MountainReader

bluedog139-

Your story sounds remarkably like mine. I can very much relate to what you are going through.

I have had a chronic cough since December of 2001. I volunteered during the Olympics shortly after that and spent the entire time coughing. That was when I was first diagnosed with asthma. Before that, I had only had experience with asthma through people I know who used to wheeze. I had not wheezing and coughing was my only symptom. That year I was put on a variety of asthma medications and tried several dosages. At that time I was already on Allegra D and Flonase for year round allergies. For the next couple years, I had sporatic bouts of chronic coughs lasting weeks or a couple months at a time.

In January 2005, I got another sinus infection. I was treated with a couple rounds of antibiotics and seemed to get better. About a week after my sinus symptoms disappeared, the cough started in again. This time it was worse than ever. I couldn't stop coughing. It was the kind of coughing that had me doubled over, pulling somach and rib muscles, and occassionally vomiting when I couldn't breath. It affected not only me, but everyone around me. The doctor put me on additional antibiotics...just in case. She also strengthened my Advair to 250/50 and told me to use my Albuteral as much as I needed. The cough continued. I went back in and was put on prednisone. That didn't help. I was put on Advair 500/50 and a new prescription for acid reflux and codine (as needed to help sleep). The cough continued. I had chest x-rays--nothing. I was then also put on Singulair and given tessalon perle to help with the cough. The cough continues.

As I was going through this process, the doctor explained that chronic cough is generally caused by 4 main things:
post nasal drip, allergies, acid reflux and asthma. She said in some people the cough could be the primary symptom for any of these. She treated me for all. I should explain that I already know I had allergies and completed immunotherapy. I had never noticed any acid reflux symptoms until after I went off of acid reflux medication they put me on for the cough. I also never had wheezing with my asthma. I did have things that set off the cough though--cold air, chemical cleaners, smoke, perfume, scented candles, inversions, sometimes even just walking down the hall.

I kept going in to the doctor when each thing I tried didn't work. I had bloodwork done several times and two tests done for pertussis (whooping cough). The tests for pertussis were confusing because even though they were different tests they both came back inconclusive because I had received my immunizations when I was young. They said if I had it I had already been treated with the antibiotics I had been on-I will never know if I actually had it. Throughout all this, I wore my immune system down and eventually lost my voice and got the flu. This is the first bug I have ever had that caused me to miss work. (Ten years on the job and I had never had a sick day. I never missed for the sinus infections--just suffered through it.) Finally, after four months, the cough got better. By this time, I was on Advair 500/50, Allegra-D, Singulair, Albuterol, Mucinex (as needed), Flonase, Astelin and Protonix. I had the cough for 4 1/2 months. I was having monthly follow-up appoints with my doctor to monitor my condition. After I found a good balance that helped control my cough, I did better. The doctor eventually reduced the Advair to 250/50.

Then comes January 2006. I was still on all of those maintainence prescriptions. I got another sinus/ear infection. A couple weeks later, the cough started again. The doctor gave me Advair 500/50, prednisone, and more antibiotics. I had some blood testing done with no results. At the next visit, I was also tested for a genetic condition that causes coughing (it came back negative). The cough continued. I was constantly using the Albuterol. I went back in. The doctor tried a new acid reflux medication-- Nexium--which I later found out insurance wouldn't cover. I was then put on Prevacid one time a day. At this point, the doctor said she didn't know what else she could do. I was referred to the GI Specialist. I had an Endoscopy that didn't show anything. I had a 24 hour PH that showed I did have some acid. They put me on Prevacid twice a day. Ironically, by the time all these tests were scheduled, my cough wasn't as frequent. I had a follow-up with my primary physican last month and she refused to reduce any of my medications or dosages because I have seemed to found a balance in the treatment of all causes of the cough. Next time the cough starts up again, I am supposed to go to a Pulminologist. The referral has already been written up by my doctor. I am hopeful because I have been almost two months mostly cough free. I am really worried about the spring/summer allergies upsetting my current balance. I usually get summer sinus infections that seem to trigger coughing.

With all of these approaches for treating the cough, I don't know what finally worked and what the cause of the cough was. I assume all areas listed were causing the cough, but when one is out of balance, it seems to throw the others off also. At this time, I would love to find a way to get off of all of these medications. I am paying out $350/mo. in co-pays and praying the cough doesn't return as bad.