Chronic Cough

IMB1963 · 09-03-2006, 03:25 PM

I got sick almost 2 months ago with high fever that lasted for 2 weeks. After about a week I started a dry cough. I've been coughing ever since, hard enough to gag, vomit and pee myself. I've seen/talked to my GP numerous times. First he gave me antibiotics and recommended Robitussen. Don't know if the anti's worked, but no cough syrup did anything. I was referred to an ENT because the GP thought perhaps the cough was GERD related. In the meantime I kept being sent home from work because my cough was disrupting work in the office. My boss demanded that I go back to the doctor (again!) and get the cough fixed. I wnet to the GP's office and was seen by the nurse practitioner. He sent me for a chest x-ray and called at 9pm the following night to say I had pneumonia and that he was going to call in a Rx for more anti's the next day. I kept my appt with the ENT just in case GERD was indeed a factor. The ENT thought not, but gave me some samples of Prilosec in case there was any reflux at all - he did not want there to be added injury to whatever was causing the cough in the first place. He though the GP should recommend a pulinologist and said he would fax that opinion to the GP. He also recommended trying Mucinex. Well, I've finished this last course of anti's and I'm still coughing. The Mucinex eases the cough some, but it is still not going away. I've not heard another word from the GP and I'm not sure what to do next. Does anyone have any insite? -I don't smoke and have no known allergies.

thegardener · 09-13-2006, 09:57 AM

How do you know that you don't have allergies? How are your sinuses?

tdf · 09-13-2006, 10:19 AM

Did they do blood tests? I had pneumonia last year and they did blood tests for mycoplasma pneumonia (whatever that is), psittacosis, and legionella. Did they take a sputum sample? The bug you have may not be one that is killed by the antibiotics they gave you, or you just might need to take them for longer. I had a really bad strep throat when I was a kid and I had 3 courses of antibiotics for that. I'd go back to the GP pronto. Good luck.

IMB1963 · 09-19-2006, 11:40 PM

Here's more follow up: My husband went for his physical with the same dr. I go to. The dr asked how I was doing and when my husband mentioned the pneumonia the dr told him I didn't have it. He insisted that the x-ray he took showed everything to be clear. This doctor never ordered an x-ray. The nurse practitioner did weeks after the doctor claims he did. This information concerend me since I don't want to be taking anti's for any longer than I have to - there's too much worry about them being overused and then not effective. I called the doctor to ask what the real story was and he called me back a week later to find out how I was doing. By that time the cough had FINALLY started to decrease so I didn't request another visit. And the doctor said that the x-ray was only "suggestive of" pneumonia, but that I probably didn't have it. What is that supposed to mean??

...Cut to last week when I got a sinus infection. The cough is back! This time it's very wet and deep with a strange sort of second breathing sound down through the left side of my chest. I sound like some old geezer sitting on a park bench. Complete strangers hear me and are concerned. This is ridiculous. So now I'm back on antibiotics and expectorant (sinuses are clearing but chest is not). This started in July, it's almost October. What gives?

butrfligirl28 · 09-20-2006, 11:29 PM

You need to see another doctor. This one does not seem to want to really know what is wrong with you. I read your earlier posts about the cough and your doc only told you to take Robitusson and sent you to an ENT? And what did he do when your cough did not get better? Nothing? Huh? Time to change docs?

A major article was released last year in the New England Journal of Medicine that stated that non-narcotic cough meds were found to be in-effective. Now true, if drainage is causing a cough, they stop the drainage you will see some results. But you had a BAD cough that was not responding to any of his treatments, yet he does nothing to help you? Even when the cough is effecting your job? Why are you still with this guy?

You PAY your doctor, which means he works for YOU. In my opinion, he is doing a lousy job and I would fire him. I am concerned about your cough and lung congestion. I would suggest that you see a doctor ASAP. Just not THIS doctor. Find a new one! Let me know what you find out. I wish you the best of luck!

Amanda