To cough or not to cough...

November 21, 2009

I have never understood this concept. We all cough. Most of the time it is a

dry cough, but sometimes not. There is some mucous clearing going on. When I

had the biopsy, the thoracic surgeon said I HAD to cough to clear my lungs and

that to cough was a GOOD thing. I let it happen as it comes on. I have noticed

that the sat level will rise, sometimes for as long as an hour after a " lung

clearing cough session " . Should we be trying to suppress the cough? Or is the

cough suppressant so that we can sleep or maybe watch a movie without

distracting everyone else. Any thoughts on this? Sometimes my rib cage is just

aching, but I will have 3-4 days in a row where there is absolutely no coughing

and my sats are holding their own.

Awaiting your response(s)

Stefani 61 year old Utahn

ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) confirmed by biopsy 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006,

Severe Sleep Apnea 4/2009

November 21, 2009

Stefani,What's up with the no coughing for a few days? When that happens to me, my mind thinks...I'm all better(LOL). I know that's not realistic, but it feels sooo good not to cough for a while. And then it's back again-sometimes a little worse than before, sometimes not.Kathy IPF 10/09 Type 2 Diabetes forever agoSubject: To cough or not to cough...To: Breathe-Support Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 4:13 PM

I have never understood this concept. We all cough. Most of the time it is a dry cough, but sometimes not. There is some mucous clearing going on. When I had the biopsy, the thoracic surgeon said I HAD to cough to clear my lungs and that to cough was a GOOD thing. I let it happen as it comes on. I have noticed that the sat level will rise, sometimes for as long as an hour after a "lung clearing cough session". Should we be trying to suppress the cough? Or is the cough suppressant so that we can sleep or maybe watch a movie without distracting everyone else. Any thoughts on this? Sometimes my rib cage is just aching, but I will have 3-4 days in a row where there is absolutely no coughing and my sats are holding their own.

Awaiting your response(s)

Stefani 61 year old Utahn

ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) confirmed by biopsy 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Severe Sleep Apnea 4/2009

November 21, 2009

Stefani,

The rule of thumb that I've always been told and have followed is if the cough is productive, leave it alone. If it's dry, it's generally ok to suppress it at least some of the time.

Personally I've never noticed higher sats after a long coughing session. In fact my sats drop if I'm having a difficult time with the cough. But you seem to be talking about a productive cough which is not something I experience often.

I have a productive cough early in the morning, other than that my cough is pretty dry unless I'm ill. I generally will only suppress my cough before I go to the gym. If I don't the cough is extremely disruptive of getting any kind of decent workout. Without a cough supressant it can take me 45 minutes to get through a 30 minute walk on the track. The cough is my stiff, scarred lungs response to the demands of exercise.

Post-op I obviously agree with what your surgeon told you. You want to bring up and out anything that might be lurking in your chest.But there is a big difference between a post-op situation where you're actively trying to prevent pneumonia and the chronic dry cough that most of us have that can disrupt sleep, visits with friends and family, make it unsafe to drive, unpleasant to eat in a restaurant etc etc.

This is something that everyone should discuss with their doctor to decide what kind of cough you have and what can be done to ease it.

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Sat, November 21, 2009 7:13:41 PMSubject: To cough or not to cough...

I have never understood this concept. We all cough. Most of the time it is a dry cough, but sometimes not. There is some mucous clearing going on. When I had the biopsy, the thoracic surgeon said I HAD to cough to clear my lungs and that to cough was a GOOD thing. I let it happen as it comes on. I have noticed that the sat level will rise, sometimes for as long as an hour after a "lung clearing cough session". Should we be trying to suppress the cough? Or is the cough suppressant so that we can sleep or maybe watch a movie without distracting everyone else. Any thoughts on this? Sometimes my rib cage is just aching, but I will have 3-4 days in a row where there is absolutely no coughing and my sats are holding their own. Awaiting your response(s)Stefani 61 year old UtahnILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) confirmed by biopsy 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Severe Sleep Apnea 4/2009

November 21, 2009

Wow! 3-4 days at a time without coughing? I’m

envious. I haven’t had a cough free day since spring of 2004. My general

impression has been that if you can feel something moving then you need to

cough, otherwise that gunk will accumulate and make it even more difficult to breathe.

