Stubborn cough!

Sylvia, you might as well be a devilishly charming :-) young woman named Traci who lives in Los Angeles, because you're telling my story:

In January, I had one of the worst coughs of my life for 2 weeks.  I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, and my chest was painfully sore from coughing.  I went to our local Minute Clinic twice -- each time, the nurse practitioner insisted my lungs were clear, so I couldn't have bronchitis.  And I just kept getting worse and worse.

Thankfully, I had already scheduled my annual appointment with my regular doctor, who immediately ordered a chest x-ray.  He slapped my x-ray up on the light board, and said, yep, those are the clearest, most beautiful lungs I've ever seen...now look up here, at your bronchial tubes.

I was so sick by then, I know I may not have heard all the details right, but what I think I understood is that the infection was in my bronchial tubes and trachea, instead of my lungs, which is where everyone else had been looking.  After 5 days of antibiotics and steroids, I finally started to feel better, though it took about a month before I could exercise without starting to cough again.  

(Full disclosure: I do have asthma, so it's likely I take longer to completely heal from things like this.)

I've certainly had bronchitis before in my life, but never this long without antibiotics, and I've never felt so sick.  Moral of the story:  I will INSIST on a chest x-ray next time!

Sylvia, please keep us posted on how you're doing, and what your doctor says.

Traci

I"ll check back for an update..

Denise

Yes, an X-ray is in order for sure.  I've had that beginning in Feb many times, so I'm think an allergy for starters.  Then it gets worse from that point.  Last yr my PCP ordered a whooping cough shot at my physical.  I thought it was just a money maker, but he said WC was making a comeback.  I'm almost afraid to say I haven't had that cough since, but I really haven't!  Maybe you should ask about it, too.  Linda

TraciInLA said:

Insist on a chest x-ray!

Sylvia, you might as well be a devilishly charming :-) young woman named Traci who lives in Los Angeles, because you're telling my story:

In January, I had one of the worst coughs of my life for 2 weeks.  I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, and my chest was painfully sore from coughing.  I went to our local Minute Clinic twice -- each time, the nurse practitioner insisted my lungs were clear, so I couldn't have bronchitis.  And I just kept getting worse and worse.

Thankfully, I had already scheduled my annual appointment with my regular doctor, who immediately ordered a chest x-ray.  He slapped my x-ray up on the light board, and said, yep, those are the clearest, most beautiful lungs I've ever seen...now look up here, at your bronchial tubes.

I was so sick by then, I know I may not have heard all the details right, but what I think I understood is that the infection was in my bronchial tubes and trachea, instead of my lungs, which is where everyone else had been looking.  After 5 days of antibiotics and steroids, I finally started to feel better, though it took about a month before I could exercise without starting to cough again.  

(Full disclosure: I do have asthma, so it's likely I take longer to completely heal from things like this.)

I've certainly had bronchitis before in my life, but never this long without antibiotics, and I've never felt so sick.  Moral of the story:  I will INSIST on a chest x-ray next time!

Sylvia, please keep us posted on how you're doing, and what your doctor says.

Traci

Good luck today at the doctor's Sylvia.  I hope he can get you some relief so you feel better soon.

Alexis F said:

Linda, your PCP was right. 

Linda, your PCP was right.  I've seen it on the news about whooping cough making a comeback.  I am glad you're doing fine.

Good luck Sylvia!  I will be thinking of you!

Lex

You will still be Dancing with NED Sylvia!  Your docs just need to get you some help and really soon!  And, a chest xray!

sea60 said:

Thanks Ladies

Yes, went to the doctor today and she totally agreed after hearing how long I've had this that a chest AND sinus x-ray were in order. Waiting for test results as you all know too well can feel like hours and your mind loves to play tricks on you. I sat there just praying and thinking good thoughts. I was relieved that there were no masses or abnormalities! I hadn't had an x-ray or scan for almost 4 years and I was a bit nervous. My glands were still swollen and I still have a sinus infection despite a round of antibiotics. So it's on to round 2 of antibiotics plus steroids this time.

Thanks again for the support. I keep ALL my CSN friends in parayer constantly.

Hoping this round of antibiotics and the steroids will kick this to the curb for you!

Let us know when you get your test results, so, we can get the pink bus out for you!

Thanks for updating us!

Hugs, Megan

Alexis F said:

No masses or abnormalities is

No masses or abnormalities is good news Sylvia!  Now we just need your medicine to take care of this for you!

Good luck and I will be saying a prayer for you!

Lex

Sending prayers!

sea60 said:

Thanks Ladies

Yes, went to the doctor today and she totally agreed after hearing how long I've had this that a chest AND sinus x-ray were in order. Waiting for test results as you all know too well can feel like hours and your mind loves to play tricks on you. I sat there just praying and thinking good thoughts. I was relieved that there were no masses or abnormalities! I hadn't had an x-ray or scan for almost 4 years and I was a bit nervous. My glands were still swollen and I still have a sinus infection despite a round of antibiotics. So it's on to round 2 of antibiotics plus steroids this time.

Thanks again for the support. I keep ALL my CSN friends in parayer constantly.

My cough for lungs and pleura mets is dry.  It doesn't produce anything.  I know my mets are active when the dry unproductive cough returns.  My ct scan reports usually states what I already know due to the cough, now I also have wheezing.

I do have shortness of breath with the dry cough, they both went together.

Hope your x-ray shows no mets and whatever is causing you the discomfort will show up and have a quick fix.

Doris

DianeBC said:

Feeling any better yet

Feeling any better yet Sylvia? 

Praying that you will get good test results and that you're already feeling much better after getting some new meds.

Megan M said:

Hoping this round of

Hoping this round of antibiotics and the steroids will kick this to the curb for you!

Let us know when you get your test results, so, we can get the pink bus out for you!

Thanks for updating us!

Hugs, Megan

I will keep praying for you and you keep letting us know how you are doing!