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Aussie Barb
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| Joined: | Thu Jul 22nd, 2004 |
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Posted: Sun Aug 20th, 2006 07:43 |
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What can I do for my intolerable cough?
Cold-like symptoms, including coughing, are a common immune system reaction. Getting well with the Marshall Protocol always involves immune system reactions. These reactions can be symptoms you currently have, symptoms you've had before or brand new symptoms. See Immunopathology(Herx)....What is it?
Dr Marshall wrote: "The MP will make no difference to the course of a cold. If anything, it will allow the immune system a better chance to fight the virus. On the other hand, flu-like symptoms are a very common manifestation of immunopathology. They come and go more quickly than a viral cold does."
"Pay attention to the nature of the cough. As the immune system starts to properly work again, the coughing changes perceptibly. Whereas the coughing of sarcoidosis is shallow and non-productive, once the immune system kicks back in the coughing is always productive, and usually involves more chest muscles, particularly the lower ones."
..Trevor..
"A cough can develop at any time in sarcoidosis. It can be related to anything from upper respiratory involvement and post-nasal drip to chest involvement or even triggered by exposure to dust, fungus, odors or fumes.
You should monitor coughing as you would any other symptom of immunopathology to keep it tolerable. Coughing can be very tiring - not just to you, but to others around you. The physical exertion as well as the sound tends to be a mental drain as well. Most of the coughing associated with sarcoidosis doesn't bring up phlegm, which may worry some folks as well (because it is non-productive).
I found that immunopathology resulted in coughing and breathing difficulties on the MP, it was imperative that I stop and rest. Even if I didn't fall asleep, frequent resting helped improve coughing and fatigue. So, rest.. rest.. rest." ~Belinda
Managing Immunopathology by adjusting MP meds should be your first priority. Do not hesitate to use any of the meds adjustments options in My immune system reaction is too strong. What should I do? Ask a moderator if you need assistance. If these measures fail to reduce your cough to tolerable levels, you may ask your doctor about the use of palliative medication.
Non-medication strategies
-Drink more fluids. Water helps loosen mucus and soothe an irritated throat.
-Elevate your head with extra pillows at night to ease a dry cough.
-Try a cough drop to soothe an irritated throat. Expensive medicine-flavored cough drops are not any better than inexpensive candy-flavored ones or hard candy. Most cough drops have no effect on the cough-producing mechanism. If you do an Internet search you should be able to find cough drops that are sweetened with sucralose instead of sugar. Here is one example: http://tinyurl.com/ruuo4
-Avoid exposure to inhaled irritants, such as smoke, dust, or other pollutants, or wear a face mask that is appropriate for the exposure.
Palliative medication for intolerable coughing
Expectorants
Expectorants may help thin the mucus (phlegm) and make it easier to expectorate it when you have a productive cough. An expectorant is helpful if you have a cough that produces thick mucus and you are having difficulty coughing it up.
Guaifenesin works by drawing water into the bronchi. The water both thins mucus and lubricates the airway, facilitating the removal of mucus by coughing. One may notice a sense of dry mouth when taking this medication. Water consumption is important, not only to help with dry mouth, but also to improve the effectiveness of the drug.
Guaifenesin is sold as pills or syrups under several brand names such as Guai-Aid, GuaiLife, Ethex 208, Humibid, Mucinex, and Robitussin.
You may wish to discuss with your doctor the use of guaifenisin. Others on the MP are using it with good success and you may find it helpful too.
Single ingredient guiafenesin (tablets or liquid) are preferable to any combination products which may contain ingredients such as decongestants, antihistamines or cough suppressants which you may not need. Be sure you know what you are taking.
Following, a respected and knowledgeable MPer shares his experience with guaifenesin.
"I want to share with you something that I found helpful even before the MP for dealing with my breathing difficulty especially at night. I still use it because it helps and it does not interact with the MP.
For about 6 months I had not been able to lay on my left side because of difficulty in breathing, and the pressure I would feel in my chest. I could not lie on my right side either but that is another story. Not being one to sleep on my belly all I could do was sleep straight on my back. Being a pharmacist I thought to myself I would start taking some guaifenisin, since I thought intuitively that it could help. But, maybe because I am a pharmacist and not liking to take medications (or plain laziness) I never did.
Then in Aug. 04, I caught a cold. I remember thinking if I can make it to the morning I am going to have to go to the hospital and get help or else. Well, not liking hospitals either, morning came and I began taking guiafenesin (600mg every 6 hours). Within a couple of days I was doing better, and in about two weeks I found that I could tolerate laying on my left side for a few minutes. And over the next few weeks I got to the point that I could turn during the night and sleep on my left side.