When the cough is just a dry hack, I try to sooth it at times with a menthol

based throat lozenge.

I too have noticed a temporary increase in my O2 saturation when

I’m coughing hard. I attribute that to the fact that when coughing you’re

forced to take a deeper breath than you normally would. I for one tend to

breathe somewhat shallowly normally in order to minimize the irritation

that actually leads to the cough. As soon as I quit the covering, however, my

sats will also drop temporarily as my body recovers from the effort required to

cough. Hope all that made sense…

Bob Dopher 67 IPF 04/07

From:

Breathe-Support [mailto:Breathe-Support ] On

Behalf Of Stefani

Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:14 PM

To: Breathe-Support

Subject: To cough or not to cough...

I have never understood this concept. We all

cough. Most of the time it is a dry cough, but sometimes not. There is some

mucous clearing going on. When I had the biopsy, the thoracic surgeon said I

HAD to cough to clear my lungs and that to cough was a GOOD thing. I let it

happen as it comes on. I have noticed that the sat level will rise, sometimes

for as long as an hour after a " lung clearing cough session " . Should

we be trying to suppress the cough? Or is the cough suppressant so that we can

sleep or maybe watch a movie without distracting everyone else. Any thoughts on

this? Sometimes my rib cage is just aching, but I will have 3-4 days in a row where

there is absolutely no coughing and my sats are holding their own.

Awaiting your response(s)

Stefani 61 year old Utahn

ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) confirmed by biopsy 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006,

Severe Sleep Apnea 4/2009

November 21, 2009

most of the time

my cough depends on my activity, change in position, talking on the phone, etc

sometimes if i am not using o2, turning it on will help decrease the cough

doc just said i could increase prednisone back up to 10 mgs -- i have already noticed some difference

Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania

Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09

www.transplantfund.org---

Subject: To cough or not to cough...To: Breathe-Support Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 7:13 PM

I have never understood this concept. We all cough. Most of the time it is a dry cough, but sometimes not. There is some mucous clearing going on. When I had the biopsy, the thoracic surgeon said I HAD to cough to clear my lungs and that to cough was a GOOD thing. I let it happen as it comes on. I have noticed that the sat level will rise, sometimes for as long as an hour after a "lung clearing cough session". Should we be trying to suppress the cough? Or is the cough suppressant so that we can sleep or maybe watch a movie without distracting everyone else. Any thoughts on this? Sometimes my rib cage is just aching, but I will have 3-4 days in a row where there is absolutely no coughing and my sats are holding their own. Awaiting your response(s)Stefani 61 year old UtahnILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) confirmed by biopsy 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Severe Sleep Apnea 4/2009

November 21, 2009

I don't know about anyone else, but my cough is dry and I have no mucus to clear from my lungs. I have tried cough suppressants like tessalon perle but they do not help me. I use inhalers too, but they aren't much help either. I cough so bad sometimes that I can't catch my breath and although I haven't passed out as some do, I have seen stars and black..My chest and ribs will hurt for days after a bad coughing spell. In my case only, my Dr. has tried to alleviate the aggravation, embarrassment and discomfort of the cough.Roxanne, 59, South Carolina

2006 Asthma/ PF

2008 PF/ Sarcoidosis/Gerd

I pray you enough.....Subject: To cough or not to cough...To: Breathe-Support Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 7:13 PM

I have never understood this concept. We all cough. Most of the time it is a dry cough, but sometimes not. There is some mucous clearing going on. When I had the biopsy, the thoracic surgeon said I HAD to cough to clear my lungs and that to cough was a GOOD thing. I let it happen as it comes on. I have noticed that the sat level will rise, sometimes for as long as an hour after a "lung clearing cough session". Should we be trying to suppress the cough? Or is the cough suppressant so that we can sleep or maybe watch a movie without distracting everyone else. Any thoughts on this? Sometimes my rib cage is just aching, but I will have 3-4 days in a row where there is absolutely no coughing and my sats are holding their own.

