lorna 37853

Posted , 4 users are following.

I've had a cough for a very long time.  Various things can set it off e.g. using toothpaste, coffee etc etc.

It can often just start with a tickle then go on and on.  I was told it was post nasal drip, and certainly I do feel as though catarrh is sticking to the sides of my upper throat.

I've had two x-rays over a number of years, and was told my lungs were in good order.

The only thing that seems to help is Olbas pastilles.  At least they are not a medical prescription.

When I start to cough, for whatever reason, it just goes on and on for ages.  It often wakens me up during the night, just with the tickle, then I have to take an Olbas and eventually, hopefully, get back to sleep.

There does seem to be a slightly yellow mucus.

I can't understand how something like this can go on for so many years.  Bringing the subject up with doctors gets no response.  I think I'm going to have to push harder.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Hello Lorna

     In this day and age there should be something to help you  do you suffer from nerves or anxiety?  I have a cough because I have bronchiactesis  but I do notice that once I feel aware of my cough , it becomes worse. Another visit to your doctor would be good.  If you tell him/her that it is stopping you from sleeping, that might help. Good luck 

    • Posted

      Hi  Marion

      Re anxiety, I have had a very bad year for health problems.  Even my GP thinks that.  I've needed scans, blood tests for my Temporal Arteritis etc etc.  It has always seemed to be one thing after another, in quick succession.  I had a bad fall this morning.  No broken bones, but a very nasty facial haematoma that will take much longer to mend, and disappear, than an ordinary bruise.  If I wasn't anxious before I must be by now 

      You may well be right about awareness making coughs worse, and it is certainly more "predictable" now i.e. is it going to happen when I go to bed or is it going to cause lots of problems when I am trying to talk to people, especially when I'm on the phone.

      I'll try the GPs again, though they might be fed up seeing me, after all the problems this year.  I do have an ongoing one as well.......

      Thanks for your comments Marion.  I am sorry you have bronchiactesis.  I had not heard of it before, but it doesn't sound good at all.

      Best wishes

    • Posted

      Hi Lorna,

      ?Yellow or green mucus is a sign of an infection. You may need an antibiotic.  If the pastilles have a anti-bacterial element to them that would help with your throat but it won't get to your lungs, what's in the pastilles is not strong enough.

       

  • Posted

    Your symptoms sound just like mine!  I have had coughing on and off for years without a clear diagnosis, everything from postnasal drip to allergies to asthma.  This has been a bad year for allergies here where I live and I started coughing again during the spring after many years of no coughing.  Then as soon as that abated for about two months, I caught a cold or what feels like a cold; sore throat, tired and a raspy cough.  It can be a bit productive at times with a scant clear mucus maybe with a bit of yellow.  Either mine is chronic allergies or perhaps asthma related as I was diagnosed with that as a child.  Keep us posted to your findings and good luck!  I do feel your pain! 
    • Posted

      Hello Yvonne

      We are obviously sufferers with no help to be expected from our GPs.  Perhaps they just don't know what it is, except perhaps PND.

      I used to get relief during a sunny holiday, but that of course didn't last. Plus, this year, our summer has been extremely poor and, perhaps, if I remember correctly (!) it was only May that showed any sign of summer.  Since then we seem to have one or two beautiful days at a time, then back to frequent rain.

      Oh well, we will just have to continue to put up with it.  Deep breathing can sometimes help.  Drinking a lot of water works sometimes, but not always.

      If you haven't tried them, go for Sterimar and Nose Buddy.  The latter is based on a yogi treatment, it can be a bit strange to use at times, and a bit fussy, but you may as well try.   Sterimar is simply made from sea water.

      Have a good weekend.

       

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