I've had a cough for about 7 years now

I hate to be the one bearing bad news, but it sounds like you may actually want to get this checked out. It sounds like you may actually be going through something I went through except I survived whooping cough that developed over the period of a year, but our hospital kept missing it since the right tests were not taken. Strangely enough, I started responding very well to an inhaler despite not having a history of asthma. You may or may not have had a history of asthma, but it can be developed any time in life. This is known as adult onset asthma. Sometimes prolonged respiratory infections can cause from what I experienced, because I must now keep up with maintaining a therapeutic level of inhalants to keep the cough variant asthma under control. Going without my inhalant for too long can have serious consequences because the coughing will get out of control until it becomes very violent just like the whooping cough did. You may want to see if you respond to an inhaler, and if you do, you definitely have asthma. Asthma has various triggers, so if you can find your triggers, you'll know how to handle the situation. Another thing that helps me is to brush my tongue. You want to check your tongue to see if you have that light colored coating on the top of it. If you do, you also want to see if brushing your tongue with a firm bristled brush and a very good toothpaste. Clean your tongue will definitely help to keep coughing under control from what I've experienced. It will help, but I know it's not a cure. Sometimes brushing my tongue, especially toward the back helps to prolong times between inhaler treatments, at least for me. All bacteria that builds up on the tongue will contribute to chronic coughing that won't go away, but an infection will also contribute to it. Another thing I must include is that if you or someone in your household smokes, you'll definitely want to take the proper steps to quit or to work something out with whoever else in your household is smoking around you. Don't back down if this is what's causing your cough, you need to set and firmly enforce boundaries because you're the one suffering if your air is being polluted. If there are any other pollutants in your air but may be causing your cough, you'll definitely need to discover what it is and take proper steps toward addressing it. If you happen to have allergies or even suspect that you do, you'll definitely want to speak to your doctor about it. If you've never had an allergy test to see what you're allergic to, you may want to ask your doctor about an allergy test to see if you might even be allergic to dust mites or even mold. Black mold is definitely the most dangerous because it can rob you of your health. If you happen to have a wet basement, this can promote mold growth, which will interfere with your respiratory health as well as your overall health. If you have extra moisture in your house, it wouldn't be a bad idea to use a dehumidifier. If your air happens to be too dry, a humidifier will definitely help. What you can also do is try an air filtering system and even check your furnace filter. Sometimes a dirty furnace filter will contribute to respiratory problems.

 

After reading your post again, I thought at first you might be a minor, because you could easily contact the CPS if you were. Since you're apparently not, see if you can get alternate transportation and see if you can get a hold of your insurance card if you know where it's at. I may not know why you're still living with your parents as an adult, but what I can suggest is definitely trying to get out from under them if at all possible so you can go to the doctor as you need to. If you ever have any friends who have witnessed this cough you're describing, perhaps your friends can talk to your parents privately about it. See if your friends can stand firm for you on your behalf if by chance they may have witnessed this cough. Coughing spells can become so violent they can actually break your ribs and do other damage. If anyone has actually witnessed this cough, you need to speak to them privately and see how they may privately talk to your parents without you being there. Just have them talk to them as an observant individual who has witnessed you coughing but don't let them know that you sent that person. This person will definitely have to be willing to speak to your parents on your behalf. The best time to speak to your parents is right after a rough coughing spell, especially if that coughing spell causes you to gasp for air at the end. I hope that you can get to the bottom of this, and if absolutely necessary, you can see if one of your friends can secretly drive you to the hospital to get checked out. Another thing you can do is see if your friends can take you to your doctor themselves. If you can get in touch with a medical professional, tell them the situation with your parents and how long this cough has lasted. Let them handle it from there

Hi

Difficult not knowing how old you are hun and which country your are from.  I know just how debilitating agoraphobia can be and how difficult living with a chronic lung condition.

From what you say it sounds as if you ae a young adult.  Do you have any friends you can confide in and who could help you get to the doctors without your parents.

You need help sweetheart with the agoraphobia and also refering to a specialist to investigate the ongoing problems you are having with the cough.

Take control and do it hun.  I have every faith in you.

love cx