Awaiting your response(s)

Stefani 61 year old Utahn

ILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) confirmed by biopsy 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Severe Sleep Apnea 4/2009

November 21, 2009

last night i had such a coughing spell, i was wishing for some of Peggy's morphine

glad the prednisone has increased

Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania

Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09

www.transplantfund.org---

Subject: Re: To cough or not to cough...To: Breathe-Support Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 8:09 PM

Stefani,What's up with the no coughing for a few days? When that happens to me, my mind thinks...I'm all better(LOL). I know that's not realistic, but it feels sooo good not to cough for a while. And then it's back again-sometimes a little worse than before, sometimes not.Kathy IPF 10/09 Type 2 Diabetes forever ago

From: Stefani <sfshaner (AT) gmail (DOT) com>Subject: To cough or not to cough...To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comDate: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 4:13 PM

I have never understood this concept. We all cough. Most of the time it is a dry cough, but sometimes not. There is some mucous clearing going on. When I had the biopsy, the thoracic surgeon said I HAD to cough to clear my lungs and that to cough was a GOOD thing. I let it happen as it comes on. I have noticed that the sat level will rise, sometimes for as long as an hour after a "lung clearing cough session". Should we be trying to suppress the cough? Or is the cough suppressant so that we can sleep or maybe watch a movie without distracting everyone else. Any thoughts on this? Sometimes my rib cage is just aching, but I will have 3-4 days in a row where there is absolutely no coughing and my sats are holding their own. Awaiting your response(s)Stefani 61 year old UtahnILD 2/2006, NSIP (fibrotic) confirmed by biopsy 10/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Severe Sleep Apnea

4/2009

November 21, 2009

Hi Bob, I know how this crappy cough is. Mine has gotten super wet or icky. After taking morphine I go a couple hours without the coughing fit. Once I start it just doesn't quit so in comes the morphine. I take a very small dose.I think it is that a pain med. relaxes the muscles and helps so much. I don't mind taking it as long as I don't feel it. I just can't stand that DUHH feeling.. I am only going to take enough to stop the cough. I honestly think if you were on oxygen you would feel SOOO much better and be able to do so much more. My saturation drops like a rock when I am coughing. Be sure to keep a close eye on your saturation. Don't over do. Getting to tired will only use more strength.. NOW I've done my speech.. What part of the country are you two in now. I would LOVE to have a motor home and just GO GO GO. But Ido admit it is good to get back home.Anyhow Take Care of you. says HI.Peggy, FloridaIPF 2004Always praying for my PEEPS

November 22, 2009

ï»¿

Peggy.... question here... if your cough is suppressed how does the yuck get up and out? I'm reading where you take only enough to stop the painful coughing fits . I'm glad you get relief.

Hugs.

MamaSher; 71, IPF 3-2006, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

RE: To cough or not to cough...

Hi Bob, I know how this crappy cough is. Mine has gotten super wet or icky. After taking morphine I go a couple hours without the coughing fit. Once I start it just doesn't quit so in comes the morphine. I take a very small dose.I think it is that a pain med. relaxes the muscles and helps so much. I don't mind taking it as long as I don't feel it. I just can't stand that DUHH feeling.. I am only going to take enough to stop the cough. I honestly think if you were on oxygen you would feel SOOO much better and be able to do so much more. My saturation drops like a rock when I am coughing. Be sure to keep a close eye on your saturation. Don't over do. Getting to tired will only use more strength.. NOW I've done my speech.. What part of the country are you two in now. I would LOVE to have a motor home and just GO GO GO. But Ido admit it is good to get back home.Anyhow Take Care of you. says HI.Peggy, FloridaIPF 2004Always praying for my PEEPS

