Liz CA Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) Dh is suggesting (while giggling) I should resort to NyQuil knowing full and well that I would pass out for two days. I do not possess the necessary enzyme to metabolize alcohol. I cannot go to the guest bed because canine training has been sorely lacking and the dog is sleeping there now unashamedly and she does not want to listen to me coughing all night either. I am open to all suggestions as long as I have the ingredients on hand cause I am not leaving the house at this hour. :( I suppose I have the recliner left but ...um not super comfortable. Edited March 23, 2017 by Liz CA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Cough meds? I like Delsym. Do you have a nebulizer and albuterol? Hot shower, lots of steam? Feel better! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) I use the red Chloraseptic Sore Throat cough drops. There is liquid inside them with something numbing. I try to keep the same one all night, holding between tongue and roof of mouth. Plus a variety of nasal sprays (xylitol spray, oil of oregano spray, silver spray, etc) ETA, the above only applies for cough that comes from junk dripping into the throat. Cough that comes from the bronchial area producing mucus - I had a trick but I can't remember what it was (herbal stuff). Cough that comes from the lungs due to wheezing - albuterol plus all of the above (herbal stuff plus cough drops). Edited March 23, 2017 by wapiti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I second Delsym. It's the only thing that suppresses my coughing long enough for me to get some sleep. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamonlyone Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I second Delsym. Honey is soothing, but I don't find that the positive effects last very long. I hope you feel better soon! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Codeine cough syrup. Nyquil knocks those of us who do process alcohol okay because it contains Benadryl, not because of the alcohol. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 albuterol That's probably not helpful. What DO you have on hand? Any essential oils? Caffeine? Thyme? Honey? Lemon? Flaxseed? Tight cough? Productive racking cough? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Head elevated and Vicks Vaporrub. Hot water with lemon and honey. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Hot toddy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Fisherman's Friend cough lozenges Robitussin DM 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) If you want to get mediciney, then you can ask the doctor for a prescription for tessalon perles. It has a strange name for a medicine, but it does work to knock out a cough at night. When I used it, I went from almost puking during coughing and coughing so hard I was gasping for breath and felt like someone had punched me in the guts, to sleeping calmly the next night without a hitch (after taking the meds.) You have to tell a doctor that you can't get any sleep and are desperate for some REST and then they give it to you. I only heard about it because I have a friend who is a nurse practitioner and she mentioned it over lunch one day. I said, "Why has a doctor never offered this before!!??" She said, "Did you tell the doctor you couldn't sleep?" And I hadn't. I have told doctors when I'm sick and I've been given antibiotics, but if you don't expressly say that you're not getting any sleep at night, they don't mention the tessalon. I had no idea that doctors had this stuff up their sleeve that I could have been getting all along. All those nights of exhaustion and coughing until my ribs almost broke... Wow. Sorry for whining. :). Short answer: tessalon perles. Edited March 23, 2017 by Garga 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 I use the red Chloraseptic Sore Throat cough drops. There is liquid inside them with something numbing. I try to keep the same one all night, holding between tongue and roof of mouth. Plus a variety of nasal sprays (xylitol spray, oil of oregano spray, silver spray, etc) ETA, the above only applies for cough that comes from junk dripping into the throat. Cough that comes from the bronchial area producing mucus - I had a trick but I can't remember what it was (herbal stuff). Cough that comes from the lungs due to wheezing - albuterol plus all of the above (herbal stuff plus cough drops). It's a "cold" type virus and is somewhat productive - probably coming from the bronchial system. No wheezing or shortness of breath. I do have some silver on hand but in liquid - not spray form. I could dilute it with water in a spray bottle... albuterol That's probably not helpful. What DO you have on hand? Any essential oils? Caffeine? Thyme? Honey? Lemon? Flaxseed? Tight cough? Productive racking cough? It's a somewhat productive cough. I have peppermint, rosehip essential oils. I have lemon, caffeine, thyme and even flaxseed. I have tried ginger tea and while it soothes for a little bit, it does not suppress it all night. I thought I was largely over this since I felt like the flu on Saturday. I slept most of the weekend and felt better. Then this hit me on Tuesday morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 If you want to get mediciney, then you can ask the doctor for a prescription for tessalon perles. It has a strange name for a medicine, but it does work to knock out a cough at night. When I used it, I went from almost puking during coughing and coughing so hard I was gasping for breath and felt like someone had punched me in the guts, to sleeping calmly the next night without a hitch (aftering taking the meds.) You have to tell a doctor that you can't get any sleep and are desperate for some REST and then they give it to you. I only heard about it because I have a friend who is a nurse practitioner and she mentioned it over lunch one day. I said, "Why has a doctor never offered this before!!??" She said, "Did you tell the doctor you couldn't sleep?" And I hadn't. I have told doctors when I'm sick and I've been given antibiotics, but if you don't expressly say that you're not getting any sleep at night, they don't mention the tessalon. I had no idea that doctors had this stuff up their sleeve that I could have been getting all along. All those nights of exhaustion and