COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
Hi, my husband has COPD, chronic bronchitis, is on oxygen, uses an inhaler, saline solutions, nebulizer, you name it!! (he smoked for 58 years) About a year ago he started to have deep chest coughs, was always bringing up stuff, etc. The amount of phelgm buildup is so bad now that sometimes he cannot swallow his food. It mixes with the phelgm and food cannot get down his throat. The doctors did a scope down in his lungs and he was diagnosed with having candida fungus, of which he has been on Fluconazole off and on for more than a year. We have noticed that at first, the fluconzaole did help clear up some of the cough, but now the deep cough is almost daily, and he continues to have copious amounts of phelgm. Sometimes he goes into coughing jags last nearly and hour where he contiually is producing an overflow of phelgm. He is also taking Glycopyrrolate. He has tried Mucinex to break up the phelgm but it just keep producing. His pulmonologist has not been able to come up with a solution but to just keep him on the medication for the fungs. He has been tested for allergies within the last 2 years and has none. He is miserable, and I must admit, this constant coughing/phelgm issue really beginning to drive me nuts. I can hardly stand to be in the same room with him. HELP!!!!! Has anyone found something that will stop the constant phelgm buildup?
I don't have an answer and I was Googling on the situation and found one site that had 18 different causes for excessive mucus.
Has he been going just to the pulmonologist for the two years? Maybe he needs a new Dr? Maybe he needs different medication? Or maybe different diagnosis?
I hope someone can be more helpful and hope you'll keep us updated.
Hugs, Cindy
I do not understand why the doctors have not tried an antibiotic, or maybe it is that fungus you mentioned. I m not familiar with that, but I do know that when you are coughing up phlegm, it is your lungs trying to get rid of something.
There is a very good and strong mist given by nebulizer in the hospital that I can not think of the name of, but you can also get a script for home. Someone here will know the name, it is good, but strong and smells bad. But it forces you to cough, and brings up stuff. That does not seem to be his problem.
Ask your doctor for a ct scan of his lungs,if he has not already done that. Personaly, I can not think of anything to stop phlegm production except get rid of what is causing that reaction in his lungs.
Hope you find out what is going on
BJ
I hope your poor hubby gets some relief soon!
There is a rather lengthy process talked about in a NIH journal entry: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2886428/
It details out the recommended steps for isolating this type of problem. I pray it helps...
Hugs,
Dennis
my prayers are with you both.