I have continued to take the guaifenesin sometimes reducing it to twice a day (in the morning and at night). But as soon as I suspect that I am getting a cold I put it back up to every 6 hours. If I wait, I go through a similar bad experience. I believe that the action of reducing the viscosity of the secretions helps me eliminate them easier. After seeing the inflamation in the photos taken of my trachea during a bronchoscopy I realized why I was having so much difficulty.
Guaifenesin helps me move my secretions. Its purpose is to thin the mucous to facilitate its normal elimination from the airway. To this day I still take it Q 8 and increase it to Q 6 if I get a cold to prevent the secretions from accumulating in my bronchioles. I believe that my pulmonary obstructions from the inflamation create enough of a resistance that I cannot clear the secretions from my lungs under these circumstances. And, until the obstruction resolves I intend to continue since from trial and error I know how it helps me.
If secretions are thin stop taking it, and if you need it in a few days to maybe try a reduced dosage. This medication is a prn (take as needed) type and if not needed, dont take it. The other observation I would like to make is that mucus that is moving is better than mucus that is trapped in the lung creating an impediment to breathing. That is a call each individual needs to make on what is happening with him/her. "
Sedona's experience Sept 2009:
"When the going get tooo tough every Guaifenesin 12 hours just doesn't get it for me. I take the quaf every 6 hours. It ain't too tough yet; that's why I posted q12hr.
I have tried them all ((quaifenesin)) to see what the comfort level would be. I even tried a Mucinex; maximum strength; extended time release that was 1200 mg.  Uhhh but that was over the top and my chest felt like it was being sucked out my body's ball park. I had to drink a ton of water and it was proof that I didn't have enough bacterial die off to produce enough mucous for this high a dosage level.
The one that has always done me right every time is Mucinex 600mg; extended release. Blue line over the word expectorant. It says 12 hour which I assume means you want to take it every twelve hours but in the beginning when I first started the MP a gentlemen indicated that he was taking it every 6 hours. I was producing far too much mucous to take it every twelve hours so I tried his method and it worked.
My husband recently bought six boxes as I have a tendency to go into denial and not take it when I need it after finishing a box. When the bacterial die off lessens then I am able to fall back to taking it q12h. Oh by the way, if I am producing a lot of mucous and I wait too long between taking it, I do find that it take a couple of tablets before I feel comfortable again. But here's what is important: I learned that it's EXTREMELY important to drink a lot of water with Quaf so that your system can flush the thick goo. Quaf makes expectorating far easier but water and lots of it is the key. My comfort level was not reached with the Quaf when I didn't drink enough water to help it and my body do the job. Even when I get comfortable (mucous) I find I need to drink lots of water - it makes breathing easier.
Every now and then I push back to q12hr to get a bacterial die off reading. This is how I know that die off is less and sometimes I can actually stop taking Quaf altogether. Usually raising the MP dosage level or lowering it is the reason to increase to q6hr. But certainly as my symptoms have eased I don't take nearly as much quaf as I did in phase I or early phase II. Still I need to drink lots of water to be comfortable no matter what."
Sedona's Experience: October 09
Hello Debbie
I know exactly what you mean. I can't begin to tell you how much mucous I coughed up. Enough to glide on from Georgia to the Mississippi River. It is disgusting. Dark green and smelly. I still cough up some but not nearly as much as I did when I first started the MP. It was frustrating, disgusting, and difficult. That is, until one of the MPers told me about Mucinex. Mucinex is my bestest friend in the whole world - no kidding. I don't need as much as I did in the beginning but I still take it when needed.
The Mucinex does not contraindicate the MP meds. Check with your doctor regarding your current medications. I take the 600mg 12 Hour extended reslease Bi-layer tablets. The box is blue not green. for me it made a difference. The Mucinex made it easier to push the mucous out. I had to drink a ton of water. Water when it comes to moving mucous is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. It keeps it thinned out and the Mucinex helps to move it out. I was able to stop coughing so much and my throat and rib cage stopped being sore. Also, I was propped up for quite some time before I could lay down all the way and not wake up at night gasping for air. I had my doctor do an oxymeter reading and it was decided that an oxygen concentrator was necessary until I got the mucous under control. This helped me breath during the night and get some sleep.
I stopped getting so many CT-scans because I began to realize that: 1. They cost a ton of money; 2. The amount of radiation one is exposed to does not help the problem. The thing I felt was important was to get the Bacterial load under control. So I stayed on the MP meds and just got myself centered while dealing with the die off which includes all the mucous production. I also followed the MP instructions by staying out of sunlight as much as possible; wearing the NOIRS at all times; avoiding foods that are high in vitamin D and giving my body as much rest as possible. When I didn't follow these recommendations I always paid with more bacterial die off. In the end it just wasn't worth it. Although from time to time I still did what I wanted to.
Also, I moved away from the Steroidal version of the inhaler. I instead went with the Pro-Air inhaler which has no steriods. Not sure if the one you are using has steroids which one must refrain from while doing the MP.
