Month-long chest cough for Questionland Seattle

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Month-long chest cough

I'm not super worried because it seems like a few people I know in town are dealing with this, but I have had a rattling, phlegmy chest cough for weeks. I don't smoke regularly, am not drinking much (a drink or two a week), don't work in a coal mine, and am generally healthy. I just can't shake it, and when I thought I had, it popped back up. I feel like a four-year old.
Do other people have this this long? Is there a good home remedy for loosening up phlegm? Am I right thinking other peeps are having the same experience?

Erin West asked in Aches, Pains & Illness about 1 year ago | Report

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asteria

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I agree with Griffin - you should check in with a doctor. I am allergic to several tree pollens, and if I don't take antihistamines I could easily get a cough like this and secondary bacteria infection. Really anytime you are coughing more than a week at a time you should see the doctor, especially if you are coughing up colorful phleghm. If you are in your early or mid twenties you may be developing allergies/hay fever.

Several years ago I had similar symptoms - my cough was going away, then it came back, etc. I used to smoke back then too, which didn't help. If you are smoking at all, you should just stop until you have been cough-free for at least a week.

I went to Bastyr and they recommended doing a steam inhalation with essential oils, which really helped a lot, as I coughed up tons of crap. They prescribed a blend of half lavender and half thyme essential oil, and to do the steam inhalation for 10 minutes. They used some special high-quality essential oils, which I haven't seen sold anywhere but the kind they sell at PCC or Madison Market or Rainbow Remedies will also work. Pharmaca also sells a "Breathe" blend that worked for me, which has eucalyptus and other stuff. It does sting a bit, but it really clears out the phlegm for awhile. I've been doing this for several years, and as a bonus it's a nice facial steam.

Also, look for something like Mucinex at the drugstore that has guaifenesin (expectorant) and also pseudoephedrine (decongestant) to help get rid of the chest phlegm. A nightime cough syrup with guaifenesin and an antihistamine will work for nighttime and help you get some sleep.

Unless you are coughing so much that your throat feels raw and your chest muscles hurt, you should avoid cough suppressants - in my experience they just let the phleghm fester in your lungs instead of coughing that shit out.

asteria answered in Aches, Pains & Illness about 1 year ago | Report

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You need to go to a doctor, dear. You could have gotten a secondary infection of some sort of bacteria after having a round of viral congestion, and coughing that long isn't a good thing.

Griffin answered in Aches, Pains & Illness about 1 year ago | Report

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I often find I can't shake a bad cold or cough because I'm stressed and my body energy reserves are low. Take a day or two off work and do NOTHING. Hydrate. Take some cough syrup with an expectorant and get that garbage out of your body. Use a humidifier if it helps. If you don't see a marked improvement, go to a doctor (and if it's lasted this long, probably need to go anyway).

Sacrelicious answered in Aches, Pains & Illness about 1 year ago | Report

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I had a 3-month cough when I first moved to Seattle. Went to a doctor, they tried giving me an inhaler. Didn't want to take meds for it, wanted to try something natural, so I did some research...

Hot Tea with a spoon of Honey

I started drinking a cup of hot (Earl Grey) tea each night before bed with a tspoon of honey. Cleared up in 2 weeks.

Krause96 answered in Aches, Pains & Illness about 1 year ago | Report

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