Is this GERD? / Persistent cough

[unruhe]

Hi everyone, I'll try to summarize this and keep it short.

- 28 year old female
- Sinus infection, bronchitis in Aug-Sept 06.
- Broke 2 ribs I was coughing so much.
- Persistent cough despite 4 rounds of antibiotics (Azith x3 Amox once) and prednisone. And Advair diskus inhaler. And albuterol.
- Blood work revealed Walking Pneumonia in Dec 06.
- Round of antibiotics (clarithromycin). Still coughing.
- Another round of clarith. Still coughing.

* The only thing that seems to really work in Allegra-d, but I'd rather treat the problem, not just mask it.

Allergist tried plan A:

- Mucinex, nasonex for week if it's sinuses/allergies.
- Still coughing.

Allergist tried plan B:

- Took prevacid for GERD. Cough improved. Had to stop after a few days because of heartburn and pressure under breastbone. Cough returned.

- Today: we are trying zantac, but the prescription one. I'm thinking it's ranitidine.

So I am thinking this is stomach-related though I have no stomach pains, no heartburn, no gas, no indigestion. Why else would prevacid work?

And why is there a stomach problem? Antibiotics killed all my good bacteria and my stomach is having problems digesting food? Or a hiatal hernia from all the coughing?

I don't feel poorly. I'm tired some days because the cough keeps me from sleeping well. I felt very rested when I was on the prevacid.

Things I have noticed in the past few months:
- had heart palpitations twice while laying down (pre-prevacid).
- alcohol makes the cough worse
- had yeast infections
- had fungal/yeast-related rashes

Oh, and I am going to try the ACVinegar tonight. I did not have AC at home, just white distilled. I took it and I coughed harder. What does that mean?

Lifestyle: exercise, right weight for my age and height. Don't smoke. Don't eat junk food.

Thanks for your patience and for reading. I'm so tired of coughing.

[Ish]

Originally Posted by unruhe

Oh, and I am going to try the ACVinegar tonight. I did not have AC at home, just white distilled. I took it and I coughed harder. What does that mean?

HI !
Let us know how the ACV works for you if you are brave enough to continue it.

As far as the cough, I can just get a small sniff of any vinegar and it makes me cough. I am too much of a chicken to try drinking it.

The best of luck to you.

Ish

[unruhe]

Thanks Ish,

I see where I may have gone wrong. The vinegar I initially used was white distilled, and I did not mix with water, I just took a swig.

Last night and this morning I used Bragg's Organic, which was recommended by just about everyone online.

So far so good. No miserable hacking at least.

Not sure how long it takes to "work."

P.S. - It tastes pretty decent too.

[aswander]

unruhe,

I developed LPR when I was 28, and have dealt with it for 4 years. I was completely miserable for the first 8 months, and was then given a double dose of Nexium, which I've taken for the last 3.5 years. It was truly a miracle. For LPR (the chronic cough) if it is LPR, you will need a double dose of a PPI daily. I recommend Nexium, then Aciphex. There are others - Prevacid, PRilosec, Protonix, but I don't recommend them for LPR.

I had been taking a single dose of Nexium for 3 months before a new doctor increased it to the double dose. I can only describe the difference as going from an F- every day to a sudden solid A. I felt like myself again.

[unruhe]

aswander,

thanks for the response. i am trying to stay away from any medications as they seem to hurt more than help, in my case at least. i can certianly understand someone taking them for the pain of LPR or GERD, but i have no pain, no stomach upset, virtually no problems. the only problems i encountered were chest pressure and burning and that was only when i was on prevacid.

really, the only problem is the coughing..