Everytime I wake up in the morning, I cough up this horrible phlegm
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
April 12, 2008 9:52am CST
Now it started after menopause, and it has been annoying. I drink water at night and I know it is caused by bread and milk, but milk is supposed to make you sleep. So I wonder if maybe I am slightly lactose intolerant or if I have a wrong shaped nose passage that does not drain properly. Any ideas because I do not like coughing when I wake up.
3 people like this
10 responses
@emeraldisle (13138)
• United States
12 Apr 08
A lot of it could be due to allergies. I had a really bad problem with this until recently. I got a new mattress. It turned out my old mattresses were causing the problem. As soon as I laid down my lungs and sinus' would start to fill and I couldn't figure it out. I was sleeping sitting up due to it and my back issues so when I got the chance I got a hospital bed (I got it off freecycle). Well within one night I noticed the difference. I could breath and I wasn't having near the congestion in the mornings. Something in the mattress, more then likely due to age since they were a good 20 years old, was causing the problem. This might be something to check on. Try sleeping on the couch and see if you have the same problems. If you don't then it's more then likely something in your room causing the problem.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13138)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I understand that with the milk. I'm allergic to milk (not lactose intelorate). With me it seems to be the dairy fat that bothers me. Whole milk effects me far more then skim milk for example. That could be why milk bothers you and yogurt doesn't.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
22 Apr 08
My sister-in-law who is a Snowbird, traveling to the States every Fall and Winter, is allergic to milk. She cannot even eat yoghurt, but I also cannot take wheat that much. Not as bad as others, but enough to really bother me in the ams.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
13 Apr 08
Since moving to the Prairies, I have been sneezing a lot in spring and fall. There is this evil plant out there who has it in for me, but I doubt the Province of Manitoba would like it if I wanted it eradicated. And I find I cannot take regular milk that much, although I can take yogurt.
1 person likes this
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
25 Apr 08
All dairy products will cause the mucus membranes of the body to produce thicker mucus. Doesn't mean you are lactose intolerant, just sensitive. You say it start around menopause, so I would have to say that during that time, your body became more sensitive.
I know if I have to much in the way of dairy products, I cough a lot more than normal. I just drink even more water and use a nasal spray if it is bad.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
10 May 08
It happened in my fifties, my mid fifties and I felt terrible. I sounded like an old lady. I am getting sensitive to a lot of things now, chemically based perfumes, certain soaps, and now milk, and white bread. I know I should not eat white bread, but I cannot go without milk. At least I can enjoy yogurt and cheese. But I cannot stand the thick mucus. Oh and the water does help. If only I did not have to run to the bathroom that often. 
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
8 Jun 08
I am getting much better. Last night I only got up once. But that was because I was so tired and was catching up on my sleep.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
8 Jun 08
I know that feeling. Hopefully my time spent in the toilet will go back to normal in about 10 weeks.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
13 Apr 08
you might have an infection in your lungs and it might be a good idea to ask a doctor about it. Coughing up usually mean pneumonia, but a doctor would know for sure.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
22 Apr 08
very good, honey is always excellent too that is what I do for my bronchitis.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
20 Apr 08
I get bronchitis in the winter. I have started to take Echinacea tablets and drinking that tea that is good for your throat, and drinking Echinacea tea and I find that helps.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
10 May 08
That is what I think. I always had trouble with my sinuses. I used to get nose bleeds quite regularly when I was a kid. Mom was always getting an ice cube and pinching my nose. I grew out of it, but now my sinuses drain into my throat and then I start coughing in the morning.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
27 Aug 08
I wake up coughing every day too but I smoke like a freight train daily. I think that has alot to do with my problem. I have the smokers cough. You may not be getting a restful sleep and you may be breathing through your mouth instead of your nose. that could cause flem too.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
27 Aug 08
I do not smoke, but I think that milk does not agree with me, but I have to have it, and I do love cheese. I am also a very light sleeper. Anything and anyone can wake me up. And I do breathe through my mouth, but since I get bronchitis when it gets cooler, I am afraid of just breathing through my nose.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
10 May 08
I cannot drink milk that much, I do eat yogurt, but I guess I have to.
And I love cheese. I think it is the white bread and the wheat. I have trouble with my sinuses since my fifties. I am not exactly allergic or intolerant to the case of rashes or hurting, but it is annoying to cough up phelgm every morning and have people think you have pneumonia. I do have bronchitis and I have to drink lots of water and take honey and lemon for that. I have no idea if it helps, but I do it anyway.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
12 Apr 08
If you are getting that from milk, it is because milk causes mucus (which is why when you are sick you should not intake dairy). Nothing to do with being lactose intolerant. Do you have problems with allergies or sinuses?
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
13 Apr 08
I have had problems with my sinuses. Must be my funny part Roman shaped nose. 
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
13 Apr 08
I sleep on a double pillow. I think it is that it has had a chance of collecting.
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
12 Apr 08
If you drink milk to help you sleep and you think that you are lactose intolerant, which I do believe is a symtpom of the phlegm that you are having.
Why not try drinking some chamomile tea. That helps me or I even take valerian which is also good, and they are both natural products.
Hope this helps!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
13 Apr 08
I do like chamomile tea. I know I can take yogurt and it does not bother me. But I know that I cannot take too much bread.
