Persistant cough for 7 months :-(

[courierx]

I have had a cough that won't go away for 7 months. It all started when I went to the doctor with what seemed to be influenza. The influenza cleared up in a matter of 3 or 4 days but the cough lingered. Did a CBC while in the hospital everything came back normal except low lymp counts (they attributed it to the viral infection) The cough would persist making me cough sometimes as much as 3 times a min. It was awful. I went back to the doctor middle of March, explained what happened, he gave me Doxycycline, benzonatnate 200mg and cheratussin ac. None of this helped not even the cough syrup. In apirl I shaved my chest and noticed that I had a rash the size of two quaters. I usually don't shave my chest so I had no idea how long this had been there.  Went back again end of May, was given Ranitidine 150MG one pill two times a day, some more cough syrup and biaxin this was because they thought the cough could be was acid reflux. Nada. Even though I am very low-risk I took a HIV test end of May, came back negative of course. I continued the ranitidine with no luck. Took another HIV test end of July, nada. Went back to the hospital on 8/4/2006 for shortness of breath.. was given ALBUTEROL 90 MCG INHALER a spacer, and dexamethasone. Also went in for pulmanary testing.. this has not help. The rash also is seeming to fade away slowly. To describe the cough.. it sounds like broncitius cough... seems likes there is something stuck in my throat. 99% of the time it is not productive. It "comes and goes" I have a least one major coughing outbreak per day. The cough goes away in the shower

[courierx]

It also goes away when I do areobic activities. When there is phlem it is greenish/ yellow but most of the time there is non. When I was at the doctor last they put me on a nebulizer... this make me cough up phlem but I can't achieve the same time with the abuterol and spacer. :-( Just one week ago it seemed as if I gave the cough to my girlfriend.. seemed like the exact same symptoms.. funny she hasn't gotten it before. This cough keeps me up at night and sometimes the coughing makes my chest hurt. Any help would be greatly appreciated. The doctors don't seem to have a clue as to what is going on.

Ray

[charley1986]

Hi Ray,
Could you provide some more info - re: are you a smoker? what kind of work do you do? Have you had bloodwork done for thyroid?  Have they done any x-rays or scans of any kind?  Just trying to think of things that might give more info and maybe something that will help with giving you some suggestions.
I wish you luck, I know this has been irritating to say the least and it seems as though it interferes with your daily life and the worst part is that you are not getting a good nights sleep - and not getting good sleep can make you sick and immune system less "reliable"
Good Luck,
Charley

[courierx]

No I don't smoke. I work from home writing computer software. They did chest x-rays in Feb and in July. The doctor suggested a CT scan as the last resort. They also did several CBCs. no specific work for thyroid. Of course nothing came back as an alarm. Any ideas?

Ray

[tiff423]

Hi!  I know a guy who had a similar situation with a persistant cough.  He was in and out of the ER and DR's office, getting most of the same treatments you received.  A DR finally diagnosed him with Whooping Cough.  Whatever treatment they gave him for that (sorry, I dont know what he took) got rid of the cough.  He's back to normal now.  Just a suggestion since you've been trying everything else.  Good luck!  Hope you get better really soon!