I would like some advice. i have had a horrible cough since august 2001. I have been through every antibiotic and inhaler possible i have hads about 4 lung infection 5 sinus infections. The doctors say that i have asthma yet Nothing seems to help out that either. i have a feeling that all my infections and coughing intertwined and I need it to stop. I have been singing forever, but with this cough it is next to impossible. i have missed so much shcool the past two years. It's a loud disturbing cough and it never gives me peace. Please some help me i have been to 3 specialists im on advair and albuterol right now and I dont notice much of a diference. i am getting over my 3 lung infection in3 months. i would love any advie thank you

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heather salvo

Heather,

When I read your post, I thought, "Oh my, that's me!" I have had this really bad cough since August 2001 too. I had a cold at the time. The cold went away but I was left with the cough. I've had many sinus infestions since then - about every month or so. When I cough, it sounds like my lungs are congested. Yours too? Do you also feel like you have Post Nasal Drip?

I've tried lots of things to try and get rid of it. Nothing has worked. I think the doctor is going to send me to a specialist if the Allegra-D and Nasacort AQ doesn't work.

Please keep me posted on your progress. Maybe one of us can find a solution to our problem.

Cheri.

Have they ever had a look at your vocal chords? Is it a choking-kind-of cough or does it come from deep within your lungs?

The singing-thing makes me wonder if it could be a vocal chord problem, like if you've overworked your voice or something.

to the person who asked me what kind of cough,yes, it feels like it comes from my lungs, not my throat. I think if I was coughing from my vocal cords, my singing voice would never come back again. thanks so much for replying. I thinking this message is going to 2 people becuase I got tewo messeges and only one reply button. to the person whos had a cough since august 2001, Im so glad I found someone else who has it? how old are you? what your gender, maybe if your the same age, it has something to do with it. i'm seventeen, female.

yes, I do feel like i have post nasal drip. I have allergies, Iknow that. I supposedly have asthma. so according to their newest theory, my allgeies and asthma act up and make me cough. but that is just these past 4 months, what about the other year and a half? Im gonna tell you all the different types of medicines i have taken since november 2001.
for antibiotics: biaxin(two times) amoxicilin(threetimes) penicillin(4 four times) eurythomicin (2times) hydrocodon w/ guifanisine (1 time) codine w/ cough medicine (6 times). For Allergy medicines: flonase (3 months) allegra (one month) claritin (one month. For inhalers: Albuterol (4 times) advair (3months) another inhaler I can't remember the name. If there's more I can't remember there's been so much. I messed up some of the spelling.
as you can see it's not like io haven't tried. Its such a relief to know you have had a cough this long too. thanks for the reply.

Please have your doctor do a ANCA to rule out Wegener's.

If she had wegener's or goodpasture's, she'd be coughing up blood. But then again, that's something we didn't ask....have you been coughing up blood at all?

What did the results of the chest x-ray tell you (if you have had one).

My son has asthma and will wheeze at times, but most often he coughs (a congested-sounding cough) as his asthmatic response. I always pictured asthma as being severe with the person not being able to breathe, but apparently coughing is a common symptom of mild asthma. He used to go through months of coughing daily.

You do not need to be coughing up blood to have Wegener's, I have it and do not cough up blood. Wegners can effect just the kidneys, lungs or sinuses or all three, it also can effect other organs as well.

I will definitley check to see if it's wegeners. I have never heard of it till now so that's helpful. when i got a chest x- ray they didn't see anything. the last thing that they ruled it was a cough that is caused by asthma. but inhalers, (especially albuterol) always make it worse and don't help at all. in the past two years I have had at least 6 sinus infections and 4 upper respiratory infections. the lung ing infections were within this last year and the sinus infections were the year before. it's pretty much controlled right now. but i still have to check if it's my vocal cords or that wegener's disease. thank you every body for the feedback, it was very helpful.

Chronic cough can also be caused by acid reflux. And you don't need to have heartburn symptoms to have it. Ask your ENT if you need to see a gastroenterologist. (Acid reflux is also connected to more than half of all asthma sufferers.) Look up laryngopharyngeal reflux, extra-esophageal reflux or atypical reflux to see if you think that's you.

Hi NZ,

Do you cough more at night and when you lie down? Did you get this cough after you caught a cold? Let me know. By the way, I am also in San Jose. My email is hepatitiscure@yahoo.com

hey ginn,
could you tell me more about wegener's, i know about it, but could you tell me personally about it like when you found out you got it and how you suspected it and what you had to do to get an ANCA. i just want to know how alike your symptoms are with mine, you know before you knew you had it. i don't really know where to start because iv'e pretty much done all the doctor's have allowed me to do.i'm sure there's stuff i haven't tried. you see, i have really bad insurance and won't have good stuff for a couple months. I guess i could just ask for an ANCA, but i want to be more sure about it.