked up N-Acetylcysteine and it is sold over the counter here. It has "mucus disolving properties by breaking down the proteins in the mucus" when inhaled.
Inhaled? Really? Here you mix it in a glass of water and drink it. Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day seems to help the process.
BTW: here it comes in 2 formats: 200 mg that you take 3 of in 24 hrs, or a single 600 mg. dose. For me and DH, the 3-times-a-day one seems to work better. Don't know why, but it does.