Sleep disturbed due to persistent cough yet again.
Discussion
Only posting this in the hope that someone with a similar experience will have some advice / opinion.
Back in late June I had a bad cold, which left me with a persistent cough.
After 6 weeks or so of waking up 2 - 3 times a week coughing, I went to the doctor who prescribed a course of antibiotics.
The cough persisted, and following another 2 weeks or so, I went back again and was given another course of (different) antibiotics and a nasal spray, and I was also referred for an X-ray.
While the X-ray was underway, I knew the radiologist had spotted something, as during the session I was asked to turn sideways and she took a second X-ray (one side only), and when asked what she saw, I was told "nothing that requires immediate treatment" - very reassuring!!! (not)
A week later and my results were in - the doctor called me and informed that I had a shadow on my lung (but couldn't give the cause), and I was to go back for another X-ray in 6 weeks (in a few days from now).
During the intervening period, I initially had some really good days (no coughing) and then it would start again, but it seemed to improve overall until....
On Friday last week, I caught yet another bad cold (worse than the last one) and roll on 3 days or so and the cough is back with a vengeance.
This cough is like a constant tickle right at the back of my throat, and no cough mixture, throat sweets, drinking water etc. will make it go away.
At times the cough is that bad that it actually makes me retch.
I've not coughed up any blood, it's always just white spit / mucus (with apologies to the squeamish).
I realise that I should be going back to my GP, however I find it incredibly difficult to get an appointment at my local GP surgery, and I'm expecting a call in the next week or so to go back for another X-Ray - but I just thought I'd post here for any advice / reassurance.
TLDR; man feels sorry for himself so posts on internet forum looking for sympathy.
Edit; Should have said - I'm a non smoker (not smoked since a very casual dalliance with smoking back in my teens - I'm no late 50's)
Back in late June I had a bad cold, which left me with a persistent cough.
After 6 weeks or so of waking up 2 - 3 times a week coughing, I went to the doctor who prescribed a course of antibiotics.
The cough persisted, and following another 2 weeks or so, I went back again and was given another course of (different) antibiotics and a nasal spray, and I was also referred for an X-ray.
While the X-ray was underway, I knew the radiologist had spotted something, as during the session I was asked to turn sideways and she took a second X-ray (one side only), and when asked what she saw, I was told "nothing that requires immediate treatment" - very reassuring!!! (not)
A week later and my results were in - the doctor called me and informed that I had a shadow on my lung (but couldn't give the cause), and I was to go back for another X-ray in 6 weeks (in a few days from now).
During the intervening period, I initially had some really good days (no coughing) and then it would start again, but it seemed to improve overall until....
On Friday last week, I caught yet another bad cold (worse than the last one) and roll on 3 days or so and the cough is back with a vengeance.
This cough is like a constant tickle right at the back of my throat, and no cough mixture, throat sweets, drinking water etc. will make it go away.
At times the cough is that bad that it actually makes me retch.
I've not coughed up any blood, it's always just white spit / mucus (with apologies to the squeamish).
I realise that I should be going back to my GP, however I find it incredibly difficult to get an appointment at my local GP surgery, and I'm expecting a call in the next week or so to go back for another X-Ray - but I just thought I'd post here for any advice / reassurance.
TLDR; man feels sorry for himself so posts on internet forum looking for sympathy.
Edit; Should have said - I'm a non smoker (not smoked since a very casual dalliance with smoking back in my teens - I'm no late 50's)
Edited by TonyRPH on Tuesday 25th September 04:46
randlemarcus said:
Menthol tags wotk for me - your mileage may vary.
Steam any good?
A quick Google 'Menthol tags' comes up with cigarettes.Steam any good?
I've updated my post to reflect my non smoker status.
As for steam - usually a cup of coffee does seem to ease it a lot, however more recently this tactic hasn't worked.
I would be back to the gp to get that x Ray repeated asap. Even if your a x Ray appointment comes through in the meantime you will need an appointment with the gp to discuss the result of your x Ray.
You had an abnormal x Ray and your symptoms are no better. Don’t be fobbed off. Good luck.
You had an abnormal x Ray and your symptoms are no better. Don’t be fobbed off. Good luck.
I had similar a few years back.
Eventually diagnosed with Sarcoidosis (Google it).
Unfortunately whilst it was being diagnosed a few other things were in the frame i.e. cancer (lymphoma or lung) = scary, TB, and probably other stuff.
Anyway upshot is to get it sorted sooner rather than later so persist with the doctors. With mine they followed the X-Ray with a CT scan, after that I was referred to a consultant and seen within a week or so, they don't hang around if cancer is in the frame.
I the meantime I got signed off work for six weeks due to the stress and lack of sleep, was put on Amitriptyline to deal with my increasing anxiety, but this also weirdly helped the cough a lot!
Eventually diagnosed with Sarcoidosis (Google it).
Unfortunately whilst it was being diagnosed a few other things were in the frame i.e. cancer (lymphoma or lung) = scary, TB, and probably other stuff.
Anyway upshot is to get it sorted sooner rather than later so persist with the doctors. With mine they followed the X-Ray with a CT scan, after that I was referred to a consultant and seen within a week or so, they don't hang around if cancer is in the frame.
I the meantime I got signed off work for six weeks due to the stress and lack of sleep, was put on Amitriptyline to deal with my increasing anxiety, but this also weirdly helped the cough a lot!
My Dad has asthma that causes this sort of thing, it ends up being self-perpetuating as the cough irritates the throat, which makes him cough, which irritates the throat, which makes him cough, which.... ad infinitum.
He ends up self medicating with codeine to knock himself out. Not the healthiest thing to do, if you've got respiratory issues to start with. Try a lozenge with an anaesthetic like Tyrozetes.
Hope it clears up soon
He ends up self medicating with codeine to knock himself out. Not the healthiest thing to do, if you've got respiratory issues to start with. Try a lozenge with an anaesthetic like Tyrozetes.
Hope it clears up soon
You mention a tickle in your throat but also lung investigations - is it more chesty or throaty?
I had a really bad cold a couple of years ago which left me with similar symptoms - a constant throat irritation. Talking or even breathing would irritate my throat and it was much worse at night, keeping me awake with a dry wheezy cough and a sort of constricted tight feeling in my throat.
Since then I get it a lot, like there is a weakness in my throat now and no medicine I've found helps it. It comes and goes every now and again and is really annoying, so if you find a solution let me know! I get a bit more phlegm than I used to and speculated it might be some sort of nasal drip condition, but haven't solved it.
I had a really bad cold a couple of years ago which left me with similar symptoms - a constant throat irritation. Talking or even breathing would irritate my throat and it was much worse at night, keeping me awake with a dry wheezy cough and a sort of constricted tight feeling in my throat.
Since then I get it a lot, like there is a weakness in my throat now and no medicine I've found helps it. It comes and goes every now and again and is really annoying, so if you find a solution let me know! I get a bit more phlegm than I used to and speculated it might be some sort of nasal drip condition, but haven't solved it.
OP, keep pushing the medical profession.
I had a persistent cough which I ignored for a bit, then I saw docs, which was inconclusive. It got no better and I noticed I was getting breathless. After a bronchoscopy, CT scan, MRI scan and eventually a biopsy, they concluded I have a form of pulmonary fibrosis, for which the only treatment option now is a lung transplant.
I had a persistent cough which I ignored for a bit, then I saw docs, which was inconclusive. It got no better and I noticed I was getting breathless. After a bronchoscopy, CT scan, MRI scan and eventually a biopsy, they concluded I have a form of pulmonary fibrosis, for which the only treatment option now is a lung transplant.
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