Anyone here have mysterious hacking cough with no causes?

[groze5858]

Anyone here have mysterious hacking cough with no causes? Did you ever get it diagnosed?

This hacking cough comes at all times but it is worse after eating or drinking.  It is just very annoying.  Before surgery the cough hacking only happened at bed time

It got worse after surgery.  I had aortic valve replacement & a maze procedure done in Nov 2013.
My cardiologist, pulmonologist,  asthma and primary doctor can't find what is wrong,  I don't know what doctor to go to now. all that left is a gastroenterologist or ear nose & throat doctor.   Either way,  I am not sure I want that reason it tubes inserted into you.


Here is my prescription medication
ProAir HFR inhaler as needed
Digoxin 250 MCG tablet one once a day in the morning.
Metoprolol Tartrate 100mg one twice a day.
Pradaxa 150mg one twice a day.
Lasix 40 mg one once a day at night
Spiriva Respimat two puffs once a day.  (Helped a little but have issues using it.)

[groze5858]

I think it is Lasix like Dr Andrew Rynne said.   I am not saying that because he is a doctor.   My elderly mother help me recall a time my cough was better.  It was when I was off Lasix for 3 weeks.  My area we are limited with doctors and specialist you have to go out of town to a big city.  So, I can't keep changing doctors, some doctors don't accept all insurances.   The only things that worries me about stopping Lasix,  I don't want fluid to reach the lungs.  I have minor fluid in the bottom of legs  (Kind of above the ankle but on the leg).  The cough not also dry either.  It actually both with & without phlegm.  The phlegm is clear.

[margypops]

I have had a dry hacking cough for the last year, I also get headaches, and my limbs also give me pain. I have been everywhere ,done everything , to no avail.I am now convinced its environmental caused by the continual aerial spraying they are doing.

[caregiver222]

A dry (throat clearing) cough is a common side effect of metoprolol tartrate, as well as lisonopril. The reasons are unclerar, but there is a genetic componant.

If this drug is being presribed for blood pressurer ask your physician to consider a change to Losartan.

[groze5858]

Sorry about my grammar.  Yes & no but when I do have phlegm it is always clear.   The cough hacking is not constant but it happens through out the day & evening.   More so after eating & drinking.   Is there a substitute in the U.S. for Lasix?   I am taking lasix to prevent swelling in the lungs.  I have a very small swelling in my legs (near my ankle) currently.  


TheLightSeeker

On the Medication,  I will have to look back and see what I was on before surgery if I still have the records-I probably don't have those.    I do know the cause is not Digoxin.   I do remember I was on  Metoprolol Tartrate before surgery.   I can't remember if I was on Lasix though.  I think I was on Lasix.   I had a CBC test recently everything is ok according to my Primary Doctor & ER Doctor.   I do like my doctors. Just because they can't find what is wrong doesn't make them bad doctors.

[AndRynne]

Would help to know if the cough is productive or not. Some medications can cause cough as a side effect and Lasix might be one of them. It would be interesting o see if discontinuing a medication would help and I would start with Lasix. You are on quite a lot of medication and it may be the combination that's the problem.

[TheLightSeeker]

Some of your meds may actually be the cause of  exasperated hacking cough.
This a reportable  event and your prescribing doctor should be notified asap if the  surgeon dismisses totally any association with the surgery. You have access to any details regarding your surgery, so this can be verified.
There's  a possible interaction between Digoxin and Lasix, which may be causing lower levels of potassium and magnesium.
Digoxin? Were you made  aware of the high risks  associated with this drug? You need to really question this. IDN
Was there a risk/benefit analysis to warrant this?
I suggest you have Mg and  K levels checked, in both tissue and serum.
Your doctor will likely only order the blood test, however these
electrolyte minerals are found also in all the tissues.
As a matter fact magnesium in only about 1.5% in the blood circulation, so chances are your doctor will tell you that it is fine.  There are mechanisms in place to keep mineral levels steady within a narrow range in the blood.
I'm mentioning this because of the critical functions these minerals are involved, like electrical conduction, muscle contraction, fluid balance, blood pressure regulation, digestion, heart rhythm, healthy immune system , blood sugar
control...
If your doctor does not consider this important (did s/he check this interaction prior to prescribing?) you may need to find a new doctor. It is not only your right, it is your LIFE!
You may already be low in magnesium and to a lesser possibility low in potassium, which would constitute a significant risk factor.
Spiriva Respimat may be helping a little, but may be also irritating your throat , contributing to the perpetuation of your coughing.
Paradoxically, it seems that there's a likelihood your  meds
may be causing you problems, they were  prescribed to treat!
Check the ratings of all your doctors and do ask a lot of questions.
Best wishes,
Niko