coughing until my ribs almost broke... Wow. Sorry for whining. :). Short answer: tessalon perles. I can relate. Why is it always so much worse at night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 Well, what I've been doing the last two weeks is cup after cup of Throat Comfort tea (NOT Throat Coat--nasty stuff!), an entire bag of RIcola couch drops, Advil for the fever, Benadryl, and Tussin cough syrup. And coughing and coughing, and finally breaking down and taking a hot shower in the middle of the night. Last night was the first night in weeks that I haven't had to stand in the shower. I think I cracked a rib coughing. I am sorry to hear others fare no better. I do have Ricola here as well and will pop one in right now. Do you know what ingreds are in the Throat Comfort tea? Maybe I can brew something similar with what I have at home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I can relate. Why is it always so much worse at night? The coughing starts when your body starts to slip into that deep breathing of sleep. That's when you hit the tickle in your lungs. If you breathe somewhat shallowly during the day you're fine, but lie down and breathe in and out very deeply and that unbearable tickle deeper in the lungs starts up. Also, lying down can adjust where the mucus is and affect things as well. I used to stay up, coughing, and considering how I could Invent some sort of harness that I could attach to the ceiling so I could sleep upright. But mostly, for me, it's the deep breathing that kicks in when you're falling asleep. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirabillis Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 "MAGIC SOCKS" Slather, and I mean slather, the bottoms of your feet with a thick coat of Vaporub (pure, non-generic Vaporub). Then carefully put socks on. Works like no one's business. Sounds weird, but it really works. Try it. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Job121 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 neti pot+head raised+vicks humidifier. This combination always works for me. I'e like to try magic socks though. Hope you feel better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 Ginger Chamomile tea I have here has some of the ingreds except the cherry bark. Thanks, Margaret! I will check on my supply of Vick's and dig out some old socks. Dh will pass out. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I have used any tea on hand but especially like, as mentioned above, slippery elm with red raspberry leaf, mullein and elder. Separately, a cup of very warm water with spoonful of honey or two, and the juice of a lemon, or just wait and add to your tea. It depends on how bad it is...we've used slightly baked onions slathered on the chest with light olive oil and held in place with an ankle or wrist wrap (you know what I mean). Not sure you'd have essential oils on hand but I have used them for coughing, just having it on in the room with the right oils has improved my situation nearly 100%. Vaporizer always helps me. Keep the room closed. Add the vapo-rub stuff to it, if yours has that. A friend of mine swore that the 40 thieves blend of essential oils rubbed on her feet twice a day, morning and night, kept her well through flu season. A fairly warm shower. Fruit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Delsym Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Mucinex DM is the best thing ever. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 The coughing starts when your body starts to slip into that deep breathing of sleep. That's when you hit the tickle in your lungs. If you breathe somewhat shallowly during the day you're fine, but lie down and breathe in and out very deeply and that unbearable tickle deeper in the lungs starts up. Also, lying down can adjust where the mucus is and affect things as well. I used to stay up, coughing, and considering how I could Invent some sort of harness that I could attach to the ceiling so I could sleep upright. But mostly, for me, it's the deep breathing that kicks in when you're falling asleep. Yep, that's what I read a couple weeks ago when I was coughing every time I was almost asleep. I ended up buying a cough suppressant syrup (it had only the suppressant, no antihistamine to make me groggy). I would suggest you get some tomorrow, the tickly cough in my throat went on much longer than I thought it would. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Any cough suppressant without an anti-histimine should do the trick. I used mucinex last time I was sick, but I had to browse the aisle very carefully to make sure I got one that wouldn't increase my drowsiness. (Don't know why I bothered. Whatever I had wiped me completely out for a full week after the cough was gone anyway. So I was still going to be drowsy.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 We aren't drinkers but we keep a bottle of whiskey on hand for making hot toddies when any of us has a bad cough. Works better than anything OTC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 In addition to all of the above - I sleep on the couch when I have a bad cough like that. I bring down all of my pillows and use the couch pillows and strategically place them so I am reclined enough to fall asleep but upright enough to keep at least some of the coughing at bay. Also, hot water with honey and lemon helps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Combo: Mucinex DM tablets, the extended release maximum strength ones Allegra for allergies Prilosec for GERD, since when I cough a lot that usually gets involved (my esophagus gets tired of staying completely closed. It's a vicious cycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) Mucinex DM is the best thing ever. Yep. Delsym works for my teens who can't swallow the massive mucinex pill. If we don't have those, I keep a six pack of straight up pineapple juice in the pantry. The bromelien in pineapple juice is a natural anti-inflammatory. I know people make tea out of it adding honey (also beneficial to a cough) and other things, but we just drink it straight up. My DS swears he's noticed a difference after drinking pineapple juice when he's got a cold with a cough. Edited March 23, 2017 by Lady Marmalade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aura Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Delysum