Cronic Cough (12 weeks)

I have had a constant cough for almost 3 months.  My cough has been producing a thick mucus and restricted breathing.  Three weeks ago I finally saw a doctor who thought it might be pneumonia.  The xrays showed my lungs were clear.  He put me on a 2 week supply of Cipro, Musinex and Albuterol.  I have taken the 2 week supply and have noticed no change at all (I would argue that I am worse now than 3 weeks ago).

Overall I have always been very healthy and in great shape...

Does anyone have any ideas???

Thanks,

Chris

[National Jewish]

Having lasted almost 3 months, this cough meets the definition of chronic cough.  Even with a clear chest x-ray, new onset chronic cough is worrisome and calls for a thorough evaluation.  There are many conditions that could cause chronic cough.  The likelihood of each is related to age and smoking history.  The most common causes in non-smokers are postnasal drip, cough-variant asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  In smokers, the most common cause is chronic bronchitis.  

You would be best served by being evaluated and then treated by your primary doctor for the 3 most likely causes.  This may require sinus CT, an esophageal pH probe and pulmonary function tests (PFTs), perhaps along with a methacholine challenge.  If the cough persists, you should see an ENT for evaluation of your upper airways.  If the ENT finds that the upper airways are not the cause of your cough, then you should see a pulmonary specialist.

A cough of this duration must not be ignored, at any age.

[RRHOOP5469]

Have you been tested for allergies? Constant post nasal drip can be a symptom of allergies, not too sure about the "thick" part though. I've been through the allergies and got shots for 10 years and am now fine.

If you ever get a "tickle" in the back of your throat that leads to coughing fits, watery eyes, etc....try a Halls Cough Drop. It's the only thing strong enough to stop it for me. Every time I get postnasal drip (for whatever reason), I pop one in, take a couple sips of water and blow my nose. Works EVERY time. I maybe cough 8 times or less, depending on how fast I can get a cough drop in my mouth. LOL. Whenever I get a cold, I have my supply of Halls by my side, lol. Been doing it for 20 + years.

[Hane]

I had originally posted in another archive my chronic cough condition.  In February, I had a cold with a severe cough  The cold left but the cough continued.  I have been to the Dr.'s twice expressing my concern.  I was given an inhaler, allergy medicine, and acid reflux medicine.  It just about left and I decided to forego the medicine.  Unfortunately the cough started to come back.  I decided to take measures into my own hands and went to a ENT (Ears, Nose, and Throat) Dr.  Please excuse me for my lack of medical attention as I cannot describe in medical terms my examination with the ENT.  He put a tube down my throat in which he could see what was causing me to cough.  My throat was a bit red and swollen.  The Dr. believes I have LPR Reflux (stomach acid in the throat).  This condition, according to the pamphlet he gave me, can feel like a "lump" in the throat.  That is how it feels to me.  I could have had this all along, but it might not affected me until I had my cold.  My cold and the severe cough at that time agitated my throat and the acid has continued the cough. At any rate, change to a low-acid diet, is recommended for me.  I have cut way back on my coffee intake, but even just a cup seems to trigger an attack.  I have recently switched to low-acid coffee and that appears to be better. I am hoping that I will not have to give up coffee as I like it in the morning.  I am still not completely healed, but I am feeling better.  I have cut way back on my meds and I seem to be holding the cough at bay.  Hopefully, in time, I will be off the meds completely.

[Snapxrt]

I had a bad cold that kept me home from work for a few days in early June. Since then I have had this nagging cough that I cannot get rid of. I have thin mucuos at times and at others its thick. I am swallowing alot of mucus that I cough up. I burp more often than usual because of it and I am told they smell extremely nasty like acidy. I am waking up in the mornings with a wet tee shirt wheather I am in the A/C or in the heat. The A/C seems to make the cough much worse. If I take Benadryl tablets I seem to be ok with only the slightest cough here and there, but much better. So I have the sweats, a nagging cough and feel weak and drained alot. I know its not mono as I have had that before years ago and its nothing like that. I am going to see the Dr. tomorrow but this is such a bother this cough and chest. Can you send me any ailments this could be. In need of peace from this cough, please help.

[cskychen]

[quote]I had a bad cold that kept me home from work for a few days in early June. Since then I have had this nagging cough that I cannot get rid of. I have thin mucuos at times and at others its thick. I am swallowing alot of mucus that I cough up. I burp more often than usual because of it and I am told they smell extremely nasty like acidy. I am waking up in the mornings with a wet tee shirt wheather I am in the A/C or in the heat. The A/C seems to make the cough much worse. If I take Benadryl tablets I seem to be ok with only the slightest cough here and there, but much better. So I have the sweats, a nagging cough and feel weak and drained alot. I know its not mono as I have had that before years ago and its nothing like that. I am going to see the Dr. tomorrow but this is such a bother this cough and chest. Can you send me any ailments this could be. In need of peace from this cough, please help. [/quote]

According to your information, I think it could be tuberculosis.
Naggling cough, night sweating, feeling weak and drained might be the
tuberculosis. Make sure you tell the doctor what you have wrote. I think it's very useful to your doctor.

good luck.

[agentg]

Hi Everyone. I had a nagging cvough which lasted for 2 months and 4trips to the doctor. He thought I had allergies which I felt I didn't. Just a tickle in my throat  which  made me cough so hard I though I was dying. Well I did some research and found out my Blood pressure medicine called Micardis gave me that tickle/cough in my throat.I've been off it for 1 week and I feel like a new person. I can sleep without coughing and go out in public wihtout fear of coughing and losing control of my bladder.So check you meds if you are not having any luck.I the mean time i wish you all good health

[Schmancy]

I have suffered from a chronic cough on and off for the past 3 - 4 years.  It would always start with a cold and last for up to 4 months.  The tickle for me is more in my chest not in the throat.  I've been treated for asthma (Advair)since but that does not help the cough.  The only thing that would ever help is Tussinex but I need to be on it constantly for it to help.  It is a constant cough that is very dry.  I was diagnosed last year with Swyer James however my specialist has very little information on this.  This year I've had the cough for almost 6 months.  I have had been put on predisone a couple times but that never makes any difference. They also tried treating me for Acid Reflux but meds for that did not help either.  Was wondering if anyone has had anything similar?

[mbspark]

I've had a constant cough for about 2 months now. It started as a cold..then went to bronchitis. Then the Doctor felt it might be Pneumonia, but my chest x-ray came back fine. Now I'me being treated for allergies. I'm taking allegra and nasonex. Nothing has helped to stop my cough except my fishermen friend cough drops, but they have pretty much killed off all taste buds in my mouth. I'm running out of things to try. I was given an inhaler but that did nothing either. I hope someone has found an answer to this coughing!

[Schmancy]

To mbspark - see if you can get a prescription for Tussinex.  It's a narcotic so you can't stay on it long term but it's the only thing I've found (other than Halls Cough Drops) that actually help relieve my cough.  My coughs after a cold now last up to 3 months and it gets to the point where I'm totally worn down by it.  Nothing has ever helped me get rid of it but the Tussinex works really good for me.  Good luck!

[georgie817]

A related discussion, Cough when talking was started.