Cap,

I have had pneumonia three times in the past 14 months, so I feel your pain. I too have had a persistent cough, which came from the residual effect of the pneumonia. Post hospitalization I have been prescribed an IV anitboitics that have seemed to do the trick. I to have used Levaquin and it has been quite effective for me, it just takes longer than what might be considered norm. I know this hasn't been real helpful. And there are many on this list that don't have insurance who might be able to better guide you. Take care, Bill

I had something similar happen to me that wasn't exactly COPD related while I was working on the gulf spill. I would get a dry non productive cough, but only at night while on the ship. It cleared up when I threw the pillow away and just used my rolled up towel for a pillow. Seems that something I was inhaling from the pillows was acting as an irritant. May not work for you, but it's a cheap way to eliminate the obvious.

Well, if you are coughing still, it means your still trying to get out mucus and phlegm, and if you don.t get it out and it gets infected it will and can turn into pneumonia or acute bronchitis.
Go easy on the antibiotics, unless you are running fever or coughing up colored gook, you probably don.t need them. (My opinion only) But the germs and bacteria can get resistant to them if you over use them.
Get mucinex at the drugstore, (otc) and drink lots of water, it will thin the gook out enough so hopefully you can cough it up. Use your nebulizer instead of the inhaler because the mist seems to do better.
If it is just a cold, there is no cure anyway, but having copd, a cold can turn into a lot of things ifyou don.t take care.
Hope you can cough it all up, it seems your air sacs are still irritated, so refuse to open up enough to get the mucus out.
If your phlegm is colored, or you have a fever, or you are having trouble breathing, please go to your ER.
BJ

thank you all. I live in the Virgin Islands, so cold is out of the question. This has been one of the worst "Sahara Dust" summers I've ever seen. Its dust from the Sahara Desert that is picked up by the upper air current and the dust makes its way into the Caribbean and far west as Florida. Google it and you'll be amazed. This is one factor, although the 'dust' factor has diminished for the last few days. Feels like the flu without a fever. My temp is normal. The anti biotics did relieve most of the mucus but I've been bothered by this nagging middle of the chest mucas cought. I'll try the Musinex tonite. Thanks again...anymore suggestions are welcomed...

Often times colds are caused by viruses and it takes awhile to get over it.

I also think the polluted air (from the dust storms) could be irritating your lungs or causing an allergic reaction, especially if you have an asthma component to your COPD.

We've been experiencing a of fires where I live and the smoke was terrible. I had a cough much like you described and what helped me was an over the counter antihistamine (with my doc's okay of course). As mentioned, Mucinex or its generic version may also help. BTW, Mucinex comes in 600 mg. The generic which is so much cheaper, comes in 400 mg. I buy the 400 mg. and just halve the tablet then take 1 1/2 tablets.

I would not stop the antibiotics unless your doctor tells you to do so. It may be a virus, but sounds like the doc is staying on the safe side, perhaps, to prevent something more serious.

Hope you feel better soon!

I just came back from the "Mart" with Mucinex DM for mucas and cough. Boy, this stuff is not cheap is it? Especially in the Virgin Islands. I did see the store generic, but did not have the info you sent me jams. Thank you by the way. The Mucinex seems to be working since I haven't coughed after I took it. Hopefully this will be the ticket to a good nights sleep. Thank you all very much for your advice and support.

Nope, it's not cheap...that's why I buy the generic..figure I can cut a couple of pills. LOL....

Just a note, my doc told me to use Mucinex but not the DM...said it suppresses coughing which we need to do in order to get the gunk out so it doesn't just sit in our lungs and turn into something nasty.

Could be someone else may have a different experience and will add something to the conversation.

At any rate, glad you're doing better!

I use the liquid form of Mucinex, like Robitussin...which can be costly also but, the generics are fairly reasonable. The active ingredient should read Guaifenesin 100mg.
Here are a couple of tricks you can try to help get it up and out easier.
Tilt your head forward just a bit and do some gentle fake coughing, before you know it you will be hacking up lots of those fur balls!
Om, yup, just that good old fashioned sound Ommmm, the deeper your voice, stretch it out till you have exhaled all you air, take a nice deep breath threw your nose and do it some more. You can actually feel the vibration of the sound in your lungs and it really works well.
Hope this helps

You have ben given very good advice. I also wanted to agree with the comment about Mucinex and Mucinex D, which I should have put in my original comment. Get just plain Mucinex, not the one with dexthamathorpin, because the last thing you want to do is suppress your cough. I hope yu get the gook up and out of there so you can get some good sleep
Be sure to take the antibiotics as long as the doctor told you to, just incase.
BJ

I don't take any Mucinex in the day since my cough isn't bad at all when I'm working, but just after I have dinner the cough starts and lasts all night. So on my second night with Mucinex, I coughed and coughed all thru the night. Its as though I didn't take anything. Funny, the first night with Mucinex, I slept very well and only woke up once with a little coughing episode but my friend made me a hot water, lemon and honey concoction and seemed to quiet the cough, As I'm typing this reply, my cough is coming back again. Sux! Stay tuned all...and thank you for your advice.