Ugh. Cough that just won't go away.

[highland145]

At the end of the day it did turn out to be my lifestyle that was the cause of it all. Whoda thunk a fifth of liquor a day might cause health problems...

Might be on to something.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2151461

 

[Wyndru]

Like some others have said, it sounds viral. I have very similar symptoms, and the docs keep telling me to wait it out. I've been hacking and having problems breathing since late February.

 

[manlymatt83]

I used nearly every major proton pump inhibitor on the market over the course of 5 or so years and none of them helped me much. Prilosec is one I was on for years that barely helped.

Hilariously, ranitidine (aka Zantac) worked much better at controlling my symptoms, and it cost like 10% of what the PPI's cost. I remember picking up a bottle of Nexium when I was living in Seattle, and for some reason they forgot to bill my insurance. The bill they handed me was like $200. I LOL'd. On a whim I bought some generic Ranitadine and found it worked much better at controlling that burning, tough-to-breath, full sensation I always seemed to have in my upper chest.

At the end of the day it did turn out to be my lifestyle that was the cause of it all. Whoda thunk a fifth of liquor a day might cause health problems...

Cool. I'll keep that in mind. Lower the drinking a bit.

 

[eits]

I used nearly every major proton pump inhibitor on the market over the course of 5 or so years and none of them helped me much. Prilosec is one I was on for years that barely helped.

Hilariously, ranitidine (aka Zantac) worked much better at controlling my symptoms, and it cost like 10% of what the PPI's cost. I remember picking up a bottle of Nexium when I was living in Seattle, and for some reason they forgot to bill my insurance. The bill they handed me was like $200. I LOL'd. On a whim I bought some generic Ranitadine and found it worked much better at controlling that burning, tough-to-breath, full sensation I always seemed to have in my upper chest.

At the end of the day it did turn out to be my lifestyle that was the cause of it all. Whoda thunk a fifth of liquor a day might cause health problems...

almost always the case... it annoys me when people are prescribed ppi rather than getting healthy.

so, who's the doctor? the guy who gives you pills to continue being unhealthy but reduce symptoms (and create side effects) or the one who can make you get healthy again so you don't have symptoms anymore?

 

[manlymatt83]

Woke up this morning in a hotel in Florida and my throat was just as dry and I was coughing... so maybe it isn't my apartment.

 

[spinejam]

My personal opinions:

Chronic Bronchitis which can linger for months -- try some Tussinex. (Rx cough medicine)

Asthma can certainly mimic this too. Use your inhaler - PRN

Don't eat 2 hours before bedtime and no booze! 🙁

Take Vitamin D3 and get plenty of rest.

If this fails to improve your condition w/in a week, then it's time for chest xray. Most likely it will be negative....but you've had this cough too long not to have one.

Good luck -- hope you feel better! 🙂

 

[Jeffg010]

Also check if you have bleeding gums. I had that and it was causing me to have a bad cough in the morning. I was bad for not going to the dentist. Once he cleaned my teeth that went away.

 

[eits]

could be. but, like i said, i think it's viral. sometimes it can take a couple months to clear up.

could be both.

try buying some quality probiotics, l-lysine, and 5000 iu of vitamin d3. try taking those daily and see what happens within the next week.

have you done this, matty?

 

[tcsenter]

so, who's the doctor? the guy who gives you pills to continue being unhealthy but reduce symptoms (and create side effects) or the one who can make you get healthy again so you don't have symptoms anymore?

The guy who gives him pills to continue being unhealthy but reduce symptoms while also advising lifestyle changes that can do the same without meds with hugely variable success (along with printed material that explains it).

Its not like doctors (real ones) don't tell people this stuff or provide them the information. People don't listen to it.

 

[Modular]

Are you on any anti-anxiety meds?

 

[eits]

The guy who gives him pills to continue being unhealthy but reduce symptoms while also advising lifestyle changes that can do the same without meds with hugely variable success (along with printed material that explains it).

Its not like doctors (real ones) don't tell people this stuff or provide them the information. People don't listen to it.

lol you're funny 🙂

 

[Springchick45]

Referencing this thread.... http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2152599

For about a month now, I've been encountering some interesting symptoms. At first I thought it was mold, and then I thought it might be my neighbor's incense next door, but now I have no idea what's going on. I've been to the doctor twice, and both times they say "your lungs are clear, and your cough is coming from your throat".

Long story short, when I wake up, it's the worst. I feel like someone is stepping on my chest and when I cough, I sound like I have bronchitis. After about 15 minutes of waking up, the cough gets better, and it's no longer so deep and dry. But throughout the day I cough... seems to get better when I leave my home (and it seems to get almost better when I'm outside, versus inside a building like work or home).

My lungs do seem clear... if I take a deep and exhale, sometimes it makes me cough, but nothing seems congested. My nose is always clear (doesn't run, don't need tissues).

I'm a bit worried that this could be something more serious. But I've been to the doctors twice and they simply say my lungs are clear/must be a cold, etc. The last time I was there they suggested allergies, but I don't get allergies.

I'm thinking it may have something to do with my home, perhaps mold or my next door neighbors, but I can't tell. And I have a HEGA air filter that should be picking up that stuff before it even gets under my front door (if it is).

I do have two cats in an enclosed space, and their litter box is in my bedroom, but it's covered. Perhaps that's irritating me while I sleep. I haven't had a chance to sleep elsewhere yet to see if it gets fixed.

Even though things seem better in the afternoons, the cough still sticks around. Yesterday I was at my computer at work and coughed and, no joke (gross I know), a bit of clear mucus landed on my computer screen about 3 feet away. Luckily, no one saw (and I tried to cover my mouth, for those who were going to ask, but didn't get there in time).

Any thoughts? I feel like crap 🙁

Manlymatt83, what was your diagnosis?

 

[manlymatt83]

Oh man, I honestly don't remember. Those were towards the end of my hypochondriac days.... I think it was just a really long cold? I'm still alive...