chronic cough

[mpcough]

I am a 37yo healthy female who does not smoke and for the past 13 yrs I have had a chronic cough that comes either after I get over a cold or if I happen to choke from drinking water.  I will continue to cough for 3-4 months.  I am now going through this again.  I have not only seen my primary doctor but also an ENT  and Pulmonary Dr.  It feels as if I have an annoying tickle in my throat,  I have no phlegm, or mucous.  Doctors have ruled out a post nasal drip, and I do not have acid reflex.  My chest xray and ct scan were all clear.  I notice it gets worse if I talk, laugh, drink something cold.  I do not cough while I am sleeping.   Doctors have told me it is either caused by seasonal allergies, asthma or bronchitis.  But no one can answer why this happens if I simply choke on a glass of water.  I have taken prescribed cough syrup, cough pills, antibiotics, inhalers, anti inflammatory, allergy pills everytime this does happen.  And I am still coughing.  I know eventually it will stop, but this affects my job, since my job is to talk the whole day long.  

This is now the 8th week I have had this cough and am still seeing my doctors, and as for now my cough has lessened, but I am still coughing.

Is there anyone that can suggest anything.  This is tiresome and exhausting and I just want some relief

[xmaslady]

If you haven't been tested for allergies, I would if I were you.  But, I can remember many times having a nagging cough for a long time after a cold & also coughing for a (short) time after getting choked on water. I think I was just very susceptible to "cough related things" & perhaps you are too.  Lots of over the counter meds including cough meds have a rebound effect...but I used "Ricola" lemon mint drops (sugar free) & their wonderful.

[mpcough]

After 13yrs of this nagging cough coming and going I have tried everything over the counter.  Every week I am buying Ricola, I have used every flavor, every kind.  I can admit my cough is lessoning, but I am still seeing dr's.  I have an appt today w/my pulmonary dr again, and he is supposed to perform another test.  When this thing starts it is horrible I am coughing so much, and so hard I can not even complete a sentence.  And this time when it started up I was having pain in my shoulder, stomach and lower ribs, and seeing squigglies in my eyes.  And all 3 doctors I have seen so far these past 6 weeks have told me it is all from the force of the cough.  My cough is getting better, I can actually hold a conversation and only cough a few times.  But over time my cough always goes away.  I just want to know what to do so the next time this happens I can take care of this right away.  

I have read some comments on this website and others where some people are coughing constanty for years at a time.  I hope mine doesn't go that far.  I guess compared to them this is nothing.  I just hope this can eventually be taken care of.

Thanks xmaslady.

[HelpinLA]

I am actually conversing with someone in Ohio (just in case she reads this) I am trying to get several people together via mail or even IM to discuss what we did, have done etc about our cough.  I had found one drug that helped but now immune, she is going to try it and see what happens.  It is an Allergy pill that is NOT widely known but may work for you as a temporary fix.  email address gets *** out so hopefully you can figure this out.  rentwest(at)gmail(dot)cooom