Help Getting Sputum Sample

First time posting here, although I have been reading the daily updates for several months. I’ve found this support group to be incredibly informative and helpful. Thank you all!

I am a 79 year old female with no major health issues until last year when I had a dry unproductive cough that just wouldn’t quit. GP tried all the usual things (Claritin and Flonase, then an albuterol inhaler, Singulair followed by Advair and eventually albuterol in a nebulizer. Shortness of breath was never an issue and none of these medications helped the dry could. After a chest xray (negative) he ordered a CT scan which showed “Biapical subpleural lung scarring. Mild bronchiolitis right middle lobe with mild bronchiectasis.” He then ordered a lung function test where the results were in the low normal range. Referred to a pulmonologist.
In the meantime, I asked about airway clearance using hypertonic saline. Now using 3% twice a day which helps loosen the mucus making the cough at least a little productive.

Yesterday, after a six month wait, I got to consult with the pulmonologist. Their practice sees 200 to 300 bronchiectasis patients which I took as an encouraging sign. He took a thorough medical history and spent a good bit of time explaining the details of the CT scan. I felt encouraged. The next step is taking a sputum sample for three days. There’s my problem: I can’t bring up enough to spit in the cup! I’ve always swallowed whatever I coughed and coughing anything out doesn’t seem to work. Any suggestions to help me get those samples would be much appreciated.