November 22, 2009

Sher, I cough enough to get rid of the gunk but several times a day I just can't seem to stop and my chest has heart attach type pain, it feels like my breast bone but i am sure it is muscle. The morphine relaxes the muscles and the pain stops. I haven't had any bad coughs since early this AM. When I first get up I always have a good 4 or 5 min. cough. then morphine, coffee & toast ( with apple butter) and I am good until lunch. If the cough starts again I can tell when it is going to be a long bout so I have another cocktail..LOL s name for morphine. Today has been good. then my days are usually good. I read and play in my computertalk on the phone. get exhausted and go to bed around 10:30 PM. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and seeing the GROWN Grands.. I can hardly believe they are adults. is 14 so I make her be my baby..lol Take Care Sher. I think of you so often and the pain you go through. I just hate it. I think ONE thing would be enough for us to have. I don't know why I can't just get up and do what ever I want. If I weren't so tired I would give it a shot. lol wishful thinking.. always hope for tomorrow.Love & PrayersPeggy, FloridaIPF 2004----- "Sher Bauman" wrote:

>

> ï»¿

Peggy.... question here... if your cough is suppressed how does the yuck get up and out? I'm reading where you take only enough to stop the painful coughing fits . I'm glad you get relief.

Hugs.

MamaSher; 71, IPF 3-2006, OR.> Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

> RE: To cough or not to cough...

> > Hi Bob, I know how this crappy cough is. Mine has gotten super wet or icky. After taking morphine I go a couple hours without the coughing fit. Once I start it just doesn't quit so in comes the morphine. I take a very small dose.> I think it is that a pain med. relaxes the muscles and helps so much. I don't mind taking it as long as I don't feel it. I just can't stand that DUHH feeling.. I am only going to take enough to stop the cough. > I honestly think if you were on oxygen you would feel SOOO much better and be able to do so much more. > My saturation drops like a rock when I am coughing. Be sure to keep a close eye on your saturation. Don't over do. Getting to tired will only use more strength.. NOW I've done my speech.. > > What part of the country are you two in now. I would LOVE to have a motor home and just GO GO GO. But I> do admit it is good to get back home.> Anyhow Take Care of you. says HI.> > > Peggy, Florida> IPF 2004> Always praying for my PEEPS

>

November 23, 2009

ï»¿

Peggy... I'm so pleased to read that your days are 'usually good'.

I rather imagine that coughing enough to bring up the gunk is necessary of course.

Your days sound about like mine.

Yeah, here comes another Thanksgiving. Seems like the last one was only a few months ago, not another year gone by.

Well, the RHC will be later today. I need to get busy packing a little bag. I will be staying overnight because the procedure is done so late in the day. I really don't mind staying...makes me feel a bit more secure. I'm a big wimp I am!

I think of you often too. Every time I see a bar of Yardley Lavender bar soap I think of you. It's my favorite too and when I buy it, there you are! When I smell it, there you are! I know the rest of my life will give me these memories of you dear heart.

It's still amazing to me how this board gives us true "love" relationships.

The written words and the "voice" of the personality come thru' so strongly that we can really feel the love. The guys as well as the gals.

Collectively we form a 'bridge over troubled waters' that will never cave in.

Chances are we will never meet personally but know I have genuine feelings of 'love' for you...

MamaSher; 71, IPF 3-2006, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

RE: To cough or not to cough...

