[PHoynak]

I have had this constant cough now for who knows how long. Every so often I have to clear my throat and it feels like phlegm (sp?) or something is there but nothing. If I dont clear my throat I would lose my voice. It's not too annoying to me but my coworkers cannot stand it. I guess I am so used to it. I do take Allegra-D but that doesnt help. I am just getting over an UR infection but I had this problem before that. Does anyone has any idea what I can do to fix this?

[von Wrangell]

1. Stop smoking.
2. See a doctor.
3. Same as nr. 2.
4. Don't ask people on the internet about medical advice.
5. Same as nr. 2.

[Mithras]

I would log out, reboot, and reinstall in that order.
Seriously, what von Wrangell said.

[RAILhead]

Yeah, go see a doc. "A persistent cough can a be a sign of a much more serious problem."

Maury

[PHoynak]

I did see one...my chest is clear and I have never smoked in my life.

[RAILhead]

Originally Posted by PHoynak

I did see one...my chest is clear and I have never smoked in my life.

Then you may be OCD like my wife. She does the same thing.

Maury

[von Wrangell]

Originally Posted by PHoynak

I did see one...my chest is clear and I have never smoked in my life.

If you don't mind sharing, what tests did he make?

[ghporter]

Or you could have a persistent postnasal drip. This is a condition most non-medical, non-ear/nose/throat folks aren't too familiar with, but it can cause you a lot of grief.

When I experience it, it is accompanied by symptoms similar to allergies-except I'm not allergic to anything. Instead, it's caused by too many irritants in the air all at once-they overwhelm the immune system and I experience symptoms similar to allergic reactions, but they aren't hystamine based. The mucous membranes overexcrete mucous to try to clean themselves out, and that results in a runny nose or a postnasal drip that makes your throat scratchy or otherwise irritated.

Halls cough drops work to relieve my discomfort. And they last long enough that you'd have plenty of time to make an appointment with your doctor to get checked out ASAP.

[James L]

Phoynak,

There are many causes of chronic coughing that require more than a quick auscultation with a stethoscope to detect. Common causes of chronic coughing can include lung cancer, heart failure, development of asthma / copd (bronchitis, emphysema, etc), allergy, Gastric Esophogeal Reflux Disease, Post nasal drip, etc. There are many causes.

Asthma and other COPD type diseases can often be ruled out with chest auscultation, pulmonary function testing (pre and post bronchi dilator administration), and other tests.

Chest x-ray, biopsy, etc can determine whether or not Lung Ca is present.

Allergies are more difficult to pin down sometimes, but with a good history and tests can often be detected.

Esophogeal Reflux and Post Nasal drip definitely are the more benign of the options, and the cough is often just a byproduct of fluids entering the trachea, dripping down, and causing irritation. Antihistamine and decongestants sometimes help.

Personally, I would not end the exam with your doctor saying your chest is clear. I would keep a journal for the next week or two of the cough, detailing things like:

1) How often do you cough in a day?

2) What time of the day is it at its worst?

3) Where are you when it is at its worst?

4) What are you doing when the coughs occur, and when they are at their worst?

5) What position are you in (i.e. lying flat on your back in bed)?

6) Does anything you do make it better?

7) Does anything you do make it worse?

8) Are there areas you are in where you don't cough, or cough worse?

Be as accurate as you can, and go back to your doctor!

Cheers,

James

[FulcrumPilot]

Hot salt water gargle 5 times a day?

[brapper]

I had a cough for 3 years. Turns out I had damage to my lung caused by inhaling mold.
Go. See. A. Doc.

[Hugi]

This thread has inspired me to get a checkup. I clear my throat or cough every 1 minute or so, but doctors haven't found anything wrong with me. It's a constant irritation for me and everyone around me.

Interestingly enough, my throat usually gets noticably better when I don't drink coffee for several days. Do you drink a lot of coffee, Phoynak?

[budster101]

Me too.

BTW: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/M...dItemId=902964

What happened to the beginning with the guy coughing? Anyone have that part?

[ThinkInsane]

One of my coworkers had a persistent cough. Last week, it was diagnosed as esophageal cancer. Get it checked out.

[budster101]

Esophogeal (sp) Reflux is what I had for years. I got a prescription for Prelosec and was on that for a while and it went away. See a doctor.

[JoshuaZ]

I somehow gained a constant cough when I came home from college. Turned out to be a sever allergy reaction to my parents cats. Damn them both.

[budster101]

Your parents or the cats?

