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Old 06-08-2021, 09:19 PM
 
57 posts, read 62,327 times
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I am a 40 yo male.

For the past 5 years I have been getting extreme coughing fits AFTER a cold/flu, which lasts 14 days on average.

When the usual symptoms clear up (fever, congestion, colored mucus, productive cough,etc), it doesn't fail, the cough creeps up on me over the next few days and gets so extreme, I can barely lead a normal life.

I will have coughing fits so violent that I'll end up throwing up, and then cough some more. I can cough for half an hour, get a 5 minutes break to catch my breath, then it's on again. The cough is non productive, except for clear mucus and saliva. I once broke a rib coughing so hard.

It doesn't matter if it's a harsh cold or just a tiny harmless one. Recentaly, I was probably really sick for no longer than day (sore throat, mild fever, yellow mucus) and it cleared up quickly, but as usual, over days, it started again I have been coughing for almost two weeks now.

People usually think I am just complaining but when they actually witness me coughing over time, they realize how much it is disrupting and debilitating. My wife works in healthcare with elderly and she's never seen someone cough as much.

I get super tight in the chest, my throat tickles like crazy and I just can't help it. Anything will trigger it...walking, shower, getting up, sitting, eating...

I have been prescribed ventilors with cortisoids. They barely do anything. So I am ruling out post-viral asthma. I have been prescibed some pretty powerful cough suppressant and they don't do anything.

I was told it might be post-nasal drip so I have used neti pots and decongestant. Decongestant help a little if I take a bunch of them, but I get a little 'high' on pseudoephedrine and it's not a pleasant feeling (anxiety, nervousness). It's not much worth it. So I think that rules out post nasal drip as well, especially since considering it's a dry cough.

Medecine for allergies doesn't do jack.

It's not allergies. It's clearly not bacterial. It's not post-nasal drip. It's probably not asthma. I figured it might be viral bronchitis and that I am sensible to that, but I am asking here, if anyone anywhere has had taht experience following ANY respiratory infection and if by miracle, they have had success with a specific treatment.


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Old 06-08-2021, 10:00 PM
 
17,297 posts, read 13,042,795 times
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Have you had a complete work-up with a pulmonologist?


That's the best start
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Old 06-08-2021, 10:37 PM
 
806 posts, read 849,184 times
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A family member had intense coughing that went on for several years and it took a long time to diagnose. It was Bronchiectasis. A few years earlier there had been pneumonia, then recurrent bronchitis, and always intense coughing such as you described above. Went to a good Pulmonary doctor and he thought it was Gerd and asthma. Treated for these for a long time but wasn't getting better. Then a sputum sample was cultured and it had Staph in it. They did IGG blood tests on her immune system and found out she had immune deficiency. Did antibiotics and a steroid; then started on Hyzentra immunoglobulin infusions every two weeks which boosted the immune system. Also used the Vibrating Vest which worked wonders by shaking upper body to loosen up and release the gunk deep inside the airways (which is hard to clear if you have Bronchiectasis).

Read up on Bronchiectasis and see if it feels like what you have. Next trip to the Pulmonary doctor, ask them about it.

https://www.nationaljewish.org/condi...bronchiectasis

You said "my throat tickles like crazy". If it's a tickly throat causing it, I would try Chloraseptic sore throat spray (available at CVS or any drug store). It numbs the back of the throat and stops the tickle.

I'm so sorry you're going this. No one should have to cough until they throw up -- I saw first hand how debilitating it can be. You need to find the right doctor and get this treated soon. I wish you good luck and improved health.
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Old 06-09-2021, 04:39 PM
 
10,950 posts, read 6,672,174 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike1003 View Post
Have you had a complete work-up with a pulmonologist?

That's the best start
Yes, see a pulmonologist for a complete workup including a sputum sample.

I was diagnosed at birth with PCD (primary ciliary dyskinesia). (It's also called Kartagener's Syndrome.) It causes coughing fits because the cilia hairs don't move fast enough to clean the lungs. When things build up in my lungs, that's when I start coughing very hard, frequently, and often spasmodically. The lungs trying to clean themselves.

The easiest way doctors tell if you have PCD is if you have situs inversus totalis, dextrocardia. That means all your vital organs are on the opposite side of where they normally are in the body. Dextrocardia means the heart is on the right side instead of the left.

Like another poster's relative, I have bronchiectasis. A main symptom is spasmodic coughing. It is incurable, but manageable. I've had it since I was 17 years old (I am a Boomer).

Another reason for hard, frequent, spasmodic coughing is a bacterial infection. I recently had pseudomonas and streptococcus which required fluoroquinolones (i.e. Levaquin). The benefits outweigh the risks when there is a serious lung infection. Pseudomonas is very difficult to entirely get rid of, so likely will need meds periodically. The strep is gone. Pseudomonas is likely gotten from soil and moist, wet environments, black mold, dry rot in older buildings, etc.

I would also add to see an infectious diseases physician, to rule out any fungal infection, as well as the pseudomonas and streptococcus.

PS Doctors always prescribe inhalers to me but I don't use them. I find it makes my lungs worse. It also makes you jumpy (nervous). I won't use them. I don't feel I need them.

Another thing you might be prescribed is an Afflovest. This pounds the chest and helps get secretions out. I use it once or twice a day, but not every day.

Because of the tickle in your throat an allergist might be in order since things drips down into the lungs. Are you absolutely sure it's not allergies or bacterial?

Even if it's viral, you still need to see the condition of your lungs and how much damage there is, if any.

Last edited by pathrunner; 06-09-2021 at 04:54 PM..
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Old 06-10-2021, 02:57 PM
 
Location: USA
8,839 posts, read 5,874,378 times
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There could be other causes of the chronic cough.

1. Laryngopharyngeal reflux: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/healt...eal-reflux-lpr
2. Neurogenic cough: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/l...043-2/fulltext

Specialist FL: Dr. Sher, http://centerforcough.com/
Specialist NY: Dr. Zalvan, https://www.westchestervoicedoc.com/...chronic-cough/
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Old 06-11-2021, 08:48 AM
 
9,712 posts, read 7,534,804 times
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If I take a cold medicine, it makes me feel a little better, but it drains everything into my lungs and I cough for weeks after the cold is over.

So, I quit taking cold meds 40 years ago. The only exception is I may take an expectorant only to cough out the phlegm.

Now I rarely get colds at all.
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