Chronic Cough Reaching 10 years

[angrybob]

I have had an on again / off again cough for about the last ten years.  I'm a thirty six years old active male and have never had a cigarette.  I work out 2-3 timed per week + any weekend sports.  I have never been diagnosed with any disease, etc.

I remember it started after a week-long vacation in the North Carolina mountains.  It was hot and very humid outside, but the A/C in the hotel room was set at 60.  There was a constant in and out of the hotel room throughout the week.  Afterwards is when the cough started.  This cough has also survived for four years in Michigan and the past six in Arizona (current location).

Up until now, it has come and gone but primarily around seasonal change as well as when I drink cold liquids or chew on ice.  It'll usually last for a few weeks then goes away for a while.  In addition, when the A/C kicks on (car, home, etc.) that also triggers a coughing spell.

About 3-4 years ago, I let my doctor take a crack at it.  We tried everything and simply gave up.  This would include two week trials with perscriptions to address asthma, acid relfux, and allergies.  The meds (in orrder) were: the standard aluminum inhaler & a purple disc that I would click a mechanism to load powder into an area of the disc for me to inhale, Nexium (the purple pill) for reflux, and Allegra for allergies.  No change.

I also had a bunch of lung capacity tests pre- and post-nebulizer, High def X-rays, CT Scan, etc. with no trouble found.

I can explain the cough in a couple ways.  When I cough, it there is nothing coming up in terms of phlegm, but there is a little 'spray' like water.  Most of the time there is a wheasing sound and it feels as if my throat is not open enough to pass all of the air trying to be expelled as if the flow is largely restricted.  While I'm in a coughing spell, my lungs feel as if I have just run a long distance and had taken a deep breath.  

I've never thrown up due to this cough, but I have certainly coughed hard enough such that people who overheard thought I did.  Cute, little quiet coughs only delay to entirety of the coughing session.  Full blown, loud coughing 3-5 times is the only temporary solution.  Now, my thoat feels as if its dry and sore (not a "sore throat") due to routing

Since the onset, I have been married and have two toddler aged kids.  As their colds spread to my wife and I, the cough will emerge.  This time, its been about six weeks of a bad cough with the cold already gone for three weeks.  

Currently, the things that trigger my cough are: drinking liquids (cold is worse and immediate, but warm does too), lying down for bed, changing position in bed such as rolling over, getting up in the morning, air conditioning turning on, seasonal changes via humidity,and wind in my face.

Until now, I have simply lived with it.  But at this point, I'm rather annoyed with it (as I'm sure are mt wife and co-workers).  It's affecting my sports and my personal life enough that I am motivated to try again.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[bugbain]

read up on clamidia pnemonia (pneumonia).  It is a realitively new pnemonia (pneumonia) and most dr. are unaware of it..  It is treated with antibotics (long term)  It is also affecting our arteries and causing stroke and heart problems.   I too have had issues with coughing, especially after laying down.  I have always had great cholesterol.  when i went to have a ct scan of my sninuses they noticed that i have blockage of the carotiod arteries.  One more thing, most ins companies are considering testing for cp as investigational and will not cover it.

[lydia777]

I have a very similar situation as angrybob except that my cough has been chronic for the past 5 years.  I've been though all the treatments, x-rays, scans, inhalers, antacids, steroids, antihistamines, nasal sprays, and nothing has worked.  I've had differenct doctors who have tried to treat me and when nothing works, they says it is allergies to cats because I have cats in the house.  I have left the state, country for weeks at a time and my "cat allergies" don't go away.  My daughter finally moved out and took the cats and I've cleaned up the cat dander evironment and several months later, I'm still coughing.  I got curious to see if other's have experienced this so I went on the internet and found all the treatments that I've already had.  Coughing starts with just any kind of "throat tickling" like swallowing, breathing, or when I scratch my left ear.  (No one believes that one.) I read bugain's suggestion to look up clamidia pnemonia (pneumonia) so I'll do that for now.  Any other suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated.

[AlliCat11]

I was diagnose with allegies;  allergic to cat, dust mite and mold.  I have been coughing last 10 years and it is getting worse. I have taken allergy medication, acid refulx, not eating 3 hours before bed and still coughing.  I have to chew gum and suck on candy.  I am beginging to anoy by this.  Can't even go to meeting due to cough attack.  when I drink cold water trigger the cough.  Please help?