> > Hi Bob, I know how this crappy cough is. Mine has gotten super wet or icky. After taking morphine I go a couple hours without the coughing fit. Once I start it just doesn't quit so in comes the morphine. I take a very small dose.> I think it is that a pain med. relaxes the muscles and helps so much. I don't mind taking it as long as I don't feel it. I just can't stand that DUHH feeling.. I am only going to take enough to stop the cough. > I honestly think if you were on oxygen you would feel SOOO much better and be able to do so much more. > My saturation drops like a rock when I am coughing. Be sure to keep a close eye on your saturation. Don't over do. Getting to tired will only use more strength.. NOW I've done my speech.. > > What part of the country are you two in now. I would LOVE to have a motor home and just GO GO GO. But I> do admit it is good to get back home.> Anyhow Take Care of you. says HI.> > > Peggy, Florida> IPF 2004> Always praying for my PEEPS

>

November 23, 2009

Sher,Good thought go with you to the procedure today. Hopefully everything will be aok. Get pampered while you stay in the hospital tonight.Kathy IPF 10/09 Tyoe 2 diabetes forever ago > > ï»¿

Peggy.... question here... if your cough is suppressed how does the yuck get up and out? I'm reading where you take only enough to stop the painful coughing fits . I'm glad you get relief.

Hugs.

MamaSher; 71, IPF 3-2006, OR.> Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

> RE: To cough or not to cough...

> > Hi Bob, I know how this crappy cough is. Mine has gotten super wet or icky. After taking morphine I go a couple hours without the coughing fit. Once I start it just doesn't quit so in comes the morphine. I take a very small dose.> I think it is that a pain med. relaxes the muscles and helps so much. I don't mind taking it as long as I don't feel it. I just can't stand that DUHH feeling.. I am only going to take enough to stop the cough. > I honestly think if you were on oxygen you would feel SOOO much better and be able to do so much more. > My saturation drops like a rock when I am coughing. Be sure to keep a close eye on your saturation. Don't over do. Getting to tired will only use more strength.. NOW I've done my speech.. > > What part of the country are you two in now. I would LOVE to have a motor home and just GO GO GO. But I> do admit it is good to get back home.> Anyhow Take Care of you. says HI.> > > Peggy, Florida> IPF 2004> Always praying for my PEEPS

>

November 23, 2009

Sher, Wishing you a painfreeÂ

cath!!! I like theÂ Simon and Garfunkle reference in your post

" a bridge over troubled waters" is a perfect description of this group!

Z fibriotic NSIP/05

Z 65, fibriotic NSIP/05/PA

And

â€œmildâ€ PH/10/07

No,

NSIP was not self-inflictedâ€¦I never smoked!

Potter,

reader,carousel lover and MomMom to Darah and SaraÂ

Â Â Â Â

â€œIâ€™m

gonna be iron like a lion in Zionâ€Â Bob Marley

Vinca

Minor-periwinkle is my flower

Â

Sher Bauman wrote:

Â

ï»¿

Peggy...Â Â

I'm so pleased to read that your days are 'usually good'.

I

rather imagine that coughing enough to bring up the gunk is necessary

of course.

Your

days sound about like mine.

Yeah,

here comes another Thanksgiving. Seems like the last one was only a few

months ago, not another year gone by.

Well,

the RHC will be later today. I need to get busyÂ packing a little bag. I

will be staying overnight because the procedure is done so late in the

day. I really don't mind staying...makes me feel a bit more secure.Â

I'm a big wimp I am!

Â

I

think of you often too. Every time I see a bar of YardleyÂ Lavender bar

soap I think of you. It's my favorite too and when I buy it, there you

are! When I smell it, there you are! I know the rest of my life will

give me these memories of you dear heart.

Â

It's

still amazing to me how this board gives us true "love" relationships.

The

written words and the "voice" of the personality come thru' so strongly

that we can really feel the love. The guys as well as the gals.

Collectively

we form a 'bridge over troubled waters' that will never cave in.

Â

Chances

are we will never meet personally but know I have genuine feelings of

'love' for you...

Â

MamaSher;Â 71, IPF 3-2006, OR.

Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

-----

Original Message -----

From:

Peggy

To:

Breathe-Support

Sent:

Sunday, November 22, 2009 5:06 PM

Subject:

Re: To cough or not to cough...

