Persistent Cough & Cold Symptoms: Seeking Medical Advice

Question
Dear Dr. Aukerman, I will try to write this as briefly as possible.  I have a cold.  Constantly blowing my nose and constant coughing.  I am hypothyroid, take propanolol for extra beats, take Diovan HCTZ 80mg. for high blood pressure, Synthroid 0.1 mg., Lescol XL 80mg for cholesterol.  Whew!  This cold started last Monday with a sore throat.  Whenever I get sick it is always the same end.  I wind up with horrible coughing.  Horrible meaning I have to keep coughing so hard till I can get under the cough to clear it.  I am pretty sure it is not pneumonia or anything like that because I have no fever, pain, sweating, etc.   And my nose is still full of mucous as I think my chest is too.  I certainly have a wonderful doctor who I can go to.  But I have managed for a week without him and feel silly going now when hopefully it is on the way out.   I have stayed home from work last week for 4 days.  Went back yesterday and am back at home today.   The coughing is so annoying.  I unfortunately am incontinent when I cough so that is another annoying situation.   What my question is what can I do to loosen my chest congestion?  I am taking plain Guaifensen because if I take the DM it makes me feel like I have to cough harder because it is suppressing it.  Is there something I can do to speed the loosening up.  My mucous (sorry to be so graphic but I think you would need to know this is not very discolored).  My doctor had given me Phenergan VC a few years ago '01 and I still have the bottle.   After reading the contraindications for it - it doesn't seem like it is for me at all.  Do you believe in breathing steam from a tea kettle?  I can do that.  It tried it once but never followed through with it.  I just need to break up this congestion.   I know I am not that sick.  When I have been really sick I run right to the doctor.  I also am afraid he will give me antibiotics unnecessarily.   Thank you Dr. Aukerman for reading my much too long question.   Basically all I want to know is what can I do at home to loosen my chest up.  Thank you in advance.   Barbara

Answer
What my question is what can I do to loosen my chest congestion? Guaifenisen generally works well if you drink a lot of non dairy liquids with it, preferably hot. OK?

Is there something I can do to speed the loosening up. Do you believe in breathing steam from a tea kettle? I can do that.
Actually, steam with a bath towel over your head for 15 minutes 3-4 times a day is very effective with the Guaifenisen. OK?