jkmtmm
10-18-2004, 08:05 PM
I'm writing in hopes that someone out there may know what might be wrong with my mom. She is suffering from a chronic cough and consequential voice irritation for approximately 8 months now. She has been to a number of specialists: ear, nose and throat, lung, heart, voice box, and her general practicioner. None have been able to correctly diagnose the problem. She sounds like she has a severe case of bronchitis or emphezema, but these have been ruled out. She has been tested for West Nile Virus, Tuberculosis, Asthma, Emphezema, Bronchitis, Lung Cancer. They have done the test where the tube is directed through the nose and throat to see if anything shows up, but nothing. The cough is persistent with no phlem, nothing to cough up, yet it sounds very "croupy". Cough medicine does no good and neither do remedies such as honey, salt gargle, etc. Her voice comes and goes as a result of the irritation in her throat. She is extremely tired with no energy from all the coughing. They have done complete bloodwork tests and found all to be normal. Right now her general practicioner has her on a breathing machine several times a day but I don't see that it is helping very much at all. What could the doctors be missing? If anyone has any suggestions or personal experience in this area I would sure appreciate hearing from you.
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storm12
10-18-2004, 08:30 PM
Walking pneumonia? Has she been tested for allergies? Food Intolerances? Gluten Intolerance? Mold in her home?
Maybe all of these things have all been ruled out. I'm just trying to brainstorm for you. My first thought was asthma, but you said that's been ruled out.
Maybe all of these things have all been ruled out. I'm just trying to brainstorm for you. My first thought was asthma, but you said that's been ruled out.
Marie55
10-18-2004, 09:19 PM
Is your mom taking blood pressure meds? If so, some of them can cause a cough.
lllblessedlll
10-18-2004, 11:14 PM
Has she ever been exposed to asbestis,mold or chicken coops in her life? I know that sounds strange but my dad was the same way and he had IPF, (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis). One of the symtoms of this is a chronic cough. My dad would also cough so hard he would lose his breath at times. Like the other posts on this I am just throwing you suggestions. Hope she finds the problem and gets well soon.take care
zuzu8
10-19-2004, 03:52 PM
Marie asked an interesting question. It's the ACE INHIBITOR blood pressure meds that commonly cause an intractable dry cough. Much less frequently, although not unheard of, some of the ARBs for blood pressure can also cause cough.
zuzu xx
zuzu xx
jkmtmm
10-20-2004, 08:20 PM
Thank you so very much for your responses. Mom is not taking blood pressure medicine, nor has she ever. She is not taking any medication other than vitamins and the medicine the doctor has given her to put in the breathing machine. However, you do bring up the possibility of mold being the culprit, which is something we've been thinking about, although she lives in New Mexico which is known to be very dry. She lives in a very small town with the nearest environmental inspection company 30 miles away. We've been trying to get them scheduled to come out to inspect the house, but they've proven to be difficult and say they "will come by next time they are in the area". What a crock! Another thing we thought of might be the new carpets, however, we're not sure how to get that checked out other than ripping it all out. Any ideas on that?
storm12
10-21-2004, 07:58 PM
New carpet does have a chemical odor. I moved into an apartment last year that had been refurbished the week before I moved in. I was having problems with my asthma due to the carpet odor. It eventually went away after about a month - and I also invested in a little air purifier thing which helped.
In terms of mold, I would still get that checked out. My parents had mold in the basement of their house when they first bought it years ago (I couldn't breathe in there, my lungs would close up - luckily I was at college at the time mostly away from home). THey had to use ammonia on all the walls in the basement and then paint them with with mold resistant paint. My dad runs a de-humidfier year round down there, and has two running during the summer. However, I can tell when it is getting worse when I visit - I can smell it. They are going to have to do it again soon.
In terms of mold, I would still get that checked out. My parents had mold in the basement of their house when they first bought it years ago (I couldn't breathe in there, my lungs would close up - luckily I was at college at the time mostly away from home). THey had to use ammonia on all the walls in the basement and then paint them with with mold resistant paint. My dad runs a de-humidfier year round down there, and has two running during the summer. However, I can tell when it is getting worse when I visit - I can smell it. They are going to have to do it again soon.
2004
07-18-2005, 12:12 AM
Wow! I have the exact symptoms! I've had the cough now for about 10 years but it has been the last2 years where the cough is hard enough to cause me to faint, multiple times a day. I have had the same tests...heart, ENT, gastro, pulmonary, allergy,modified barium swallow, halter monitor,test for reflux. Nothing has come up as bad, all tests are good. Lost my job because of this as I was passing out at work and my employeer got scared. Currently on a nebulizer but little relief. I'm on heart pressure meds but we've switched many times thinking it was that. Dr. (and I) are at the end of our ropes.