works, but it makes me drowsy, so if I want to be able to get up in the morning, I can't take that. Plain Mucinex helps some, but it only goes so far. I get to coughing because of reflux. I can take extra Prilosec before I go to bed to stave it off, but I'm trying to wean myself off that stuff, not take more! Medicinally, Zyrtec (or the generic) is what works the best for me, which is weird because I'm pretty certain it's related to reflux not allergies, but it works. The Vapo-rub under socks works really great, too! And you get quicker relief, IMO, than oral medicines. Sometimes, I do both. If I wake up from the coughing, I'll do the sock-thing and/or the Zyrtec, but I have to get in a more upright position (which means the couch, cause we don't have a recliner) until that stuff kicks in and I can lay back down in bed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinnia Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I like Delsym, Chestal, and Vicks vaporub on your feet. That usually works for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I use the red Chloraseptic Sore Throat cough drops. There is liquid inside them with something numbing. I try to keep the same one all night, holding between tongue and roof of mouth. Plus a variety of nasal sprays (xylitol spray, oil of oregano spray, silver spray, etc) ETA, the above only applies for cough that comes from junk dripping into the throat. Cough that comes from the bronchial area producing mucus - I had a trick but I can't remember what it was (herbal stuff). Cough that comes from the lungs due to wheezing - albuterol plus all of the above (herbal stuff plus cough drops). This is what I've been doing except I hold it in my cheek because I'm so worried about choking on it in my sleep. Nyquil didn't help me sleep or stop coughing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Codeine cough syrup. Nyquil knocks those of us who do process alcohol okay because it contains Benadryl, not because of the alcohol. Nyquil doesn't contain Benedryl. It contains Doxylamine succinate 12.5 mg (Antihistamine). I WISH it contained Benedryl because it might actually work on me. Benedryl is diphenhydramine and I take 1/2 a dose pretty much daily. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 How are you feeling today, Liz? Were you able to get any sleep last night? :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 It's a "cold" type virus and is somewhat productive - probably coming from the bronchial system. No wheezing or shortness of breath. I do have some silver on hand but in liquid - not spray form. I could dilute it with water in a spray bottle... It's a somewhat productive cough. I have peppermint, rosehip essential oils. I have lemon, caffeine, thyme and even flaxseed. I have tried ginger tea and while it soothes for a little bit, it does not suppress it all night. I thought I was largely over this since I felt like the flu on Saturday. I slept most of the weekend and felt better. Then this hit me on Tuesday morning. Sorry, I got sidetracked by a sick kid last night... First, I would have taken a few teaspoons of dried thyme and steeped that as a tea for ten minutes. Thyme acts both as a smooth muscle relaxant and as an anti-inflammatory. Thyme is used a lot more in Germany/Austria than it is here, but it's effective. At the same time, I would have added a few tablespoons of flaxseeds to a cup of water in a mug and let gel up good and thick. I would have added a few tablespoons each of honey and lemon, and mixed. It's a very soothing gel for an irritated cough. After I finished my thyme tea, I would take a tablespoon of the flaxseed mix. Finally, I would put some peppermint oil, properly diluted with a carrier, onto the soles of my feet and cover those with a pair of socks and also put some into the palms of my hands and breathed for a bit if I felt any tightness or congestion in my nose or chest. Caffeine is good for a tight cough. It's a mild bronchiodialator. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 How are you feeling today, Liz? Were you able to get any sleep last night? :grouphug: I do feel somewhat better but still coughed last night. I am running to the health food store for some Throat Comfort Tea and perhaps some Vick's since I found out I was out when I wanted to do my "magic socks" last night. :) But prairiemama mentioned that I can also use peppermint oil and I have that here. This too will pass... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I do feel somewhat better but still coughed last night. I am running to the health food store for some Throat Comfort Tea and perhaps some Vick's since I found out I was out when I wanted to do my "magic socks" last night. :) But prairiemama mentioned that I can also use peppermint oil and I have that here. This too will pass... When you have a cough, every night feels like forever. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 There are alcohol free versions of those products. The alcohol is not enough to knock anyone out. What knocks people out is the antihistamine stuff they put in it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Nyquil doesn't contain Benedryl. It contains Doxylamine succinate 12.5 mg (Antihistamine). I WISH it contained Benedryl because it might actually work on me. Benedryl is diphenhydramine and I take 1/2 a dose pretty much daily.Yeah, I can take a full dose of Benadryl and be ok the next day. I took a full dose of NyQuil a couple weeks ago and I was completely groggy and barely functioning all the next day. That's why I ended up buying a syrup that was only cough suppressant. That was a much better experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caedmyn Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 St. Claire's throat soothers are the only thing that worked for me last time I had a bad cough. I tried everything...herbal couch syrups and teas, essential oils, cough drops, even a couple of otc cough syrups and nothing else helped at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 None of it is great. Even the Nyquil stuff doesn't really help (me). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 I'd go for the recliner and try to make it as cozy as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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