Weird cough?

[Marcelo Cantu]

Another thing to consider is; have you started any new medications lately? There are some meds in which your symptoms are a side effect.

 

[angle iron]

Wait and see or self treat tend to be my tx of choice also but just FYI, I once had similar symptoms accompanied by a spot specific headache that was better each morning but sent me home from work every day by noon. My waiting accompanied by a few weeks of misdiagnosis resulted in a referral to an ENT specialist. He took about 2 minutes to examine me and had me meet him in the ER in 15 minutes to be admitted for emergency surgery. As he explained it a frontal sinus infection which blocks the normal drainage routes is usually diagnosed after the rear of the sinus cavity, which is much thinner bone than the front (forehead), has fractured and leaked into the brain. I'm not a doc and I failed to ask what happens in those situations but it definitely gave me a new attitude about going to the doc. YMMV

 

[Jim malone]

Did you had the flue a few weeks/months ago? It seems one of the best indicators that you haven been infected with the so called "mexican flue" or the H1N1 variant everyone was talking about 6 months ago is a very persistent cough. I had this flue and my doctor explained that one of the main characteristics was the cough that seemed to persist for weeks or even months on after the infection. It stopped naturally after 3 months.
She called it a post viral cough common for the H1N1 flue outbreak

 

[ryts100]

The cough is probably caused by phlem running down the back of your throat; and it is probably an amount that you don't notice.

I had these symptoms a couple of years ago. I was worried because I had to do a lot of flying soon. If you've ever flown with a sinus cold, you know what I'm talking about. My doctor said he could give me meds, but if it was a virus, antibiotics wouldn't do a darn thing, so he suggested I try something before he did that. This is going to sound weird, and it did to me too, but he suggested I get a nasal wash system. Not a simple nasal spray, but a wash that irrigates your sinuses. I've never had a cold/sinus infection clear up faster; even with meds.

Some people use what is called a netipot, but I prefer one with a bottle that forces water through a little more. I know it sounds uncomfortable, but you will be amazed at how good it feels and how well it works as long as you follow the instructions. It is fairly inexpensive and I highly recommend it for when you have symptoms like that. Here is the one I use; it was like $13-15 at Walgreens: http://www.neilmed.com/usa/sinusrinse.php

I'm telling you, it will clear you up in a few days or less if you use warm water and the solution packs included.

Sounds really uncomfortable . I'm assuming I'd have to hold my breath while using it, and the water/solution would go into my stomach?

I keep non-drowsy Day-Quil pills in my PSK, and they have, in the past, helped with this sort of thing (in terms of alleviating symptoms). That's about all I have to offer!

Best,

- Mike

I took some night time Tylenol pills for headache/sore throat, coughing, and nasal congestion. It didn't seem to help much.

Good advice if it is sinus. If you have any reflux, try elevating the bed.

I don't think I have any reflux, but thanks for the suggestion .

Pine needle tea, with some honey and maybe lemon if you like. Lot's of Vitamin C

I'm going to drink some water+lemon juice+honey and see if that helps.

Another thing to consider is; have you started any new medications lately? There are some meds in which your symptoms are a side effect.

I haven't started any new medications, but I took some Tylenol night time pills a couple nights ago and it didn't seem to help. I don't think that would be the cause though, since I had the cough before I took the Tylenol.

Wait and see or self treat tend to be my tx of choice also but just FYI, I once had similar symptoms accompanied by a spot specific headache that was better each morning but sent me home from work every day by noon. My waiting accompanied by a few weeks of misdiagnosis resulted in a referral to an ENT specialist. He took about 2 minutes to examine me and had me meet him in the ER in 15 minutes to be admitted for emergency surgery. As he explained it a frontal sinus infection which blocks the normal drainage routes is usually diagnosed after the rear of the sinus cavity, which is much thinner bone than the front (forehead), has fractured and leaked into the brain. I'm not a doc and I failed to ask what happens in those situations but it definitely gave me a new attitude about going to the doc. YMMV

I don't have a headache, so hopefully I won't need to go to the ER for this.

