Mr. Asthma » Bronchial Asthma » Trouble sleeping
Trouble sleeping
Question:
Hi: On April 13 I was recently released from a six day stay at the hospital due to severe asthma/COPD. Though it is much improved I can still only sleep 2-3 hours at a time. This appeares due to phlegm which apparently rises when I sleep. I’ve tried propping up with pillows and sleeping in an easy chair. Tho a bit better I still wake up. I think this is due to the fact that I’m in a relcined position. I can’t think of a way to sleep standing or sitting upright. I was also on antibiotics for 30 days but still cough up thick green phlegm on and off and have been antibiotic free since april 20. The pulmonologist tells me this is probably bronchitis, put me on a three day course of Lorabid and advised me to closely monitor my temperature. So far no temperature. He’s also suggested a culture but may not be aware of the one i had in the hosiptal, on the same green gunk, being negative. I can’t get well if I can’t get the rest I need. I am on: Albuterol, atrovent, and intal which I inhale through a devilbiss machine. Also Accolate, Prednisone, 100 mgs. of slo-bid and Guafenesin, a phlegm thinner. On the l9th I could barely breath, had solmedural (?) IV and the Atrovent was added. These brought the asthma under control but the sleeping problem persists. I AM going to get the culture despite no temperature. It’s porbalby just lack of sleep but I’m tired and weak. I’M LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW I MAY GET THE SLEEP I KNOW I NEED. Thanks. P. S. Please no tree bark, roots, etc. I’ve been allergic to evey "Natural Medicine" and am dubvious as to their value though some do appear to bring results to certain people.
Response:
It has been a long time since my time in the medical lab (20 years!), but as I recall, when you grow a specimen looking for organisms, you use a specific food for the little buggers, and not all organisms will grow on all media. One negative culture doesn’t mean you don’t have an infection. Has your doctor looked at the possibility of a fungus infection? A consultation with a microbiologist may pay off. Or in infectious disease specialist. Or someone else who will really look to find out what the heck is going on. You’ll probably need a specialist, and a teaching hospital to get to the bottom of this. Good luck, and keep demanding that they find out what is going on! Sharon Campbell
Response:
So sorry you are having these problems. It reminds me of my own horror stories from the past 2 years. All that medicine and no relief. From my experience I can tell you that saline nasal wash has done more good for me by mechhanically removing the gunk that is probably also the cause of your sickness. I still do these daily as regular hygiene to keep away from buildup. You may need to see a good ENT to find the underlying cause of it. It took me a while to figure this out while seeing my first Pulmonologist. He just kept giving me the meds too. The gunk is probably the reason you can’t sleep. Now if I get the stuff out of the sinuses, I usually don’t even need the meds. It took a while to get to this point, but there is hope. Sputum samples can get contaminated on the way out and may not reveal the real culprit. I was put on antibiotic that did more harm than good Also by propping with pillows I threw my neck out of alignment and consequently my rotater cuff in my shoulder and on down my arms. Had to go thru physical therapy to correct that. One innocent mistake leads to another. Now my Ent says he doesn’t recommend propping except for reflux, then suggests blocks under the head of the bedframe. I was trying to replicate the hospital bed, which raises the whole upper body, and did seem to keep the stuff out of my throat. It would be best to get rid of the stuff. I hope this gives you some helpful ideas, and that you can return to better health in the near future. Sue M. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi: >On April 13 I was recently released from a six day stay at the hospital >due to severe asthma/COPD. Though it is much improved I can still only >sleep 2-3 hours at a time. This appeares due to phlegm which apparently >rises when I sleep. I’ve tried propping up with pillows and sleeping in >an easy chair. Tho a bit better I still wake up. I think this is due >to the fact that I’m in a relcined position. I can’t think of a way to >sleep standing or sitting upright. I was also on antibiotics for 30 >days but still cough up thick green phlegm on and off and have been >antibiotic free since april 20. The pulmonologist tells me this is >probably bronchitis, put me on a three day course of Lorabid and advised >me to closely monitor my temperature. So far no temperature. He’s also >suggested a culture but may not be aware of the one i had in the >hosiptal, on the same green gunk, being negative. I can’t get well if I >can’t get the rest I need. I am on: Albuterol, atrovent, and intal >which I inhale through a devilbiss machine. Also Accolate, Prednisone, >100 mgs. of slo-bid and Guafenesin, a phlegm thinner. On the l9th I >could barely breath, had solmedural (?) IV and the Atrovent was added. >These brought the asthma under control but the sleeping problem >persists. >I AM going to get the culture despite no temperature. It’s porbalby >just lack of sleep but I’m tired and weak. >I’M LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW I MAY GET THE SLEEP I KNOW I NEED. >Thanks. >P. S. Please no tree bark, roots, etc. I’ve been allergic to evey >"Natural Medicine" and am dubvious as to their value though some do >appear to bring results to certain people.
Response:
I ve been reading for a few hours now when I came across yours, and I’ll tell you part of it sounded like it came out my mouth. I’ve been dealing with this thing for a few years and its been eratic as hell, as far as severity and what helps. sometimes for a week or so it’s almost seems dormant, the next no inhaler or treatment seems to help. what has been consistent is the fact that my biggest problems occur at night. The head of my bed has been propped up for years, due to reflux, which is how I think I got the asthma..I have to get up every 2 1/2-3 hours to use an inhaler to open the air passages so I can cough up the gunk, although mine is clear. When I wake up its like i can almost feel a chunk of it blocking my bronchial tubes. Half the time the inhalers dont work, feels like they’re blocked from getting to where they can work and then i;m up for and hour waiting for the prednisone to kick in. I know the problem is the sputum, cause once its up, I’m fine and during the day I seem to be ok with the inhalers, but it seems like the act of being prone and inactive increases production of the gunk, thickens it and settles it right in the worst place. For me when i desperately need a complete nights rest i just increase the Prednisone to 30-40 mg so I’m not a zombie. Sorry I dont have any solutions for you but your case sounded so familiar I had to respond.