[FulcrumPilot]

Do you still cough if you were a surgical mask? wondering if you are allergic to something that you carry on your body.

[Hugi]

Originally Posted by FulcrumPilot

Do you still cough if you were a surgical mask?

No, I don't think he'd cough if he was a surgical mask.

[RAILhead]

Originally Posted by Hugi

No, I don't think he'd cough if he was a surgical mask.

HUGI IS TEH THREAD WINNAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaa!

Maury

[Hugi]

Originally Posted by RAILhead

HUGI IS TEH THREAD WINNAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaa!

Ok, ok, cut the sarcasm, sorry about the bad joke. Please continue.

[SimpleLife]

Originally Posted by PHoynak

I have had this constant cough now for who knows how long. Every so often I have to clear my throat and it feels like phlegm (sp?) or something is there but nothing. If I dont clear my throat I would lose my voice. It's not too annoying to me but my coworkers cannot stand it. I guess I am so used to it. I do take Allegra-D but that doesnt help. I am just getting over an UR infection but I had this problem before that. Does anyone has any idea what I can do to fix this?

That is what I have now for the last 2 weeks.

I also spit black and green morning and evenings, and blood.

This morning I saw the doc for the second time in 2 weeks: Asthmatic Bronchitis, moderate.

This got me anti-cough syrup, ventolin, antibiotics, and another pump to fight against allergens.

It all started after a 4 hours bicycle ride under the sun, 32 Celsius.

For the night, to sleep in my hell of an appartment (35 degrees C), I put a fan on. Bang, got sick right then, it only got worse with time.

The doctor is the best idea there is in your case.

Best wishes of good health to you!

[budster101]

Oh "wore" a surgical mask.... (I'm slow sometimes.) Smacks:forehead:hard.

[budster101]

You have bronchitis, and an upper resperatory infection. If your spewtum is brown / green, then yep...

You don't take antibiotics for allergies! That's crazy.

Odds are you won't improve even with antibiotics if you have bronchitis.
Antibiotics are over prescribed all too often and the bacteria become resistent. This is commonplace, as Vencomycin was a prime example. Bugs are getting stronger and stronger, and Vencomycin was THE strongest antibiotic...

Doctor visit is in the cards.
Make sure it isn't Pneumonia. I've had it a couple of times and almost died once.

Take care.

[Hugi]

Originally Posted by SimpleLife

That is what I have now for the last 2 weeks.

I also spit black and green morning and evenings, and blood.
This morning I saw the doc for the second time in 2 weeks: Asthmatic Bronchitis, moderate.

Yeah. I've had bronchitis for the past three weeks too and I'm only getting up from bed now. It's important for you to lie down, relax and wait while it goes away, belive me it will get worse if you try to shrug it off. It takes two to three weeks for you to recover and then another two weeks for you to regain full lung capacity. I know because I've had it twice before and I'm an avid jogger and mountain hiker .

[budster101]

Oh, one more thing.

I'm not a doctor but i did stay at a Holiday Inn last night...

[SimpleLife]

Originally Posted by Hugi

Yeah. I've had bronchitis for the past three weeks too and I'm only getting up from bed now. It's important for you to lie down, relax and wait while it goes away, belive me it will get worse if you try to shrug it off. It takes two to three weeks for you to recover and then another two weeks for you to regain full lung capacity. I know because I've had it twice before and I'm an avid jogger and mountain hiker .

I hear you: I am sitting in my appartment looking at my bicycle and feel like crying...

[PHoynak]

I do have acid reflux....they found it about a year ago. I am gonna go back to the doctor and get the medicine I was supposed to take for it and see how it goes. It is annoying....having to clear my throat every min or so.. I never dreamt that the reflux would cause this....

[Hugi]

Originally Posted by SimpleLife

I hear you: I am sitting in my appartment looking at my bicycle and feel like crying...

My condolences. I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but you'll regain full lung capacity in a short while. I was _really_ afraid the first time I got bronchitis, afraid that I would be short of breath forever, and I even imagined that I was having symptoms of emphysema.
But amazingly enough, in the last few days recovery happens fast. So hang in there! And drink plenty of fluids .

[Albert Pujols]

I had the same type of cough as you. I got it after drinking a slurpee or possibly inhaling some ferrous oxide dust. It only lasted a couple of weeks, but it was damn annoying.

I will never drink a slurpee again.

[Cody Dawg]

If medication doesn't suppress it then it may be serious.

I'd say see a doctor just like everyone else.