Does anybody underestand the physiology behind the Riba cough?

[Diane12855]

I know you answered my cough question earlier, but I'm a very curious person, and I like to know how things work. What actually is making me cough? I don't have phlegm (or however you spell it)... hardly nothing comes up when I cough my head off... so is it the little trigger that is getting irritated, or the lungs?

If you don't know the answer, please don't tell me that I don't need to worry about it, it will go away. I know it will go away. I just like to understand how things work.

Diane

[robo229]

Mike,

Your post describes exactly my prior experience with inf/riba.

Had all of those symptoms.  Was debilitated from it.  Never miss time from work, but missed most of the 2 weeks I endured.  All went away after cessation of inf/riba.  Hard to tell which did it.  
Eventually it lead me to abandon treatment .  Can't read xrays between coughing and throwing up.  Can't sleep through it. Can't be around your kids ('cause you just don't want to get them sick in case it is infectious and not drug-related)

Drug-induced depression doesn't help either, but I think the depression was a reaction to the way I felt from the meds.

Robo

[nygirl7]

It's the air moving in and out that makes me cough. "

That sounds like asthma to me although I think it's the anemia causing it perhaps an inhaler of regular old albuterol or something might help loosen the airways for you?

I'm not doctor but after a lifetime of watching my daughter with all her inhalers........I've seen how much they can help with that. Or maybe one of the new type ones that you do once a day preventatively (Serevent might be the name of one? she has so many I can't remember them all).

It's something to ask about that might help anyway. Like Kristina said inflammatory things are problems with IFN I believe so maybe there is something you can do about it if it's that difficult to deal with (or have you checked your CBC lately because my hemo just TANKED fast and I could not breathe at all when it did, of course my stupid GI sent me for a chest xray and it took awhile for him to get that the anemia onset was that sudden thank God due to the forum I knew better).

[Kristina538]

Early in my 6 month tx I started getting the riba cough - I was so sure it was a chest infection coming on that I went to the ER (in the middle of the night lol).   They were brilliant, and despite my neuts being so low - I had no infection.  

I think the litres of water I was drinking helped - I actually got used to recognizing it for what it was - but watch for other sx's like sore chest, or barking cough bronchitis.     Mine wasn't producing much, but it did produce something - I figured it was some kind of inflammatory response from my lungs (plus I did get hayfever badly during tx too).

[Diane12855]

I read that article which was very informative. It mentions fever which I am assuming means over 101, and mine never gets that high, so hopefully it doesn't apply to me. The article did make me realize that I need to talk to my doctor about my cough though.

Nygirl... sounds a lot like this feels. I'd be fine if I just didn't have to breathe. It's the air moving in and out that makes me cough.

GDSgirl... I used to get bronchitis every year before I quit smoking... I feel for you. I have a completely unproductive cough though, which isn't anything like the bronchitis I used to get.


Diane

[nygirl7]

I remember what it felt like - my daughter has had COPD since she was 2 just thinking this is what she deals with every single day and night (was in the ER last night - she's 22 now) breaks my heart.

And yet she hardly never complains (to the point she won't say anything until she needs the ER).  She's stronger than I am that is for sure.

[djbn13]

You described a symptom of COPD perfectly.  

[mikesimon]

Hopefully not on point but something to be aware of: "interstitial pneumonitis"
                              
                                

Diagnosis and management of interstitial pneumonitis
associated with interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C

Abstract
Interstitial pneumonitis (IP) is an uncommon pulmonary
complication associated with interferon (IFN) therapy for
chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Pneumonitis
can occur at any stage of HCV treatment, ranging from
2 to 48 wk, usually in the first 12 wk. Its most common
symptoms are dyspnoea, dry cough, fever, fatigue, arthralgia
or myalgia, and anorexia, which are reversible in
most cases after cessation of IFN therapy with a mean
subsequent recovery time of 7.5 wk. Bronchoalveolar
lavage in combination with chest high resolution computed
tomography has a high diagnostic value. Prompt
discontinuation of medication is the cornerstone, and
corticosteroid therapy may not be essential for patients
with mild-moderate pulmonary functional impairment.
The severity of pulmonary injury is associated with the
rapid development of IP. We suggest that methylprednisolone
pulse therapy followed by low dose prednisolone
for a short term is necessary to minimize the risk of
fatal pulmonary damage if signs of significant pulmonary
toxicity occur in earlier stage. Clinicians should be aware
of the potential pulmonary complication related to the
drug, so that an early and opportune diagnosis can be......."

http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/16/4394.pdf

[GSDgirl]

I honestly can't answer your question.  That is one side that I did not get but you just described the bronchitis that I have right now.  Almost cough till ya puke.  Hope it goes away soon for you.

[nygirl7]

I'm not exactly sure but I had always envisioned between having any slight anemia and then the dehydration on top it causes the little tubes in there to be aggravated (as well as not receiving enough oxygen) so they aren't as moist as they need to be to move things around efficiently. Of course that is t he most unscientic answer you'll probably get but it made sense to me when I had it.