Chronic cough, asthma?

[aeparcs]

Well, ive been coughing for almost 5 month and my doctor says.. Its because of asthma.. Is it possible?

[peege]

Hello, in my experience it is. It took some time to get me sorted but a few years ago I was the same. Because my airways were constantly inflamed I had continuous chest infections because any mucus in lungs couldn't escape. One day I went in yet again for an emergency appointment with my hacking barking cough. The GP had a trainee with her, as walked in she said to him "listen well and never forget, this is a typical cough of an asthmatic".

It was almost a lightbulb moment for me, I should have known having had an asthmatic child. (Although I'd had asthma all my life it was diagnosed in my 40s when it took a downturn). It took another downturn a few years later & I was quite poorly for a few years. Long story short, countless X-rays, CT scan, investigations, pneumonias & a horrible life it turned out to be uncontrolled asthma.

It takes a while with getting the right medications to suit you however, IF you do have it, good doctors will sort you out. One thing I will say, if I had my time over I'd have seen a consultant privately for the CT scan, it would have saved my precious lungs from damage.

Good luck, read up and learn as much as you can. Great YouTube graphics explaining what happens to lungs, breathing techniques to help and much more. Make sure you get an actual diagnosis.

[aeparcs in reply to peege]

Thank u so much for the response.. I hope this nothing serious.. Ive been feeling so tired all the time lately and my back hurts sometimes pain sharp kind of pain but not sure if Its because of too much coughing for a long time.. May doctors says i shouldn't worry and just try to relax.. And i had a continuous chest infection same as yours. Never had ct can cos its to expensive here in my country and my doctors said its not advisable to have ct scan cause its costly and he said this is just an asthma so ill just waste my money.. We dont have health insurance here.. But thank u for the response

[peege in reply to aeparcs]

We are so lucky in the UK. It is very tiring to be coughing all the time - but there are other reasons for coughing too. Also, you can get very sore muscles around your ribs from coughing (it takes ages to get rid of) , there's a name for it, begins with c...... I can't remember. Can you get medication from your doctors? If asthma medication works then your worries will be solved and you will be able to relax more. In the meantime try those breathing exercises - if you can get YouTube in your country.

By the way, in case you didn't know, this is a forum for patients, not health professionals so we can only share our experiences. As I mentioned, we are so lucky here with our healthcare., we complain a lot and tend to forget that other nations aren't so well cared for. Eat as healthily as you can to build a good immune system, keep to a healthy weight, exercise as you can and avoid people with coughs and colds!

Again, good luck. P

[aeparcs in reply to peege]

Yes i know we're all patients here and ur so lucky there in the u. K..i have plans to migrate there because of the good benefits but sadly i need lots of money in able To move there and also i need a sponsor from any relatives but sadly i dont have a relative in uk.

And yes my doctor gave me inhalers and medicine for asthma and etc but im still. Coughing, luckily my cough doesn't bother me when im sleeping btw im from the Philippines we do have youtube access in my country and i'll watch some breathing exercises and thanks for some. Tips. Means alot to me :)and btw how long you've been coughing when u were diagnosed with asthma?

[Ergendl in reply to peege]

costochondritis

[Frin9e]

hi, my son as been coughing since November last year, finally seeing consultant tomorrow, can I ask if it's dry hacking cough you have ?

[aeparcs in reply to Frin9e]

Yes its a dry cough. But i everytime i take ABs i spit yellow or white phlegm

[Frin9e in reply to aeparcs]

sounds similar, my son seen consultant, had x-ray which showed infection, antibiotics for 10 days, full lung function test in April, can't understand how gp didn't pick this up!

[bandit2]

Hi everyone, I went through the dry hacking cough to the point I cracked ribs and still couldn't stop it felt like some one had a feather tickling my throat and I could not clear my throat. Some dr's are against prescribing codeine I am lucky mine just wanted me to stop so I took my Breo inhaler in the morning and when the coughing first started I took Hycodan which is hydrocodone a derivative of codeine because I can;t take pure codeine. The closest over the counter medicine is Benylin DM, ice chips also help with inflamation. I know it's a nagging never go away cough but once on the right meds you will be good

[aeparcs in reply to bandit2]

Do you experience back pain too? Hows ur cough now?

Same as yours sometimes well mostly there's a tickling in my throat. My back hurts now like dull sharp pain not sure if this cause by coughing for too long..

[bandit2 in reply to aeparcs]

it is from coughing as it's part of the rib cage, another trick I use is a vaporizer (steamer) and I use eucalyptus oil and you are so lucky in the UK because you have black current pastilles. I used them as a child for my bronchitis plus I loved the flavor they were called Allenburys Blackcurrent and glycerin pastilles they would coat your throat and calm it at the same time. We don't have a lot of black current stuff anymore which is a big shame because its so yummy

[Paulabpa]

Im 48 was coughing till im sick,then ended up in hospital, couldnt breathe,20 mins on ventolin and 8 steroids tablets over 5 days job sorted. Forgot to say this went on every 5 weeks for a year, now on personal name terms with the drs at the hospital bahhh.

My drs didnt want me on steroids so at about week 3 started coughing week 5 non stop, then couldnt breathe and off we go again. After a year of hell, my drs put me through to a consultant amazing,steroids by the box load,lung tests, blood tests etc comes out a few weeks later ive got ABPA now im on steroids 20mg day and ive just started on itraconazole 400 mg a day. With a reduction in steroids to follow,seen a massive difference,never coughed or been to hospital happy days😁😁

Side effects weight gain,sleepless nights, now that is a bitch 30 mins sleep not good but take extra steroids 5 mg and sleep like a pig 😁

[helenlw7]

I was diagnosed with asthma in 2012 after a persistent cough for six months. The lung lady also spotted scarring on one of my lungs which was diagnosed as bronchiecstasis. I coughed through lots of inhalers and ended up on doxycycline as a prophylactic, four inhalers, montelukast, antihistamine and a nasal spray. The turning point came in August 2017 when the antibiotic was changed to azithromycin. I stopped coughing in September and haven’t done so since. To anybody who doesn’t cough a lot, you wouldn’t believe how tiring a persistent cough is. I hope you find an answer soon.

[aeparcs in reply to helenlw7]

Ive been to a lot doctors and they gave me different antibiotics.. Theres was a relief but the cough keeps coming back sometimes i find the inhaler useless because it never gave me a relief and yah coughing for Too long is so tiring.. Literally depressing and most of the time i feel so Tired and i just want to be alone .hoping and praying that this cough will go away soon... i feel like giving up already...