pneumonia is gone but cough is still here

[coughing1insyracuse]

I have asthma and had been coughing a good bit and felt something in my chest so went to my asthma Dr and I was told on Junuary 19th that I have pneumonia after having an x-ray done. They put me on Biaxen and on the 21st had me go for blood work. On the 23 tests showed that I had a drug induced hepatitis from what they thought was the Biaxen. They admitted me to the hospital for these two things that day. I was released on the 25th. Seen my primary Dr on the 29th, had blood work and another x-ray on the 30th. Was sent to a gastro Dr on the 3rd of Febuary. More blood work was done on the 6th of Feb. Seen my primary Dr today the 10th of Feb and the blood work shows that my liver results are back to normal and my x-ray shows no pneumonia anymore. So even though all these are normal and I am on all my neb treatments from the asthma Dr., I still can't talk without having a coughing fit that leads into what I call tunnel vision mini blackouts. I am short of breath and get wiped out very easy from doing very little. I have been out of work this entire time on a medical leave. My primary told me to go see my asthma Dr now and see if they think I should see an ENT Dr or a Pulmonary Specialist.... I just want some answers. I am not feeling anywhere close to 100% and can not imagine to continue much longer this way. Any idea's.......

[National Jewish Health]

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to have a cough persist, for days, weeks or even months after a respiratory infection.  This is especially true for a person with asthma, whose asthmatic airways may have become inflamed due to an infection and then remain inflamed, even though the infection has cleared.  The mini-blackouts are a common adverse effect of hard coughing and you must take precautions to hold-on or sit-down, especially if on a stairway when the cough begins.  I, too, believe that you should see your asthma doctor as you may well need a temporary boost in asthma therapy until this acute illness passes.  And, when you see the asthma doctor, be sure to ask if possibly the alleged pneumonia was not due to infection but instead, due to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), sometimes referred to as allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM).

Good luck.

[wannasing]

I had a long bout of bronchitis from which I am still suffering the cough (infection cleared up about 3 weeks ago), which is apparently not unusual for an asthmatic.  I did nebulizer treatments for two separate stretches during this illness, and at one point, although it was opening up my bronchi, I was sure it was causing excessive coughing.  I've been told by one allergist that there is such a thing as too much medication.  Go see a pulmonologist -- they may recommend switching to a regular inhaled steroid, or a course of oral steroid to bring down the inflammation, which should in time relieve the cough (or so I have been told by mine).
Hope you feel better soon-