Chronic cough - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

jkmtmm · 10-18-2004, 05:05 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.

storm12 · 10-18-2004, 05:30 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.

Marie55 · 10-18-2004, 06:19 PM

Is your mom taking blood pressure meds? If so, some of them can cause a cough.

lllblessedlll · 10-18-2004, 08:14 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, 12:52 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