Keep coughing shit up, wondering if anyone may know what's up

[Callisto]

I've been sporadically coughing up lung/bronchial mucus for the past month too. No other symptoms of illness/allergy at all. I figured it would just go away, but it's been a full month now. It's fairly unobtrusive and minor so I feel dumb going to the doc about it, but I would like it to stop at some point...

That's exactly where I'm at, it's not too serious and I really can't afford to go to a doctor for anything that isn't broken or falling off, but it's still really beginning to bug me. Going to ask my g/f to pick me up some meds on the way home and see if they help.

[Kaisha]

Allegra is in my opinion the best allergy medicine available; it's perscription, but ridiculously easy to get. Just about any doctor anywhere will write you a perscription for it, if you can find one without having to go to a clinic, you're set for at least a year

Another vote for Allegra, preferably the 'D' version if you can get it in your area.
(I wonder what made your state require a prescription for it, Allegra is over-the-counter in Canada)

Anyways, I used to have the 'phlem in the throat' shit for a long time following this one flu bug I caught which went through three stages, took about 6-7 months before that cleared. ;/

Granted, being stuck with the problem for that many months allowed me to figure out a couple tricks (using my throat muscles or whatever they're called) of removing the crap more easily vs. coughing hard.

[Olo401]

A prolonged constant cough like this, especially if it started while or after you had a cold, might be a sign of bronchitis. The symptons may lessen over time, but it never goes away 100% without antibiotics. If you let it go untreated into the winter it WILL get worse and can cause pneumonia. I'd get that shit taken care of ASAP but DO NOT go to the emergency room - go to a walk-in clinic and have them check you out. You'll have to pay $30-50, plus the cost of medications (penicillin is really inexpensive and does wonders as long as you're not allergic).

[zoobernut]

The only drawback to Allegra-D which is what I have been using for the last couple days since I got my prescription is that it has pseudoephedrine in it which can be tough on your heart if you take it for extended periods. I only take it at night before bed so I can sleep but I don't take it in the morning before work.

[kisada]

strange, i thought it was just me.

a couple weeks ago i felt a random tinge in my throat, like the kind you get when you know you're about to get sick.

but instead of the usual stages (sore throat > runny/stuffy nose > cough phlegm > cough dry > the end) i went straight to coughing phlegm for a few days to dry coughing pretty violently for almost a week. i barely got any sleep and almost completely burned out my voice (which still isn't fully back). cough medicine did pretty much nothing as well. the only things that helped were eating, which would give me like 20-30 minutes of relief.

i'm not really dry coughing anymore but i'm randomly getting coughs with mucus in them. maybe cough it up 2-3 times a day or so. it's nice to actually be able to sleep now, but now i'm getting a little weirded out knowing it's not just me, and that it's gone on for longer with other people.

[Meresgi]

Being uninsured and poor, of course my #1 source for health information is you jerks.
Basically it's nothing painful or life-threatening, but for months I've been having an issue of mucus constantly being in my throat. I have minor sinus congestion here and there, but basically it's just constant shit in my throat that I keep having to cough/hock up. No matter how many loogies I expel it just keeps a constant stream coming. It really comes on strong shortly after eating or drinking things. I've taken Mucinex D here and there which helps a bit, but I'm out of work right now and can't really afford to keep buying it.
Anyone have any clue wtf this is and/or what to do to get rid of it? Pertinent things: I don't smoke, but I did for a couple of years and have like 1-3 cigarettes when drinking once every couple of months. I don't have any lung pain or difficulty breathing or anything, it's just that having to go to the bathroom or off into a corner of a yard to hock loogies for 5 straight minutes is getting really, really annoying.

This is really interesting man, because I have the exact same thing. I've been on medicaid so I have gone to see a doctor about it and honestly I have not gotten a solid answer. It's been everything from Asthma to Acid Reflux yet no inhaler, antacid or anything seems to work, i'm always clearing my throat still and i've just gotten used to it. I've had it for about going on 5yrs now... I noticed it a little after leaving a very stressful job and relationship but i'm not sure if it was a result of that or something else as coincidence doesn't give reason.

It's not allergies either, or at least not in my case and not bronchitis as I have been literally tested for a ton of shit by my doctor. Even done the whole run on a treadmill and test lungs shit.

[Silenka]

Check if your city has a free clinic and go there, get it checked out and see if you can get a prescription for something assuming they give those out, I've never been to a free clinic before although I almost went to one back when I had no insurance.

[Hyan]

Antibiotics helped me at least this year. Although the frequent coughing and mucus might have been a side effect of an otitis I've had for half a year now. On my 4th (or 5th?) prescription now... Took only 2 to get rid of the cough and mucus problem though.

