Mums cough for 10 years - Where Next

[harryf]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone has any advice or help they can give me. My mum has had a cough for just over 10 years now. She can link it back to when my niece was christened and to the best of my knowledge nothing significant happened on that day.
There are times when it is unbearable not just for her but all our family. Please dont take this the wrong way as I love mum dearly but sometimes I have to shut my bedroom door as the cough is constant and trying to enjoy the comforts can sometimes be impossible which begs the question, what is it like for her??! :(

I would like to say there is a consistency eg defining moment when it happens but there isnt.I have offered her all my savings to find a cure but in my opinion she has lost interest in trying to find a cure for it as she has been referred to a london hospital and they put her on a/depressants and that worked for a while but then it reverted back again.
She does take antihistamines but this doesnt seem to make any noticeable difference and when she eats sometimes she is almost coughing to the point of being sick.

One thing I will say is sometimes she goes to watch a film or a change of surrounding, she hasnt coughed once.

Im not hoping for miracles but if anyone can help or give me some points i would be eternally grateful.  :)

[teri214]

My father had a terrible chronic cough for many years; he found out it was pulmonary fibrosis. Definitely have your mother checked by a pulmonary specialist. I know how annoying the cough is, and believe it or not, its even worse for the patient. Nothing would help subside it although some days were better than others. Good luck in your search!

[harryf]

Thank you. I will try the plan with the ned as she does cough in bed too so I doubt she sleeps well. She doesnt drink alcohol at all and is allergic to wheat so only drinks soya milk and tea.
I will do some research into a respiratory specialist but I think she has seen one and the results were clear.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Your mother seems to be having chronic cough. . Some common causes of chronic cough include asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus problems (for example sinus infection),post nasal drip and esophageal reflux of stomach contents(GERD). Infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia can cause coughing. These infections can be caused by virus, bacteria or fungus.

Try raising the head of your mother’s bed about four inches with blocks. It also might help to avoid eating or drinking for two hours before you lie down. To help control the stomach acid, one should not drink alcohol or drinks with caffeine in them, or eat chocolate or spicy or greasy foods .You can give antacids and Prilosec for gastritis to your mother if GERD is causing the chronic cough.

Sometimes the cause of chronic cough can be asthma and medications like antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors).Pls check them out.

I feel that you should get your mother thoroughly examined by a respiratory medicine specialist to reach a confirmatory diagnosis after physical examination and investigations.

Take care and pls do keep posting on how you are doing