The Constant Cough Question

Posted by rebecross @rebecross, Oct 31, 2023

Quick Azithro dosage question: 500 mg on M W F started fine and ended a week later when I could not l leave the bathroom. We halved the dose. Has this med actuary helped anyone with CONSTANT coughing??

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@scoop

Productive coughs after eating seem to come with the territory. Since I've been practicing almost complete clearance, productive coughs after eating are less of an issue. The downside is that it's time consuming and somewhat exhausting. The upside is that I cough less during the day including after meals.

What do I mean by near complete clearance? Until mucus turns the faintest color of pale yellow to white or clear. More often pale pale yellow and small amount, 1/2 penny's worth! My 2 cent$

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Speaking of mucous production, do you know what measurable amount by just observation of what is coughed up is considered a lot? or moderate? or small? I see talk about coughing up a lot of mucous but how much is that? Is there some "standard"?

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@scoop

Productive coughs after eating seem to come with the territory. Since I've been practicing almost complete clearance, productive coughs after eating are less of an issue. The downside is that it's time consuming and somewhat exhausting. The upside is that I cough less during the day including after meals.

What do I mean by near complete clearance? Until mucus turns the faintest color of pale yellow to white or clear. More often pale pale yellow and small amount, 1/2 penny's worth! My 2 cent$

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My experience the same as Scoop. However it is not always within my control to do complete clearance. Sometimes the mucus does not come up as easily as other times no matter what I do. I have to experiment with different "natural remedies" to see what helps. I do spend a long time at clearance. And clearance well after eating and before the next meal.

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@cwal

Speaking of mucous production, do you know what measurable amount by just observation of what is coughed up is considered a lot? or moderate? or small? I see talk about coughing up a lot of mucous but how much is that? Is there some "standard"?

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@cwal...I use the number of tissues as a guide. One is small, but somedays 10 or more would be a lot. You may gauge it according to your own good days and bad days. I'm just happy to get it out. If you never have a break from coughing up mucus, it is time to see a doctor about GERD or have a bronchoscopy done to find infection. Good luck.

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Yes 4 times. For me, AZ has been a life saver. I'm lucky, I've been able to tolerate it

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@vmorton

Having bronchiectasis can be embarrassing. Each time I eat a meal, within a few minutes after finishing the meal I begin to have a productive cough. I have to excuse myself and deal with it. The episode doesn't last very long, but it is embarrassing. When I asked my pulmonologist about it, he said he said he couldn't find any correlation and acted like he didn't believe me. Correlation or not, if happens and I wonder if anyone else has this problem.

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I’ve noticed the same thing. Now, after I eat, I drink a glass of water and gargle. My theory is the small bits of food get lodge in the bronchial tubes and coughing is a way to expel these particles.
I also have diverticulosis, which is the same concept. I’m told no nuts or seeds bc they get caught in the diverticuli. Lately I’ve just been eating soft foods bc they are easier to swallow and digest.
Hope this helps.
Good luck!
Carol Weinberg

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@vmorton

Having bronchiectasis can be embarrassing. Each time I eat a meal, within a few minutes after finishing the meal I begin to have a productive cough. I have to excuse myself and deal with it. The episode doesn't last very long, but it is embarrassing. When I asked my pulmonologist about it, he said he said he couldn't find any correlation and acted like he didn't believe me. Correlation or not, if happens and I wonder if anyone else has this problem.

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I too have had this happen often where I need to cough very soon after eating, even though I’ve done my airway clearance earlier. I go sit in my chair and relax after eating and all of a sudden things feel loosened up and ready to come out. I don’t have reflux, but I still don’t like coughing after a meal.

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@carolweinberg

I’ve noticed the same thing. Now, after I eat, I drink a glass of water and gargle. My theory is the small bits of food get lodge in the bronchial tubes and coughing is a way to expel these particles.
I also have diverticulosis, which is the same concept. I’m told no nuts or seeds bc they get caught in the diverticuli. Lately I’ve just been eating soft foods bc they are easier to swallow and digest.
Hope this helps.
Good luck!
Carol Weinberg

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Thank you. That is helpful to know it affects someone else.

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@cwal

Speaking of mucous production, do you know what measurable amount by just observation of what is coughed up is considered a lot? or moderate? or small? I see talk about coughing up a lot of mucous but how much is that? Is there some "standard"?

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For sputum submittal's, I think they want 5ml of non-saliva, so that's kind of the bar I use

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@rstel7272

For sputum submittal's, I think they want 5ml of non-saliva, so that's kind of the bar I use

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So, does that mean coughing up 5ml (approx 1 tsp) worth each time you do Pulmonary Clearance is considered a lot of mucous production? a small amount? Do Respiratory Therapist or docs have an amount they consider a lot? or a small amount?

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@cwal

So, does that mean coughing up 5ml (approx 1 tsp) worth each time you do Pulmonary Clearance is considered a lot of mucous production? a small amount? Do Respiratory Therapist or docs have an amount they consider a lot? or a small amount?

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I don't think there is a standard. I generally produce very little, so 5ml is lot. The real question is how do you feel after your airway clearance? There are some techniques, are you a member of lung matters on facebook?

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