Do you have increased coughing at night?

For me, my night cough seems to be at least partly positional. If I lie down, I will cough a lot. I have to sleep in an almost upright sitting position. I actually sleep on my couch in order to get enough support. I still cough, but I am usually able to fall asleep until I start to slip down into more of a reclining posture, at which point I wake up coughing.

Do you know if it is related to heart failure? I know our heart and lung are closely related. I think one of the symptoms of heart failure is difficult to sleep flat. I am start to take diuretic and will see if that helps.

Certainly that is something you should speak with your doctor about, but I think that there are multiple reasons why lying down can cause coughing. It can be due to gravity resulting in the pooling of mucus stimulating the cough reflex. Also, GERD can result in increased coughing in a prone position.

That happens to me sometimes, especially if I've taken a hot bath or shower before bed. The gases in the water seem to bring on the cough and then lying prone makes it worse. I use an extra pillow to elevate my head. If a Ricola cough drop doesn't help, I will resort to a tsp. of promethazine cough syrup.

My spouse’s coughing decreases once down for the night and he sleeps flat although we have been told it would help to be propped up for sleep. Any interruption in sleep such a bathroom trip results in coughing episode. I would say the worst coughing episodes are when he first wakes up each morning. He often uses a cough drop for suppression. Never cough syrup because none has been prescribed.
He also does Nebulizer twice a day with Albuterol and 7 % saline. Good luck - get some sheep!

Sleep

My coughing increased at night for years before my pulmonologist found that I have tracheobronchomalacia. This is a condition in which the trachea and bronchi collapse upon exhalation. When I started sleeping with a CPAP machine the coughing diminished drastically. Interestingly Medicare doesn't pay for CPAP for this condition, but the relief is well worth the cost. The condition is detected with at CT chest scan taken while holding an exhalation; many pulmonologists miss the diagnosis.

My dad has recently been diagnosed with bronchiectasis and MAC. Watching his decline has been a complete nightmare! He is having sinus surgery on Monday and has to heal for eight weeks before starting the big three. He is especially struggling with the night time coughing and interrupted sleep. Essentially, he isn’t sleeping and the fatigue keeps him barely above functioning during the day. When he lays flat, the coughing gets out of control. (may be partially from his acid reflux?) He has been trying to use a wedge, but wakes up off of it. I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with an adjustable bed? We are willing to do whatever it takes to get him better and have improved quality of life. Thanks for your help!

My Pulmo RXd benzonotate, a capsule which is supposed to suppress the cough at pm. It’s not covered by my insurance, but it’s not expensive, about $35/month. I like this better than a cough syrup. But I don’t tend to cough at pm which was the plan so I could get a good nights rest. Please see what your pulmonologist says. I’m at the beginning stage of treatment for my Mac-Nt.

In four years since diagnosis bronch/mac I’ve never had a coughing problem. I bring up mucus easily a couple hours after nebbing .
But I started the Big 3 three weeks ago, and I started having violent coughing periods especially at night even when I sleep sitting up. It feels like my lungs are spasming.
Doc doesn’t think it’s related to the antibiotics, but I wonder if they are stirring things up in my lungs???
I will ask pulmonologist about getting the Benzonotate — thanks!