Fortunately you have a doctor who is at least willing to let you continue the MP meds. This is spectacular. I had so much push back from my doctors. But here you are getting some assistance from your provider which is excellent.
It was quite uncomfortable in the beginning but it got better. Not in a hurry because it does take time (I found out) and a WHOLE lot of patience to get centered and let the MP meds do the work.
I am still amazed at how much better I am and how easy it is for me to breath now. Not long ago I was feeling just like yourself and I couldn't fathom feeling the way I do now. It was unimaginable.
You can do this because you are already here and that is half the battle. Everything above I learned from this site and it payed off.
All the Best
Cough suppressants
Persistent coughing can strain the muscles or ligaments of the chest wall. When these muscles are strained, even normal breathing can cause mild chest pain. See Chest wall pain. Constant coughing can be exhausting or occur when you are trying to sleep.
If chest wall pain, fatigue or insomnia due to coughing become intolerable, it is helpful to suppress your cough.
Cough suppressants should be used carefully if your cough is wet-sounding and produces mucous (phlegm) because it is important to cough up this mucous to prevent an acute respiratory infection. If your cough is usually productive but you need to suppress it to get some relief, use only enough cough suppressant to keep chest wall pain and/or fatigue tolerable or only when you must get some sleep.
Dextromethorphan acts on the center in the brain that controls the cough reflex. It is available over the counter and is an ingredient in many cough medicines, such as Vicks Formula 44, Drixoral Cough Liquid Caps, Sucrets Cough Control, Benylin DM and some Robitussin products. It rarely causes side effects, although an upset stomach or drowsiness can occur.
Many OTC cough medicines are combinations products that contain other ingredients beside a cough suppressant, such as an expectorant, decongestant or antihistamine. Look for a single ingredient dextromethorphan product. Even if you also need an expectorant, single use products allow you better control so you are only taking one medication, as needed, for one specific purpose. For example, you may use an expectorant during the daytime and a cough suppressant at nighttime when you want to sleep.
Codeine is an opioid (narcotic) that acts on the vegas nerve to suppress coughing. It is available only by prescription in many states. However, other states permit pharmacists to sell cough remedies containing codeine without a prescription if the customer signs for it. Because codeine is an opioid, some people fear it may be addicting. In reality, addiction is uncommon. Codeine can be helpful at bedtime because of its slight sedative effect.
Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is a bitter alkaloid of the cacoa plant, and is therefore found in chocolate. "Recent studies have found that theobromine, which is a compound found in cacao, is more effective as a cough suppressant than prescription codeine. This molecule suppresses the 'itch' signal from the nerve in the back of the throat that causes the cough reflex. It is possible to get an effective dose from 50g of dark chocolate, which contain 2-10 times more cocao than milk chocolate. Theobromine was also free of side effects in the blind tests.[1]" Persistent coughs melt away with chocolate
Dark chocolate candy has a high sugar content to counteract the natural bitterness. Sugar-free dark chocolate can be found. Here is one online source:
http://www.lowcarbchocolates.com/rossbars.html
They sell a dark chocolate bar is 34g and is sweetened with maltitol (note the side effects). Note that this is a relatively large amount of chocolate to reach the suggested effective dose of 50g. This company has a sale each Spring and Fall. You may ask to be put on their email list if you are interested.
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If your progress on the MP is hampered in any way, then you should reexamine your medications.
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See also:
What should I know about respiratory immunopathology?
Breathing Tips
My breathing is worse. What should I do?
My doctor thinks I have an upper respiratory infection. What should I do? (Sinus infection, cold, flu, pneumonia, bronchitis)
What is cardiac immunopathology? When should I be concerned?
Tools to check
Is it an allergy or is it an immune system reaction?
My respiratory function is poor. How can I prevent an acute infection?
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If you feel that you are in an emergency situation, do not hesitate to seek emergency assistance.
Last edited on Wed Oct 14th, 2009 06:27 by Aussie Barb
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Barb: Dx Inflammatory Disease Endocrine Imbalance 2003| Depression| 24+ years not Dx| MP Aug04| ABC of MP| MP Search|
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Posted: Tue Feb 13th, 2007 05:36 |
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Coughing and fainting
Cough syncope (brief unconsciousness following cough) is one of the most common complications from a cough. Coughing is just one situation that can trigger syncope; others are fear, emotions, having blood drawn or straining while urinating or defecating.
In any of these situations, the body may have an involuntary neurological reaction called a vasovagal reaction. (See Managing a Vasovagal Reaction)
With the vasovagal reaction, the heart rate slows, so there is less blood flow to the brain, which can result in syncope (fainting). The body may also conserve the flow of blood to the legs.
You should be aware that when a vasovagal reaction occurs, it may not be safe to drive. You will want to pull off the road and stop until these symptoms reside: coughing and feeling weak or sweaty, which may precede loss of consciousness. ~Belinda
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