Do you have increased coughing at night?

Hi - I recently started experiencing the same problem....but at night. I nebulize 7% saline in the morning and 3% late in the afternoon. I am also on the Big 3 but the coughing at night has really gotten worse and I bring up large amounts of white mucus and then a large chunk of yellow mucus comes up. I use Albuterol before I nebulizer and I also use an Aerobika in the morning with my nebulizer. I recently started Autogenic drainage which is a breathing exercise that helps to bring up the mucus.
I am frustrated and not sleeping for any consecutive amount of time.

Me too. my lungs have been checked out breathing and z scan Nothing there no wheezing no shortness of breath I cough at night only I sleep in day time no coughing. my coughing is at night and is wet clear flem.
Help dan

I've been on a med for sleeping that I will share with you. I'd be up all night it it wasn't for this medication. Ask your DR to prescribe Mirazapine (not sure on spelling) but it really helps & dries you out a bit as well.

Maybe try a little postural drainage with you head flat or lowered a couple of hours before bedtime? If you cannot do the head down, some brisk walking or aerobic exercise after the 3% neb?
Sue

Thanks Sue
These are new symptoms and I feel like something else is going on. I had a sputum test yesterday to test if there is any bacteria. The results came back in My Chart but my doctor was out today and he won't see the results until Monday.
When I cough it sounds like I have bronchitis.
I am seeing an ID doctor on Wednesday and will discuss all of this with him.
I need a new pulmonologist who will talk to me not through his assistant. I will try your suggestions.

A sputum culture would not have come back so quickly - I hope it is being held for further culturing. So if it is back already they probably for something else, like pneumonia.

Bronchitis is what I consider an exacerbation. My ID doc, pulmo & primary have worked out a plan for me ( I also have asthma.) With an exacerbation like bronchitis, I start daily budosenide (a steroid) & levalbuterol nebs before airway clearance. If I'm not improved in 5 days, we go to oral steroids plus an antibiotic. I'm sure your ID doc will work have a plan for you.

I am used to communicat+ing through the respiratory therapist at my pulmonologist, except during my appointments, so it doesn't really upset me. My ID doc is the one who referred me to my current pulmo - that's where you could start to find a new doc.

Holding good thoughts for you. It is great that you recognize the differences between your symptoms.
Sue

Anyone experiencing an increase in mucus and coughing — be sure to get a sputum sample in for testing of coinfection happening. Ask your doctor to have a standing order at lab.

Thanks for your reply. I ended up in the ER on Friday night because of the amount of wheezing and mucus I was experiencing. It was a tough night. I wasn't seen for about 4 hours after arriving , After bloodwork and an Xray, I was discharged about 10 hours with the xray being clear...no pneumonia and the bloodwork was ok.
I coughed and wheezed all night last night and brought up copious amounts of clear mucus. I see an ID doctor on WEdnesday and I have placed a call today to the pulmonologist. I have no appetite as I am afraid to eat that I will start coughing.
The ER doctor told me he could not give me a steroid since I have MAC lung and I am still on 3 antibiotics.
Wondering again if nebulizing hypertonic saline twice a day is creating too much mucus. I am beyond frustrated and can't believe that the way I wheeze and cough all day is part of bronchiectasis and MAC lung.
Thanks for listening to me. I just don't feel like I am being heard by doctors.

I understand "I just don't feel like I am being heard by doctors." And I would guess that at least 80% of the people on this site have had the same feeling at one time or another.

The ER is the most frustrating place for me - but my daughter (formerly a paramedic & ER nurse) explains - "Our job is to stabilize people and move on, so rare diseases and infections are out of our realm. Most of the docs and nurses have never seen or heard of MAC, and may even try to tell people that they are on too many antibiotics." This is not an indictment of the system -simply an acknowledgement that every part of the medical "complex" has a role - theirs is to make sure we stay alive until we can see our own provider.

Perhaps you can discuss lessening the saline nebs - maybe go to 3%, or once a day? One question, since you mentioned that coughing can follow eating - have you been evaluated to see if you have GERD or a swallowing disorder?

Sue

Thanks, Sue
I understand the reluctance of ER doctors to make a diagnosis or recommend treatment given the complexity of MAC lung
I have had a swallow test done a year ago and have been treated for GERD in the past. I have not had an upper GI series and I am going to reach out to my GI doctor.
I am going to cut back today on the 2x day nebulizing to see if I can get any uninterrupted sleep tonight.
With thanks for your continued advice.
JoAnn