Did you had the flue a few weeks/months ago? It seems one of the best indicators that you haven been infected with the so called "mexican flue" or the H1N1 variant everyone was talking about 6 months ago is a very persistent cough. I had this flue and my doctor explained that one of the main characteristics was the cough that seemed to persist for weeks or even months on after the infection. It stopped naturally after 3 months.
She called it a post viral cough common for the H1N1 flue outbreak

Actually, I did have the flu a while back. I had a fever 2 days ago, which I think is gone now, so I think the flu's gone too? But the thing is, I've had this same cough a few years ago, before H1N1 was widespread.

 

[Ramm9]

Take a look at the cars parked outside, where I am they are covered with a layer of yellow pollen. With lot's of stuff coming into bloom bet your getting a "hay fever" reaction. Maybe an antihistamine to dry up the sinus and a lozenge or hard candy to get rid of the tickle triggering the cough is all you need. Try it for a couple of days while you get your affairs in order in case its a fast growing throat tumor or lung cancer.

 

[CaptInsano]

I took some night time Tylenol pills for headache/sore throat, coughing, and nasal congestion. It didn't seem to help much.

If the nasal drainage is causing the sore throat by irritating the tissue, its one thing. If you have an independent infection in your throat, its another story. I think advil works better for this kind of pain and is better at reducing inflammation, so you might try that. What kind of headache do you have? Where does your head hurt? Does your face hurt? Do you feel pressure anywhere? On of the keys of resolving routine sinus problems is just continuously draining all that crap out. Blow your nose hard enough and often enough to keep the pressure in your sinuses down and reduce the reservoir created by any purulent mucous. Clear the sinuses to help give your immune system a better opportunity to kill any infection, reduce pain, reduce congestion, and reduce irritation caused by post nasal drainage. Monitor yourself for signs of a worsening infection, fever, malaise, body aches.

I'm going to drink some water+lemon juice+honey and see if that helps.

Put some whiskey in it.

Actually, I did have the flu a while back. I had a fever 2 days ago, which I think is gone now, so I think the flu's gone too? But the thing is, I've had this same cough a few years ago, before H1N1 was widespread.

Its not H1N1.

 

[EMT_Lee]

If the nasal drainage is causing the sore throat by irritating the tissue, its one thing. If you have an independent infection in your throat, its another story. I think advil works better for this kind of pain and is better at reducing inflammation, so you might try that. What kind of headache do you have? Where does your head hurt? Does your face hurt? Do you feel pressure anywhere? On of the keys of resolving routine sinus problems is just continuously draining all that crap out. Blow your nose hard enough and often enough to keep the pressure in your sinuses down and reduce the reservoir created by any purulent mucous. Clear the sinuses to help give your immune system a better opportunity to kill any infection, reduce pain, reduce congestion, and reduce irritation caused by post nasal drainage. Monitor yourself for signs of a worsening infection, fever, malaise, body aches.



Put some whiskey in it.



Its not H1N1.

Good advice.

If the cough/drainage presist, I would still go see your family doctor. I'm a firm believer in "better safe than sorry". YMMV.

 

[LMT66]

Is that over the counter/prescription?

Over the counter.

 

[ryts100]

Take a look at the cars parked outside, where I am they are covered with a layer of yellow pollen. With lot's of stuff coming into bloom bet your getting a "hay fever" reaction. Maybe an antihistamine to dry up the sinus and a lozenge or hard candy to get rid of the tickle triggering the cough is all you need. Try it for a couple of days while you get your affairs in order in case its a fast growing throat tumor or lung cancer.

It's winter over here right now, so no pollen.

If the nasal drainage is causing the sore throat by irritating the tissue, its one thing. If you have an independent infection in your throat, its another story. I think advil works better for this kind of pain and is better at reducing inflammation, so you might try that. What kind of headache do you have? Where does your head hurt? Does your face hurt? Do you feel pressure anywhere? On of the keys of resolving routine sinus problems is just continuously draining all that crap out. Blow your nose hard enough and often enough to keep the pressure in your sinuses down and reduce the reservoir created by any purulent mucous. Clear the sinuses to help give your immune system a better opportunity to kill any infection, reduce pain, reduce congestion, and reduce irritation caused by post nasal drainage. Monitor yourself for signs of a worsening infection, fever, malaise, body aches.




Put some whiskey in it.



Its not H1N1.

