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So I've been trying to cough up a lung for 9 days now...went from an unproductive dry cough to a productive one back to a nonproductive one that leaves me feeling short of breath all the time, even if I am sitting still. I went to the health clinic and they gave me this crap that doesn't work at all. I thought I had bronchitis but at the moment I don't know what I have, but it doesn't appear to be a cold or the flu...if I could breathe, I'd feel great. I'm going back to the health clinic in the morning because this is only getting worse, not better...but in the meantime, does anyone have any at-home cough remedies...I'm desperate.And no alcohol, please.

gargle salt water

Over the counter meds with guaifenesin (sp?) might help, it's an "expectorant" helps loosen up stuff, so at least the cough might be productive. Dextromethorphan hydrobromide (sp?) is a cough supressant, probably won't help wahtever is causing the cough, but might be worth it if the cough is getting in the way of sleeping.What was in the stuff the clinic gave you?Sounds like a good idea to go back to the doc, after nine days it might be something serious. I try to not get antibiotics unless I really need them, maybe they can run some kind of culture to make sure you don't need any.If it's a lung related cough, then throat remedies probably won't help, unless your throat is sore from coughing. Is it really dry there? Some sort of vaporizer/humidifier might help, if it doesn't give you pneumonia. Any history of bronchitis, asthma, stuff like that?there's always Vick's vaporub, don't know if it really helps but at least it smells so strong that you feel like you're doing something.I never did understand it when doctors tell you to drink plenty of fluids and stay in bed. If I drink plenty of fluids, I have to keep getting up to go.

Well...I've been talking to my best friend who is in Clemson and she's had this same thing for 3 weeks. The health clinic there told her that she sounded like an asthmatic...and when she mentioned that, it clicked. That's exactly how I feel. None of this cough stuff is helping because I'm not coughing to get anything up...I'm coughing to open my airways. And that's exactly what I'm doing. I feel all disconnected, detached, breathless...exactly how she felt. I can't concentrate because I'm not getting enough oxygen...and my brain is triggering the cough reflex in an effort to open up my airway.

Maybe the clinic can give you some kind of inhaler. A lot of asthma folks use albuterol, which is really effective but a prescription. There's also the primatene inhalers you can buy over the counter, and they work pretty well, but the stuff in them is pretty much adrenealine, so it can drive up your blood pressure, and you need to be careful with them.

Albuterol and Serevent is what they gave my friend. I used to take an asthma med for my allergies, it was a pill...Singulair. They actually advertise it for allergies now. But I don't have any more and the refill expired so that won't work. In the meantime I'll just try not to think about it because if I think about it, it seems to get worse.

hmmm.... i've been dealing with the same thing and i do have mild asthma. i have long run out of my inhaler and take zyrtec for my allergies. i haven't gone to the dr's because, well, i just haven't had the time. also, i have epstien barre and it's been kinda acting up. i really don't want to go and get poked with needles for blood tests. that's really the truth. one of those things that i already know what they're gonna say... lots of rest, eat low fat foods, drink water.... yada yada yada....

When I have a cold or a cough, nothing beats it like a good shot of Italian grappa!

You know Grappa is the " cure all " remedy for us Italians, no?Cures heartache, heartbreak, bad day, good day, nerves etc.....

if its just a regular cold or something like that. Try some Thera Flu and raw garlic.....Works for me

Not a regular cold. I have some nameless "bronchial infection" and three prescriptions to prove it. I can breathe now...oxygen is a good thing.

Good to hear you went back to the doc and got some good meds, and that you can bather ok now. Reminds me of a lung society commercial "When you can;t breathe, nothing else matters" very true. Hope the recovery is quick!

Yeah, I'd agree with that sentiment. It's really amazing how much a general lack of oxygen affects your mental state. It didn't matter how much I tried to sit down and focus, I just couldn't. But now it's improving vastly, so that's all good. Now I have an inhaler, some pills and some really strong cough syrup. So I should be set. Maybe I should turn up the volume on the alarm clock.

Yep, see above, Dr. Rob...

You'll be a good one, I'd say. I'm double majoring in sociology and journalism...right now it looks like I'm going to try to get a job reporting or copyediting after graduation. I had an awesome internship this summer at a newspaper...so much fun...a great job for people like me who don't like a job that just stays the same all the time. I like going places during the day and talking to people and then getting to tell the whole world about what I've learned. it sounds totally cheesy I know...LOL

The Vibe is an awesome car for a journalist too. Especially with the "office" accessory, can't remember the real name of it now...the thing that belts into the passenger seat. Great for a laptop and keeping all of your info and stuff organized in the "mobile office." (Plus of course that lovely outlet!) There are a lot of times when you have to cover more than one event close together in time and just can't get back to the newsroom, and any head start you can get on getting the story written is invaluable, even if it's sitting in the car banging out a graf or two. I sat at a picnic table in the park once and wrote half of a story in my little notebook. So the car will definitely come in handy..woo.