Â

Sher,

I cough enough to get rid of the gunk but several times a day I just

can't seem to stop and my chest has heart attach type pain, it feels

like my breast bone but i am sure it is muscle. The morphine relaxes

the muscles and the pain stops. I haven't had any bad coughs since

early this AM.

When I first get up I always have a good 4 or 5 min. cough. then

morphine, coffee & toast ( with apple butter) and I am good until

lunch. If the cough starts again I can tell when it is going to be a

long bout so I have another cocktail..LOL s name for morphine.

Today has been good. then my days are usually good. I read and play in

my computer

talk on the phone. get exhausted and go to bed around 10:30 PM. I am

looking forward to Thanksgiving and seeing the GROWN Grands.. I can

hardly believe they are adults.

is 14 so I make her be my baby..lol

Take Care Sher. I think of you so often and the pain you go through. I

just hate it. I think ONE thing would be enough for us to have.

I don't know why I can't just get up and do what ever I want. If I

weren't so tired I would give it a shot. lol wishful thinking.. always

hope for tomorrow.

Love

& Prayers

Peggy, Florida

IPF 2004

----- "Sher Bauman" <bofus6 (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote:

> Â

>

ï»¿

Peggy....

question here... if your cough is suppressed how does the yuck get up

and out?Â I'm reading where you take only enough to stop the painful

coughing fits . I'm glad you get relief.

Hugs.

MamaSher;Â 71, IPF 3-2006, OR.

> Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

>

RE: To cough or not to cough...

>

Â

>

Hi Bob, I know how this crappy cough is. Mine has gotten super

wet or icky. After taking morphine I go a couple hours without the

coughing fit. Once I start it just doesn't quit so in comes the

morphine. I take a very small dose.

> I think it is that a pain med. relaxes the muscles and helps so

much. I don't mind taking it as long as I don't feel it. I just can't

stand that DUHH feeling.. I am only going to take enough to stop the

cough.

> I honestly think if you were on oxygen you would feel SOOO much

better and be able to do so much more.

> My saturation drops like a rock when I am coughing. Be sure to

keep a close eye on your saturation. Don't over do. Getting to tired

will only use more strength.. NOW I've done my speech..

>

> What part of the country are you two in now. I would LOVE to have

a motor home and just GO GO GO. But I

> do admit it is good to get back home.

> Anyhow Take Care of you. says HI.

>

> Peggy, Florida

> IPF 2004

> Always praying for my PEEPS

>

November 23, 2009

ï»¿

Kathy... I will let them pamper me!

Type to ya later....

MamaSher; 71, IPF 3-2006, OR.Don't fret about tomorrow, God is already there!

RE: To cough or not to cough...

> > Hi Bob, I know how this crappy cough is. Mine has gotten super wet or icky. After taking morphine I go a couple hours without the coughing fit. Once I start it just doesn't quit so in comes the morphine. I take a very small dose.> I think it is that a pain med. relaxes the muscles and helps so much. I don't mind taking it as long as I don't feel it. I just can't stand that DUHH feeling.. I am only going to take enough to stop the cough. > I honestly think if you were on oxygen you would feel SOOO much better and be able to do so much more. > My saturation drops like a rock when I am coughing. Be sure to keep a close eye on your saturation. Don't over do. Getting to tired will only use more strength.. NOW I've done my speech.. > > What part of the country are you two in now. I would LOVE to have a motor home and just GO GO GO. But I> do admit it is good to get back home.> Anyhow Take Care of you. says HI.> > > Peggy, Florida> IPF 2004> Always praying for my PEEPS

>

November 25, 2009

Sher

that was such a beautiful letter

Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania

Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09

www.transplantfund.org---

Subject: Re: To cough or not to cough...To: Breathe-Support Date: Monday, November 23, 2009, 1:05 PM

ï»¿ Peggy... I'm so pleased to read that your days are 'usually good'.