[Callisto]

Check if your city has a free clinic and go there, get it checked out and see if you can get a prescription for something assuming they give those out, I've never been to a free clinic before although I almost went to one back when I had no insurance.

All of the free clinics are at the far other end of downtown Chicago and I don't really have gas money for it or I'd give that a shot.

[wagon]

could be TB, go get tested

[kuronosan]

His cough is productive with no blood. It's not tuberculosis.

You more than likely have bronchitis or an acute case of asthma. I would recommend you go see a physician and have him do a chest x-ray. If you can't afford that, then see about getting an albuterol inhaler to open your bronchioles. Albuterol is relatively cheap these days.

If you suspect you have allergies (which you would know, because your coughing would be accompanied with watery eyes, sinus pressure, and unbearable headaches) then take an anti-histamine.

Either way an inhaler's a good idea. I might actually have to get one myself because my lungs sieze up every time this year.

Ignore the tuberculosis thing. That's one of the few lung infections where you would actually know if you had it without a doubt.

[Guitarman]

allegra-D is the shit. such good stuff. wish it was OTC here :/

[Callisto]

You more than likely have bronchitis or an acute case of asthma. I would recommend you go see a physician and have him do a chest x-ray. If you can't afford that, then see about getting an albuterol inhaler to open your bronchioles. Albuterol is relatively cheap these days.

Is that stuff typically non-prescription?

[Kaisha]

The only drawback to Allegra-D which is what I have been using for the last couple days since I got my prescription is that it has pseudoephedrine in it which can be tough on your heart if you take it for extended periods.

Wasn't aware of that, something to keep in mind, thanks. During allergy season I usually pop about one every other day, mostly to get by the mornings where it's always the worst for some reason, even with my bedroom being clear of offending allergens. I also got the standard Allegra/Reactine on the side.

[kaisamoht]

I have a lot of problems with allergies, and about a month ago I had this same problem. Would mainly only happen after I eat or got to talking a lot, and would end up coughing crap up. Went to the doctor and he gave me some random generic pills and an inhaler. I'd have to say what everyone else is saying. Get an inhaler and some otc allergy meds. Allegra is good, as well as zyrtec, and some sudafed phenylephrine or whatever might help as well

[Shazaam]

Dammit... I read this BG medical crap again...

/facepalm at the majority of the posters in these threads... again.


Only one had something worthwhile to say to you:

His cough is productive with no blood. It's not tuberculosis.

You more than likely have bronchitis or an acute case of asthma. I would recommend you go see a physician and have him do a chest x-ray. If you can't afford that, then see about getting an albuterol inhaler to open your bronchioles. Albuterol is relatively cheap these days.

If you suspect you have allergies (which you would know, because your coughing would be accompanied with watery eyes, sinus pressure, and unbearable headaches) then take an anti-histamine.

Either way an inhaler's a good idea. I might actually have to get one myself because my lungs sieze up every time this year.

Ignore the tuberculosis thing. That's one of the few lung infections where you would actually know if you had it without a doubt.

It's probably not asthma, it is probably because of the smoking. You (like almost every other human on earth) are allergic to smoke. Even if you only smoke once a week, it will temporarily paralyze the cilia in your lungs and trachea. When they recover they will start moving the mucus out of your lungs and throat and then you get the sputum you spoke of. Combine this affect with the seasonal allergies most people face at the moment, and you find yourself coughing up crap from time to time.

And whoever said TB needs to be banned from posting in a medical board... that's just my professional medical opinion. There are many more symptoms than hemopytsis (coughing blood) btw... like night sweats... but I digress..

END OF STORY: SEASONAL ALLERGIES. IT ISN'T HURTING YOU. It's normal to cough crap up... in fact it is a good thing to cough crap up. It is part of our basic immune response. What you need to do: stop smoking, take a benedryl (50mg), and maybe some OTC allergy pills like claratin for the next 3 months. Then just enjoy the cold weather and come back when your nose is running and you want the cure for the common cold. (hint: it really is chicken soup... or whatever makes you think you feel better).

[antihero]

>BG
>medical board

lol

also, cancer

[Myrrh_Quetz]

Maybe he has Cystic Fibrosis? Like a hidden ninja Cystic Fibrosis.

[SamanosukeShiva]

put some tussin' on it. no really

[kuronosan]

Maybe he has Cystic Fibrosis? Like a hidden ninja Cystic Fibrosis.

That's yet another genetic disease that he would know he had, and smoking would more than likely have kicked him to COPD.

Hey Shaz, just curious, what division of health care do you work under?