Hello there, I've got a dry cough and a crackling sound in my chest. Doc says its viral and gave me an inhaler! How long will it go on?

[dawann63]

I also have Barrett's Oesophagus. Now that I've done my own research; worried it might be Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR); Going to mention it if my symptoms don't improve, or ask for a chest x-ray, just feel that when they say its 'viral' they think you are being a hypochondriac!

[susiecue62]

do you have c-o-p-d and are you already on inhalers

[dawann63 in reply to susiecue62]

No not on inhaler, she said if my chest was a bit tight it would relieve it. I've never had crackling sound before when I've had chest infections. I'm just a bit paranoid as my mum died of lung cancer and was always getting chest infections and the cancer was only found when she had an MRI scan for her hip!

[Hidden in reply to dawann63]

patient.co.uk/health/why-wa... hear dawann 63 have a read wishing you wellx

[dawann63 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks I will have a look x

[derrylynne]

Sounds like an infection to me. If so why are you not on antibiotics..

[dawann63]

Apparently its viral not bacterial so antibiotics won't work.

[TheAuthor]

Hi dawann63

I just wanted to wish you all the best and I genuinely hope that you feel better soon.

Take care

Ken

[dawann63 in reply to TheAuthor]

Thank you

[Offcut]

Does a viral crackle sound different to an infection crackle? Or has he based it on the dry cough? If you are bringing anything up what colour is it?

Not sure where you are from but with the pollen being very high in the UK at the moment it could well be a contributing factor?

As for how long it will depend on the inhaler and what your body does to fight it.

Be Well

[dawann63 in reply to Offcut]

Thank you, I also have a condition called Barrett's Oesophagus, so not sure if this is connected, I have managed to cough a liitle up this morning and its only a yellowish colour, so not too worried. I've never suffered from pollen levels being high before but maybe they aren't helping!. I know I'm annoying my daughter with the stupid dry cough!

Going to try steam inhalation today, see if that helps

[Hidden]

you can get tablets to deal with virus ... antiviral ones.

[simeon]

Hello. I don't want to make you worry but these are also the classic symptoms of Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis. It is what I first had and the first doctor I saw (a thoracic consultant!!!) failed to identify it as IPF. A year later I complained again and was sent (different consultant) for a CT scan which showed it to be IPF. It was quite a long time after that I began to get shortness of breath. I won't go into details because what you have may be something else but I definitely recommend you talk to your doctor or even ask to see a consultant if you are still concerned. I wish you well.

[dawann63 in reply to simeon]

Thanks Simeon, I will go back next week if my symptoms haven't improved.

Best wishes