Bad cough and hernia

[mirceani]

Three month ago i had succesfull hernia surgery.
Now on my 10th week on TX (doing good) I have this terrible cough, and I am really scared that it will ruin the hernia repair, and potentially give me another hernia.
Dr seems clueless regarding my cough - tried all kind of syroups, cough medication, nebulizers, etc - nothing helps.

Cough does seem to stop with hard candy or chewing gum - the problem is I cannot/do not want to eat one pound of candies every day...

Any ideas, suggestions?


Thank you

[sfwandwow]

codeine makes me puke...

[wyntre9]

The cough could be caused by a lot of different things, including the riba.  Dry mucous membranes and post nasal drip can aggravate cough;  sinus congestion and allergies can also make symptoms worse, not to mention forced hot air heating, baseboard heat, radiators, etc.

The riba cough I had was completely unresponsive to regular cough medicines, including codeine, (i also have asthma) but did improve with the meds and remedies I listed.

wyntre

[nygirl7]

The only thing that will work on a cough is codeine...all the stuff in the stores is fake and they have many times on the news said that - they do NOTHING.  That stupid cough drives everybody crazy on treatment but the only thing that did help me was hycodan cough syrup.  It shuts down the cough reflex in your throat.

Tell the doctor he should know things like this if a commoner like nygirl does!

(I was born with asthmatic bronchitis and whenever I get sick I get this BARK!!! cough and so do my kids.......people look at me like my God lady that child is dying get it HOME but the cough lasts for like a month so this is one area I have experience with first hand.  Get the cough syrup.  Unless you are just coughing because you have a scratchy throat or congestion.............if this is just that annoying dry hack cough from the riba - get the med).

Deb

[wyntre9]

I had cough, dry throatt,etc. starting immediately after the endoscopy, which seems to have aggravated the esophagal lining, and continuing on through the first 4 months of TX.

Get a good humidifier, as winter air and heat makes everything dry out and that aggravates the cough.  Nasal irrigation is excellent;  it washes irritants and pollutans out of your nasal passages;  guaffunnissin, an OTC med often sold as mucinex is great for promoting secretions, which will help line the airways and should help the cough.

Also, Ricola sugar free lozenges work well, along with not talking much.

wyntre

[chevyelcam79]

I had my gall bladder out in January and then surgical hernia repair in April.  I started tx in June.  I was also concerned that I would mess up once again, my repair!  The Ribavirin is what makes you cough.  Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot you can do about it.  I had my cough throughout tx for 24 weeks.  I used the albuterol inhaler that helped sometimes.  

Try sugar free candy since candy does help.  Lots and lots and lots of water too!  Try holding the incision site when you have a bad coughing spell.

Sorry you are experiencing the horrid cough.

Shari