I didn't have a constant headache, but when I moved my head too fast/suddenly, I would feel dizzy. Those feelings are gone now though. I've been blowing my nose pretty often. I'm not legally allowed to drink alcohol yet.

Good advice.

If the cough/drainage presist, I would still go see your family doctor. I'm a firm believer in "better safe than sorry". YMMV.

Yeah, I'm going to go see a doctor if it doesn't go away in a week or so.

 

[Ramm9]

It's winter over here right now, so no pollen.

Bay Area, California? Look again, Spring is starting to bloom big time at least south from Santa Rosa through the Peninsula.

I'm not legally allowed to drink alcohol yet.

Yeah, I'm going to go see a doctor if it doesn't go away in a week or so.

You probably want to run this by your folks then and ignore whatever you read about on the net...

.

 

[ryts100]

Bay Area, California? Look again, Spring is starting to bloom big time at least south from Santa Rosa through the Peninsula.




You probably want to run this by your folks then and ignore whatever you read about on the net...

.

Well, end of winter. They already know about my cough, but unless I tell them I want to go see a doctor they'll just say drink water and get some rest.

 

[ejes]

Sounds really uncomfortable . I'm assuming I'd have to hold my breath while using it, and the water/solution would go into my stomach?

No. It is not uncomfortable at all. In fact, with the warm water, you hardly notice it is in running through there, especially if you get it as close as possible to body temperature as possible. The more outside of that temperature range, the more you'll notice it. Same principal as if you eat ice cream too fast. Also the solutions included make the water closer to what is naturally in your body, so it doesn't cause pain like, say, chlorinated water that goes up your nose accidentally when you swim in a pool.

And, no, you don't have to hold your breath. You close of the section of your throat that instinctively closes when you drink water (otherwise water would run into your sinuses when you drink). The instructions are very explicit. It sounds complicated, but actually when you do it, your body takes over in shutting off the area to prevent water from running to the back of your throat. Nonetheless, you hold your mouth open with your head tipped to one side just in case. I just do it while I'm in the shower. Works slicker than snot; excuse the pun.

All I can say is try it and you will see what I mean. Your body already knows what to do. I should note that this a practice of people in India and is part of Yoga. I am neither Indian, nor do I practice Yoga. Also, I do not do this frequently. About once a year I get a sinus cold/infection and use it to help get over it. Nasal lavage has medical benefits, but I'm of the opinion that there can be too much of a good thing. There are some people that do this all the time, but my doc says that can actually cause sinus infection.

 

[ryts100]

No. It is not uncomfortable at all. In fact, with the warm water, you hardly notice it is in running through there, especially if you get it as close as possible to body temperature as possible. The more outside of that temperature range, the more you'll notice it. Same principal as if you eat ice cream too fast. Also the solutions included make the water closer to what is naturally in your body, so it doesn't cause pain like, say, chlorinated water that goes up your nose accidentally when you swim in a pool.

And, no, you don't have to hold your breath. You close of the section of your throat that instinctively closes when you drink water (otherwise water would run into your sinuses when you drink). The instructions are very explicit. It sounds complicated, but actually when you do it, your body takes over in shutting off the area to prevent water from running to the back of your throat. Nonetheless, you hold your mouth open with your head tipped to one side just in case. I just do it while I'm in the shower. Works slicker than snot; excuse the pun.

All I can say is try it and you will see what I mean. Your body already knows what to do. I should note that this a practice of people in India and is part of Yoga. I am neither Indian, nor do I practice Yoga. Also, I do not do this frequently. About once a year I get a sinus cold/infection and use it to help get over it. Nasal lavage has medical benefits, but I'm of the opinion that there can be too much of a good thing. There are some people that do this all the time, but my doc says that can actually cause sinus infection.

Ok thanks, I'll try it out.

 

[Larry Turko]

I've got exactly the same thing, my doctor is pretty sure it's early onset lycanthropy...but seriously I do have the same symtoms and, as somebody above said ,it's probably a sinus infection. I've been squirting salt water up my nose which seems to help a bit.

 

[mikeal]

Ok thanks, I'll try it out.

+1 on the sinus irrigation. I had a minor sinus infection for about a month. I picked up a neti pot and washed an oyster out of one of my nostrils...

The directions are very clear and it is easy to use. There is almost no sensation at all.