Can not get rid of my cough

[Chocolate41]

I had a chest infection starting on January 24th.Had a course of antibiotics which helped and very slowly felt better.I still have a cough wakes me up at night and keep coughing during the day.I just can’t get rid of it.Does any body know how long this will continue.

I am not coughing up green or yellow just white mucous.Should I see a Dr but I don’t suppose they will do any thing will they.Has any body had the same as me and how long did it last.

Really fed up now as it seems to going on and on.

Thank you

[piglette]

The ninety day cough is lurking. In fact most of my friends seem to have it including me!

[Chocolate41 in reply to piglette]

I’ve heard it is every where.What makes it worst for me starts with an itchy throat then just have to cough and cough

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Chocolate41]

Then you need to keep throat hydrated and soothed so it doesn’t get itchy..not easy I know.. probably not helped by central heating and dry air indoors… 🤨

[Chocolate41 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks Dorset Lady will do

[Afibflipper in reply to Chocolate41]

It could just be residual inflammation so all the fluids, suck throat seeets etc. However I had a 4 month stint a couple of years ago, same time of year. Same antibiotics didn’t touch it. I am asthmatic too. GP didn’t really know what to do - I referred myself privately to respiratory consultant as the cough was now so violent, every 10 minutes I’d get a 20min cough till I couldn’t breathe. The tickle had been in the same place on & off for years but nothing like that time - turned out to be hypersensitive cough syndrome where the nerve from neck to brain was over sensitive thinking it had to cough all the time. I had to have a low dose morphine to suppress it. The sputum showed I still had infection 4months later, so, different antibiotics, different inhalers which GPs can’t/won’t prescribe. The relief was quick & amazing. However, I do now have mild bronchiectasis as a result of pronlonged infection so do go back to Dr

[SnazzyD]

It could be one of the humdinger viral coughs going round. I would get your chest listened to, to rule out other issues that might need medication as well as time to sort out.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It isn't unusual for a cough to last at least 3 weeks after the infection is sorted - which is about what you are at now isn't it. Nor is it that unusual for it to last longer ...

[Chocolate41 in reply to PMRpro]

Ok thank you it’s so annoying

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Chocolate41]

I can imagine. Have you tried inhaling steam - old fashioned but it might be a postnasal drip from the sinuses and that might help clear it out. Plain steam. or some menthol or Vick or Friar's Balsam but if you use the last 3, be sure you aren't using a best bowl you want to use again because the smell hangs around forever ...

[Chocolate41 in reply to PMRpro]

I will give plain steam a try l think than you

[Hunter134]

I had COVID in Nov which gave me a cough but it lessened aft a month.Two weeks later I got another cough and went to my Dr cause it was non stop.Kept choking.The whole office was there for the same thing.I still cough but not nearly as much.It was aweful.

[Rynn33]

Might be worth checking with GP - if it’s triggered an allergic type asthma, an inhaler for a while might help. Especially if the cough is worse at night or on exertion that might be the case.

In that case, taking an antihistamine for a few days may also give relief.

[diana1998]

Try sucking Fisherman's Friend. Soothing on the throat which helps a cough.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to diana1998]

They make me cough!!!!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Not a fan either… OH used to have them though.. probably because he knew I didn’t like them 🤨

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I love them - but they make me choke!!!!

[diana1998 in reply to diana1998]

Ooerrr! That's no good then!

[Sophiestree]

I had fever etc at the beginning of Jan which left me with a terrible cough that kept me awake most nights. I also have sinus issues so the nasal drip was compounding the whole thing. I sleep with a humidifier with some peppermint oil in which helps me a lot. I would say it took 6/7 weeks to slow down.

[Greenthought]

I had a bug starting mid-January, and after two weeks was prescribed antibiotics and steroids for chest infection - I had fever and an awful cough too. I also have a steroid inhaler for suspected asthma. Expected to bounce back but it took forever - only just now beginning to get my energy back! My eustachian tubes were also particularly gummed up, with resulting deafness and 'wooden head' feeling. I kept going with daily steam inhalation, which does seem to calm the irritability, occasional NeilMed nasal rinses (with boiled water and the bicarb/salt sachets that go with) and the odd paracetamol. I also found half a lemon with a teaspoon ortwo of honey in hot water very soothing. So by my reckoning, 6 weeks - though maybe less for those younger/ in better nick! Hope you're better soon.

[Chocolate41 in reply to Greenthought]

Thanks for info Greenthought.I have bought some Vick for chest at night and sucking fishermen friends in the day.Seems to work a bit.

[MiniSpec]

This cough really is a b*gger isn't it? I've had it for the last two weeks, and just as I thought I was beginning to recover, it's come back and hit me really badly again today. So it's throat sweets and lozenges for me, along with a couple of Lemsips a day and early nights.

One thing I've found is that in trying to keep my neck warm when in bed, I've ended up getting so hot that I wake up stuck to the bedclothes with sweat. Not nice, and means much more laundry than usual.