Lung Problem

[dunnitall]

Hi, does anyone else suffer from over production of mucus in the lungs? Does anyone know what causes it please? TIA

[gingejbee]

I think that more info would be useful.....pain, difficulty breathing, colour of mucus, cough etc...?

[dunnitall]

Well as I've suffered this for several years it's not just now it's bothering me. However as I've caught some infernal fluey type bug as has my other half.....it is really bad and I'm coughing up lots not coloured...sorry re grotty description. My OH doesn't have my original condition with lungs so although the coughing bit, not as bad as myself. I just cannot stop the mucus settling and trying to cough it up every ten mins or so.

I have never had GERD so can't put condition to that so I wondered if anyone has some explanation for over production of mucus 'commonly' occurring. Thanks.

[gingejbee]

I think this may be one for the resident ex-doc.....

[Sqad]

Don't worry and don't stop the mucous as it is a defense mechanism against infection and as a response to noxious agents and allergic particles in the air.
It is good for you in the short term and shouldn't be suppressed.
Many people would "die" for a productive cough.
I don't know enough about your chest condition, or length of suffering to offer any advice, although if it is long standing, you would have been seen by a Respiratory Physician.
The causes of mucous production in the lungs is multiple, but probably the commonest cause is chronic bronchitis ( chronic pulmonary obstructive disease..COPD)

[dunnitall]

Thanks sqad and don't I know not to suppress it as if it does dry up I can hardly breathe so you're right. Last year I was taken to A n E due to me not able to breathe because I'd caught some sort of chest bug. However as this condition has been going for years it is really tiring me out when I need to cough up as it isn't easily expelled.

Only explanation a consultant could give me was that it's 'like' asthma but isn't asthma! Another doc found that I have a milk intolerance and yes that really stirred the lungs up so no dairy products now. But the problems are still there....if I have oily things which isn't often the case it really stirs it up too...or should I say sets off the continual trying to bring up pleghm.

I just want some relief for this it's getting me down now with the bug I've got which is obviously exacerbating the mucus probs. Over the years as no one can help I've asked docs for a gun and one bullet on script....don't know why they refuse . Keep asking for Scotty to beam me up too.....nasty devil won't....sigh

[Sqad]

LOl...we have all got to go sometime and some how and unfortunately we can't choice, how and where.
Have you got a nebuliser......)

[Sqad]

https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/nebulisers/who-can-benefit

[dunnitall]

Nope sqad not anything like that due to AF as when taken by ambulance last year and they gave me that it made my heart bad....can't win it seems.

[Sqad]

O.K best I can do dunnitall.

[dunnitall]

Thanks sqad I understand as that's how it has been since this started some yrs ago. My only explanation for the start and endurance is (rightly or wrongly) I had a very bad bout of flu and I mean bad. It has seemed since then it created a weakness or left something there that caused lungs to over produce mucus. Docs have never confirmed that. Oh well back to the drawing board lol. Thanks for your help though.

[hc4361]

Postural drainage and chest percussion MAY help to bring up lots of mucous and relieve the need to cough for a few hours - could be good for you at bedtime and help you sleep.
You need a willing partner and your GP or nurse to show you the proper technique but they may advise you not to try it. It's great for a lot of conditions but not all.

[Cloverjo]

I was thinking Cystic Fibrosis, but I suppose if it was that you'd have been diagnosed with it already.

[dunnitall]

Thanks hc just looked it up but with my disabilities I wouldn't even be able to put myself in the position required! :-(

[hc4361]

Sorry to hear that, dunnitall, but the chest percussion could still be helpful if done whilst reclining on a sofa or bed. Worth asking your GP or nurse about it.

[anneasquith]

You must be exhausted, I'm sorry.

[dunnitall]

Thank you Anne it really is getting me down. I can usually manage it reasonably though would like rid...but the bug thing has certainly made it much worse. Hardly been sleeping with it either but hopefully tonight....sigh

[anneasquith]

Has your gp given you medication for the"bug" ?

[bednobs]

My mother inlawhad pulmonary fibrosis and she used to get that

[anneasquith]

Dunk. There is an organization, The British Lung Foundation, which may be off assistance to you .

[dunnitall]

Sorry not got back till now. No Anne not seen doc with this bug as it's not an infection as mucus not coloured...hate describing things like that. Thanks for info on BLF I will look on their site later. At least today I feel better in myself and chest more 'loose' now. Hope it won't be long before things back to what is normal for me.

Bednobs...thanks for mentioning that, I hadn't heard of it, just looked it up and thankfully I don't have those symptoms. I then saw that poor Keith Chegwin died of it...how awful for anyone suffering it cannot imagine what they go through.