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Chronic Cough - Very worried please help with some advise

Posted , 12 users are following.

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Guest

Hello all, this is my first post here and I am very worried. If you can give me some advice I would greatly appreciate it. My wife, aged 32 active female nonsmoker had a cold with a very slight fever about 7 weeks ago. She got better in a few days but lost her voice for a day or two from which she recovered well. However, after that, she began coughing and has been for 6 weeks now. At the beginning, I got her  an OTC anti-inflammatory spray and some lozenges. The spray didn't help and mad her gag a few times. We went to the first GP and he said her lungs were fine and gave her an expectorant. She was coughing all throughout the day, sometimes in fits. The expectorant didn't work and we went to the ER. They gave us a cough syrup, some ibuprofen, and an antihistamine. We barely saw any improvement and the cough came back when we stopped the syrup.  We went again to the ER to follow up and they gave us Codeine syrup, again an antihistamine and some antacids. We didn't see any improvement and were frustrated so we ordered a chest x-ray which was clear. We went to a lung specialist and he said it could be asthma (even though she has never had any breathing problems and is very energetic). He gave her an inhaler with steroids which she has been using for 24 hours and we haven't seen any improvement. She has not been sleeping at all for 3 days and took some codeine phosphate syrup last night just so she can sleep for a few hours. This morning, the cough is back.

She has no symptoms associated with what I've read online. No fever, weight loss, night sweats, weakness, fatigue, chest pain, shoulder pain, difficulty breathing, clubbing, coughing up blood. Nothing.

She also says she feels two kinds of coughs. One that comes from her lungs which she feels better when she coughs something out (even though there is nothing that comes out), and another one that comes from a very itchy throat. She says she feels her throat is scratched. Sometimes, steam showers help her, other times not so much. I have been reading so much online and I am very worried, distressed and unable to cope/function. We both haven't slept much are unable to work. I have taken a leave from my job. A part of me feels that it is a cough and it will pass and the other part wants to make sure I do everything in my power and whatever it takes to see my wife not suffering this much. Last night she coughed till the point of gagging and almost vomiting. I read about tumors, and pulmonary fibrosis and got so worried - but after 6 stethoscopes and an x-ray, wouldn't one of those doctors notice something abnormal in her lungs? She has no genetic history of any of these diseases.

It is worth mentioning that her aunt (not blood-related) developed a respiratory disease after starting a new job as a municipality Gardner. They initially thought it was asthma. And within 2 months she had lost around 15kg - ending up with 2 lung biopsies and eventually dying (all within 3 months). Nobody ever told me what she had, the family was too distressed to know. She was basically a healthy 55-year-old casual smoker who was fit and active. She weighed around 50KG.

So we are very paranoid about why my wife is coughing that much and I would appreciate any help/advice/insight because I feel miserable.

Thank you.

1 like, 37 replies

37 Replies

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  • james67815
    james67815 Guest

    Posted

    Hi how is your wife doing . Did u find out what it was as I'm the same for last 7 weeks . Inhalers not working . And better when laying down .

  • ed61100
    ed61100 Guest

    Posted

    Chronic coughing that doesn't seem to go away, meaning lasting for months or years, blood test for Sjogrens Syndrome. My mother spent thousands over 20 yrs to find a cure for her chronic cough. Went through all sorts of treatment. Drs should test for Sjogrens Syndrome. It is more involved than dry eyes. It can lead to other diseases and eventually attack internal organs.

  • Ray-Z
    Ray-Z Guest

    Posted

    I have it also. I've been coughing for almost 2 years with no relief. So many doctors i have visited. Most say its GERD but i have done gastroscopy and phmetry that ruled out i have reflux. I have check bacteria culture and clean. Xray clean. Asthma drugs gives small relief but no improvement. And finaly after 2 years. I found the doctor who found my problem. It is called HRADS, Hyper Reactive Airway Disease Syndrom. Its look like asthma but not asthma. Anything could make my airways spasm and cause coughing, from drinking water, eating food, cold air. Because the cough is so frequent it causes the reflux and the reflux worsen the cough. I've been treated with a mixed medicine by the doctor and have great improvement so far. The type of steroid treatment is different than asthma. Maybe you should check.

  • lorna46396
    lorna46396 Guest

    Posted

    Hi....I don’t know if you have resolved your cough and I have total empathy and understanding for you that’s why I thought this might help.... 

    I have been suffering from a chronic cough for over 6 yrs with all the symptoms you have described... I too had tests etc but nothing touched it and I just deal with it on a day to day basis thinking this is my life!!!!

    About 3weeks ago while in my spare bedroom having one of my many spasms in the middle of the night I googled chronic cough and clicked on this video entitled sensory neuropathic cough..... .... well it was like someone suddenly understood my cough and what I was going through 100%.... I was elated to say the least....basically a past viral infection damages the nerve endings in your throat so understandably no usual treatments work..... he went on to say that there are several meds you can start to take but As this was to do with nerve damage I thought rather than go down the tablet route straight away I would try acupuncture..... I found a reputable one near me and was booked in within a week..... she went through all my history asked lots of questions checked my tongue etc before starting..... I wanted it to work so badly but was a bit sceptical as I’d had it for so long.... she dealt with my lungs, spleen, excess mucus and stress/anxiety pressure points......after two days I noticed a considerable reduction in my coughing and mucus levels.... and my head felt clearer.... I kept waiting for it to revert back but it didn’t..

    I thought it was too good to be true.... I felt my coughs were fewer and further between not so intense and more controlled ... I’ve been again today for my second session and I can’t tell you how positive I feel and how well it’s worked for me...... I have another session next week so I can keep you informed if you are interested... 

  • lorna46396
    lorna46396 Guest

    Posted

    Hi ... I wanted to update my post from two months ago regarding my chronic cough I’ve had for over 6 yrs.... I mentioned that I went to an acupuncturist and I did 5 sessions... initially I started to feel better in myself and my cough appeared to improve but it wasn’t long lasting and my cough was back with a vengeance so I decided to try ammatriptyline which the doctor on the video I spoke about ( Sensory Neuropathic Cough) said he would prescribe if you came to his clinic.  I went online and bought a months supply of 10mg dose and have been on them for 3 weeks now and the difference in my cough is quite remarkable.. I didn’t hold out much hope but was praying that this would work and I can honestly say my cough so far is about 80% improved ... I also still take an antihistamine every day too.... this obviously is a personal experience that has worked unbelievably well for me ... I have made an appointment to see my doctor to put him in the picture and ask if he will prescribe and monitor me on these drugs.... I live in the UK so not sure if my doctor will have heard of this diagnosis .... the American doctor show video inspired me was soy on and I’d like to shake his hand . 
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