What remedies help with post Covid cough?

I have been post covid for 8 weeks after 3 weeks hospitalization due to covid pneumonia. Just got of my oxygen during the day a couple week ago and I have terrible coughing jags, and cough if I try to talk. I use a PurMist with Eucalyptus twice a day for moisture in the lungs, as well as rescue inhaler. Does anyone have problems with this and if so, any remedies? I usually cough lozenges constantly.

So sorry to hear of your suffering. I too suffer from the after effects of covid pmeumoia with the 24/7 oxygen and coughing with cough drops. I use a nebulizer with albuterol and ipratropium-it helps to break the irritation that seems to make coughing worse. Hot drinks seem to help too but time and pulmonary rehab exercises have helped the most. I still have bad days and I`ve been home 6 weeks after 5+ months in hospital...2 months in icu. I have been learning from physical rehab how to strenthen my breathing muscles. Also I learned that I cough worse if my room is not cool . I wish they knew more about this ordeal but I have been slowly progressing so I know we can overcome this. I could hardly speak without coughing for months but it is better now. Today`s weather seems to make my coughing worse....I call it`trying to cough a lung up`. You are making progress with your oxygen which says something about your strenth. Please hang in there...some days you just have to believe it will get better.

Welcome @covidsufferer. After spending 2 months in ICU, there's a lot of recovery required. You seem to be patient with yourself. Is this something you've had to learn? Do you have a good support system of family and health care professionals?

Yes, having survived when I wasn`t supposed to was a very humbling experience. But even more humbling was the rehab required. I am a retired nurse anesthetist who prided herself on a strong constitution and doing whatever was required. I gained consciousness to find I had significant lung damage and terrible muscle weakness. Learning to walk again was dependent on muscle and pulmonary rehab...still in progress but I`m out of the wheelchair now, just still weak. I have a wonderful family that I was accustomed to helping...not the other way around. But they have come through and are there for me. I live in a rural area so I try to do research...as much as there is. I am very fortunate that my medical and rehab team have been open to questions and they do their own research when they dont know. But you hit on the one thing that is required....patience. I have never been good with self patience but I had to understand that either I become kind with myself or I was going to lose this battle, which is not an option. It is still a process everyday....some good days and some bad.

Oh so hard to accept the new role of accepting support and help when typically you are the giver. Keep in mind that you are giving others the gift to help you.

Are you aware of post intensive care syndrome? It can affect both patient and family members. They went through a lot too. You might be interested in the discussions in the ICU support group:
- Intensive Care (ICU) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/intensive-care-icu/

Helping family and friends to talk about their side of your time in ICU might be a way to find yourself in your familiar setting of helping others. 🙂

I’m sorry you’re having to go through all of that and it’s sad to hear about everyone’s suffering. You all have my sympathy and empathy. It’s more horrible than anyone healthy thinks. Im glad you’re getting better with the right treatment, though. It takes a long time, this is my 3rd year of it. Does the cold and damp make your cough worse? It does mine. I have a space heater I keep at home when the air is too cold and damp.
I had covid in the beginning, end of 2/20 and never coughed so much in my life. Couldn’t catch my breath because I was coughing so much. For months it was on and off after coughing 24/7 all the time for 3. I couldn’t talk without coughing either, Then it got worse and I developed pneumonia 7 months after getting covid. I also had to get a new pacemaker last year as it effected my heart block. This virus is evil. This virus is hell.
I had the original one and no one knew anything in those days. No testing was available yet..much gaslighting… No long hospitalization except for mostly er visits and a few days at the beginning when they didn’t know what was wrong with me. . Did have a bronchoscopy. It was viral so antibiotics would not have helped. You will never forget in your life how sick you are/were. My Dr gave me some good cough medication with hydrocodone in it which worked really well and I drank a lot of tea. I’m still short of breath even now when I walk. Everyone should get a chest CT because covid lung abnormalities do not always show on an X-ray. Mine didn’t and my lungs partially collapsed from coughing so much but funny, my 02 was ok. My lungs still are partially collapsed and there’s scarring. My nebulizer medication definitely helps me. I have to use it if I exert myself. Still lost 75% of my sense of smell. This is not the way we want to live and we will get better!

I found than an inhaler worked to help alleviate coughing. My Dr prescribed it. I am getting better, generally every few weeks I see improvement.

Wow, what an ordeal you have been through! Yes, cold and damp make my coughing and shortness of breath worse. I really miss my sense of smell...along with everything else I used to take for granted. It helps to know I am not alone. Good point about the lung CT.

Yes, my pulmonalogist mentioned ICU syndrome but I guess I`m still processing. After getting home I find myself afraid to go to sleep unless I have people awake around me. Makes for long nights.

i have found three things that work (1) time. im sorry to say you have quite awhile to go in recovery. (2) for really bad-cant- stop- coughing there is pill cause Tessalon Perl. this is a prescription but it stops that cough in a heartbeat. (3) Pepcid AC - 40 mg or Nexium - 40 mg.