Cough and chest symptoms for five weeks. Worried.
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi
I'm looking for advice as this is getting me down now. I started with a sore throat and cold on 24 June. That turned into sinusitis and I also had a productive cough, severe headaches, and chest discomfort. I went to walk in centre three times and each time was told chest is clear and it's just a virus.
On the second visit I was given antibiotics as preventative measure as I'm prone to chest infections.
That carried on for a few weeks and I started to feel better around 16 July.
Then yesterday I woke up with a fever, stuffed nose and the cough again.
Today I have a dry cough and feel a strange tightness at the base of my throat and upper chest. I also have upper back pain but that's not unusual for me.
I'm really worried now because I feel like I can't catch a proper breath and I also have a metallic taste and my chest feels tight. I've always had a sore chest though, so that's not necessarily related to this.
I have two severe colds each year around July and December and they always turn into chest infections and take a good month or so to clear up.
Also when I'm well, I'm often clearing my throat to stop my voice being hoarse.
Can anyone help please? I'm worried in case this is pneumonia or something.
0 likes, 4 replies
patricia_44110 rochelle3103
Posted
Have you tried an antihistamine. I started yesterday after weeks of a bad chest and it's really helped
rochelle3103 patricia_44110
Posted
Hi Patricia
No I haven't. What would you recommend please?
Fizzi rochelle3103
Posted
I am not a doctor but can only offer suggestions based on my own nightmare. I have been ill since mid June, initially a chest infection which because of extreme and violent coughing then went to laryngitis and loss of voice - voice now starting to come back only now. However as I have mild and usually non problematic asthma the doctors have all focussed on that. I am still bloody coughing and KNOW it is not the asthma. Frustration all round. To the poit I am now researcing the internet. My chest xray came back clear. If I can stop coughing my throat would heal and my voice would come back. I would put money on it. Anyway, I've now seen an ENT doctor due to my loss of voice - she looked at the larynx and said it was alright - just needed to ride it out. She also prescribed me med for possible (but not confirmed) silent reflux. During all this I've kept coughing. The chest pain you describe is likely to be from the strain of coughing. Mine, at it's worst felt like I've been in some sort of severe accident as it was so sore back and front. The tightness you describe sounds to me lile asthma and/or a possible allergy triggering things. I would suggest you see your GP and query if you have asthma. They can check and also give you a reliver inhaler which may help you. The throat clearing thing is a vicious circle - stop that and you get your voice back. Easier said than done. Constant troat clearing can also be a sign of post nasal drip and/or silent reflux. You need to get these ruled in/out. The trigger for all your woes sounds simialr to mine - a nast upper respiratory tract infection - the infection now being cleared and us trying to cope with the fall out. I'm certain my problem NOW is a traumatised larynx nerve which has become so sensitive the cough just takes over at the slightest provotaction, a yawn, a sigh, etc... Having done some research of my own, it is possible a drug called amitriptyline may help me and my doc has agreed to try me on a low dose for a short while. This drug is usually prescribed for other things but is known to help neuropathic problems too, which I'm now convinced my cough is - and no doctor has disproved otherwise. I dont think you have pneumonia - you would bomce very ill very quickly if you had it. See you GP and dont leave until they rule out checking for asthma, allergies and silent reflux. Good luck.
Fizzi
Posted