1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Bedtime Blues

Posted by ckscoville @ckscoville, Aug 27, 2020

I'm posting this in hopes that somebody might have had the same experience ...and hopefully found a solution.

I currently do three breathing treatments a day -- with a nebulizer and a SmartVest concurrently -- and I'm on a rotation of antibiotics (Augmentin, Doxycycline, and Bactrim) for a very stubborn Achromobacter infection. During a typical day, I cough up a lot of sputum (usually light to dark green and sticky), especially in late morning.

However, when I finally go to bed at night, I go through a really horrible 30-45 minutes of coughing up stuff almost non-stop. I usually end up coughing up so much that my chest hurts like crazy at the end of it, and leaves me totally exhausted as well. It's gotten to the point that the thought of going to bed depresses me because I know what's in store for me. It's also not unusual for me to wake up in the middle of the night to cough up more stuff.

I don't know if the change in posture (lying down) is what triggers these really bad coughing fits, but I'm desperate for a solution.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

med08 | @med08 | Apr 17, 2023
In reply to @kwi "I use the vest and nebulize at the same time. I’m usually finished with the saline..." + (show)
@kwi

I use the vest and nebulize at the same time. I’m usually finished with the saline before the vest time (20 minutes) is finished. It’s nice to be able to do them at the same time unless you are too sensitive to use both together.

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Thank you.

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pacathy | @pacathy | Apr 17, 2023

Mayo recommended postural drainage after my 2x daily nebs and aerobika. Do you do that after your earlier neb treatments? It might help get mucus out earlier. They gave me booklet, but during the 2weeks when I got stuff out, I looked online, too, for positions that would help me drain my worst areas on CT.
I'm back to getting very little out so my input might not be the best.

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Arlo | @equanimous | Apr 17, 2023

I used to sleep flat on my back with a flat pillow because I had neck problems if I slept any other way. And....I had a similar problem.. coughing my head off at night. It was suggested by a fellow blogger (thank you!) to try a wedge pillow. I did and it worked! Surprisingly, my neck adjusted to the wedge after one night of use. No more waking up with neck pain and headache.
I cough ALOT less (hardly at all) at night.
This is the one I got on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLKLFLW?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I sure hope this helps as I know how distressing the night time cough can be!
Best of luck to you.

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sweethighland | @sweethighland | Apr 17, 2023
In reply to @kathyhg "I joined a facebook group called Lung Matters: covid, bronchiectasis, mac, NTM… and the woman who..." + (show)
@kathyhg

I joined a facebook group called Lung Matters: covid, bronchiectasis, mac, NTM… and the woman who started the group developed a guide that includes airway clearance techniques. One of the things she does is a final lung clearance at the end of the day, which I’ve tried and it’s helpful in getting out any sputum left in your airways that might interfere with sleep. You’re still coughing up goop but at least (for me, anyway) it feels more deliberate and you don’t have to dread the coughing when you go to bed. It’s a good manual and worth the read.

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"One of the things she does is a final lung clearance at the end of the day, " - May i know the technique for final lung clearance.

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1 reply
kathyhg | @kathyhg | Apr 17, 2023
In reply to @sweethighland ""One of the things she does is a final lung clearance at the end of the..." + (show)
@sweethighland

"One of the things she does is a final lung clearance at the end of the day, " - May i know the technique for final lung clearance.

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I can’t explain it here but it might be worth your while to join the Facebook group and you can get more information as well as the guide with instructions.

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regierellen | @regierellen | Apr 18, 2023

Mayo pulmonologist recommended raising the head of bed with risers between 4 to 6 inches.
They can be bought on Amazon.

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healthybon | @healthybon | Jul 11, 2023

I just got back from the NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH and they told me I must sleep at a 30° angle for my head… So I ordered a bed frame that does that and I can put my IKEA mattress on it that I love I’m waiting for it to come from HOME DEPOT. I was told that when you lay flat in a regular bed you get reflux or silent reflux in that aspirates into your lungs and it makes you cough …that makes it worse ….so that’s a very important thing to do per NJH.

The adjustable bed frame cost $600 but it was worth every penny…

Home Depot sells this, then you put your mattress on it
LUCID COMFORT COLLECTION. QUEEN ADVANCED BED BASE WITH WIRELESS REMOTE. I believe this bedframe comes in all the different sizes of the beds come in like king and twin ETC… The model number for the one I got which is a queen size is LUL6LPQQAB.

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2 replies
healthybon | @healthybon | Jul 11, 2023
In reply to @healthybon "I just got back from the NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH and they told me I must sleep..." + (show)
@healthybon

I just got back from the NATIONAL JEWISH HEALTH and they told me I must sleep at a 30° angle for my head… So I ordered a bed frame that does that and I can put my IKEA mattress on it that I love I’m waiting for it to come from HOME DEPOT. I was told that when you lay flat in a regular bed you get reflux or silent reflux in that aspirates into your lungs and it makes you cough …that makes it worse ….so that’s a very important thing to do per NJH.

The adjustable bed frame cost $600 but it was worth every penny…

Home Depot sells this, then you put your mattress on it
LUCID COMFORT COLLECTION. QUEEN ADVANCED BED BASE WITH WIRELESS REMOTE. I believe this bedframe comes in all the different sizes of the beds come in like king and twin ETC… The model number for the one I got which is a queen size is LUL6LPQQAB.

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This is link for adjustable bed frame
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lucid-Comfort-Collection-Queen-Advanced-Bed-Base-with-Wireless-Remote-LUL6LPQQAB/322775177

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woot | @woot | Sep 10, 2023
In reply to @sueinmn "I do not and have not used a vest. My docs (pulmonologist & primary) said I..." + (show)
@sueinmn

I do not and have not used a vest. My docs (pulmonologist & primary) said I am not a candidate due to arthritis and my small size. I find even a vibrating massage chair at the nail salon to be painful.
Sue

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Have you tried the VibraLung? You put mouthpiece in your mouth, turn on VibraLung. It send percussive sound waves into your lungs. Tests at NIH show it’s equally effective to the vest. I love mine.

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1 reply
scoop | @scoop | Sep 10, 2023
In reply to @woot "Have you tried the VibraLung? You put mouthpiece in your mouth, turn on VibraLung. It send..." + (show)
@woot

Have you tried the VibraLung? You put mouthpiece in your mouth, turn on VibraLung. It send percussive sound waves into your lungs. Tests at NIH show it’s equally effective to the vest. I love mine.

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@woot Wow, perhaps this topic needs its own thread. Never heard of VibraLung. Did insurance cover some of it? At $2800 it would be great to try it first before buying.

https://www.vibralung.com
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