Covid, continuous dry cough causing sleep loss and what to do next?

[Queenie1901]

Tested positive for Covid 3 days ago after previous 3 days of cold/ flu like symptoms. Temperature (38°C for one day) and deadly sore throat now gone. Continuous dry cough remains. Kept me awake for last 5 nights. Diaphragm now aching and painful when I cough. Tried all sorts - hot honey and lemon drinks, spoonfuls of honey, salt water gargling, plenty of fluids, paracetamol but no relief. Cough has become a little more productive at times in last 24 hours. Been on 4mg of Pred for 6 weeks. (Original plan was to wait until January before considering next DSNS taper. No way now!) I have not had a single sign of any aches or stiffness due to my PMR throughout all this. Is it because I am topped up on paracetamol? 😄 Now I am wondering whether I should increase pred for a short while to cover the covid onslaught? I am going to ring my GP surgery this morning to discuss cough and my pred level but anyone got any similar experience ?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

hi,

You might like to read this link before you does to GP so can discuss SDR for Covid, if you both think appropriate …..and you may well be prescribed antibiotics…

medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/...

Definitely no thought of tapering…..until recovered from current issues which do seem to linger…

Hope you soon feel better.

[Queenie1901 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you very much. Appreciate the swift response. I am downloading now to read. I am on the GP call back list for this morning. I also sent off my priority PCR test to the lab 2 days ago so not sure if they will ring me back with any advice when they get the lab result.

[Queenie1901 in reply to DorsetLady]

Great document. Easily readable. Have made some notes for GP phone call. Thank you

[SnazzyD]

I know that dry Covid cough well! The sleep deprivation was the worst. It lasted about 4 weeks for me in earnest and another few as an annoying tickle that would cause bouts every now and again. It became productive from the throat area and chest and back muscles were very unhappy. My sister had to hold a cushion to he front for coughing as if she had had abdominal surgery! Various friends and family have said the same. Not much helped to be honest. I know this isn’t encouraging, its more to say, don’t panic it’s par for the course. If your cough changes to productive from the chest, fevers return or you are getting new chest pain, seek help.

[Queenie1901 in reply to SnazzyD]

Actually that is very helpful indeed. Especially when you have been awake in the night and feeling you alone are suffering it! I can handle it much better when someone says to me it's par for the course. Thanks for the shared experience and tips. X

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not sure it is worth increasing the pred at this stage since it does sound as if you are well past the worst stage. The cough does seem to hang on for a long time - as does the cough with the other chest infections that are doing the rounds.

[Queenie1901 in reply to PMRpro]

That makes a lot of sense too. If I am not coughing I don't feel too bad considering the loss of sleep. My appetite is improving as well. I'll see what the GP says too. Thank you.