I also got a digital thermometer and humidity gauge so I could make sure it was humid enough.

The other thing that was suggested was not allowing extreme temperature changes but that doesn't help when you have to go outside AND keep it warm and humid.

I don't remember how humid but I know the moist air helped . It felt softer when I was breathing. I think my target was 70% humidity.

What Teppy said. The pearls were the only thing that helped me the last time I had a cough like that and wasn't sleeping. Along with lots of decongestants and albuterol.

What really works for me, and I neglected, is to also take mucinex dm and actifed to dry up the crud as well as the chocolate and booze for the cough. I just though I was ready to go it alone, and wasn't.

I had the pearls once years ago, and was not impressed enough to try them again.

I agree on the humidity--I've sat with a kid in my lap in the bathroom with the shower running on hot--or alone--and it did help the cough. But my bedroom needs to be cool. I can't breathe in an overwarm room. Also, when I can't stop coughing, I sleep sitting up--either on piles of pillows, or in the armchair with a footstool. Lying down just starts it up all over again.

I hope something works for you, Windsparrow, and you get the rest you need.

I've been making my own croup tents since I was 10.

You might need an inhaler. Sorry it is so bad windsparrow

Yeah, Andi, how's the cough today? Have you had a chance to call/see your NP?

The amount of coughing is entirely tolerable when upright. To successfully lie down and sleep I need Sudafed, either 12 hour or as 4hr Actifed, a Mucinex DM, at least one square of dark dark chocolate 85-90%, and a slug or two of whisky. But it works, I slept reasonably well last night.

You should try to sleep upright if at all possible. Knocking yourself out when having breathing issues can be a whole other level of problem. Please be careful.