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Respiratory Disorders  (Expert Forum)
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Dry hacking cough
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National Jewish -
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MedHelp Member's Question

Dry hacking cough

by Pakman, Jun 17, 2005 12:00AM
I am a 26 year-old male who has not had any serious medical complications. About 3 years ago, I developed this nasty cough that comes and goes after a sinus cold. I have seen a family doctor, a cough specialist and an ENT specialist and they still cannot figure out what is causing my cough. The family doctor prescribed me (all at different times) anti-biotics, steroid nasal sprays, asthma inhalers and acid reflux medication. The cough specialist prescribed me oral steroids. I'm not quite sure what exactly it was, but about a month after taking these drugs the cough would eventually go away. The ENT specialist noticed some polyps in my sinus and I had surgery to remove them. I am currently on Nasacort for my sinus. The cough still comes back after a sinus cold. I usually get it every 6-8 months. The only difference I noticed after the surgery is that my sinus does not hurt as much when I get these sinus colds. I cough all day, more so at night. It is affecting my daily life. I feel that I have to clear my throat constantly and it feels dry.  Water does not seem to help at all. I also notice fluid at the back of my throat but I don't cough up anything. It's just this dry hacking cough where my chest seems to vibrate. My Trachea feels very irritated and this certain sensation comes from there causing me to cough. Please help!!!
Doctor's Answer

by National Jewish, Jun 19, 2005 12:00AM
It is obvious that this problem, although infrequent, is a significant problem for you.  The most likely cause of your symptoms is a continued inflammation in your sinuses.  This could be due to either a healing process of the infection or a continued chronic sinusitis.  Sinus inflammation is a common cause of coughing that increases at night.  Often a CT scan of the sinuses during these episodes shows significant sinus involvement.  This may clear up with a 3-week course of antibiotics along with a short course of oral steroids.



Without a further evaluation of you and some tests, it is difficult to make a better guess of what is going on.
Member Comments (15)

by Inanga, Jun 22, 2005 12:00AM
I think coughing is designed to get mucous out of your throat to protect lungs etc. i had ceast pains and rough throat from constant coughing - learnt to suck the musous down and spit it out - this stops it going down where it needs to be coughed up. Chest pains cleared after this simple technique. My mucous was caused by food alelrgies: wheat, gluten, soy, dairy. It's gone now I've eliminated them from my diet. Hope you can track down the cause of your problems.

by Pakman, Jun 22, 2005 12:00AM
Just came back from the ENT specialist again and he suggested going on the acid reflux medication again.  I'm going to try it one more time to see if it works.  My cough is really getting to me.  I don't cough up any type of mucous or flem, it's just this dry cough that won't seem to go away.  I might go see a respirologist to see if he/she could do any more testing on me.  Wish me luck.

by cindisub, Jul 08, 2005 12:00AM
To: pakman
My brother who is otherwise perfectly healthy has the same exact thing, too.  He's 20 years old.  What is your e-mail? Mine is ***@****

by marcusl, Aug 14, 2005 12:00AM
i have dry cough that started at night , now it is in daytime also but worse if lyeing down .

i have had endoscopy , chest ct, complete sinus surgery . i have seen gastro, ent , and pulmonologist . i am at a loss as to what to do . the last test for me will be a bravo ph 48 hour monitoring test .

does anyone know of a cough specialist in the los angeles ca area ??



thanks

by Pakman, Aug 17, 2005 12:00AM
To: marcusl
Hey Marcusi, did the endoscopy test reveal anything?  I'm thinking of doing that next.  Thanks.

by tvkid, Aug 26, 2005 12:00AM
I have the exact same cough that everyone is talking about. I was told that it was asthma, but I am not so sure.  As the Ventolin does nothing but make me dizzy.



I get the cough after a sinus cold as well, and it stays forever.  This time it erupted into a sinus cold again.  It is very annoying and I have tried everything from tesselin pearls to Vicks 44 cough.  NOTHING works, and my doctor does not know what to do.  I have had it for almost 8 weeks now, and I am at my wicks end.

Does anyone have any suggestions.  Is this something far more serious?

by Coughing Guy, Sep 09, 2005 12:00AM
Hmm sounds like what I have it just started about two weeks ago

my throat feels itchy and dry sometimes i cant catch my breath between coughs and all i spew up is clear mucous.  I tried benidryl and some cough syrup but it doesnt work when i goto sleep.  I only get about 4 hours of sleep before i wake up coughing and spewing up more clear mucous and i feel so exhausted the next day.  Is there something floating in the air that we dont know about and maybe it only effects certain people?

Anyway has anyone found a cure or had any positive results?

by harrisam, Oct 12, 2005 12:00AM
I have the same thing happening.  Ihad this problem 3 yrs ago after a cold/flu and after months of coughing I was sent to a pulmonoligist who said it was reflux.  Well, last fall I got the flu/cold again and again after I began coughing.  Well, I was pregant at the time so they said it was reflux and should get better after the baby is born, 4 months later I am still coughing.  I saw my pulmonoligist again today and he wants me to have a bronchscopy (Sp??) because he feels that there may be something in my airway causing this cough.  I am totally freaked out and was wondering if anyone has had this and what were the results?  Thanks!

by harrisam, Oct 12, 2005 12:00AM
I have the same thing happening.  Ihad this problem 3 yrs ago after a cold/flu and after months of coughing I was sent to a pulmonoligist who said it was reflux.  Well, last fall I got the flu/cold again and again after I began coughing.  Well, I was pregant at the time so they said it was reflux and should get better after the baby is born, 4 months later I am still coughing.  I saw my pulmonoligist again today and he wants me to have a bronchscopy (Sp??) because he feels that there may be something in my airway causing this cough.  I am totally freaked out and was wondering if anyone has had this and what were the results?  Thanks!