![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 24, 2006, at 18:34:46
I was curious if anyone had any medical or medicinal suggestions for a cough?
About three years, I was doing remodeling an old house, knocked out some plaster walls, and have had a dry cough ever since.
I went to my regular doc, who sent me to a Ear-Nose-Throat specialist. He gave me allergy tests, and I turned up positive for smoke, pollen and dust like the rest of creation. Three or four months of allergy shots did nothing for me (is that a theory or real medicine?)
Next was for them to look down my nose at my throat. Then lung Xrays, then MRI of sinus passages. I took the Purple Pill and that didnt seem to help much.
Any suggestions? Again, dry cough. Thanks
Posted by Quintal on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:20
In reply to Medicine for cough?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 23, 2006, at 1:39:16
Have you tried a cough syrup containing dextromethorphan (DXM)? I'm not sure of the brand names in the US, but someone here will probably be able to tell you. You could always try your local pharmacy.
Q
Posted by notfred on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:20
In reply to Re: Medicine for cough? » UgottaHaveHope, posted by Quintal on November 23, 2006, at 11:14:08
dextromethorphan (DXM)is often reported as helping cause serotonin syndrome, if taken along with an AD
Posted by Phillipa on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:20
In reply to Re: Medicine for cough?, posted by notfred on November 23, 2006, at 11:34:12
Have you told the doc it's not working and let him prescribe another med. He has all your records of the tests so I'd call him. Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:20
In reply to Re: Medicine for cough?, posted by notfred on November 23, 2006, at 11:34:12
And death by hypertensive crisis if taken along with an MAOI I imagine............
That's a good point. Are you taking any other meds and have you seen a doctor about the cough UgottaHaveHope?
Q
Posted by Jost on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:20
In reply to Re: Medicine for cough? » notfred, posted by Quintal on November 23, 2006, at 11:50:44
Do you have a humidifier? to put more moisture in the atmosphere?
and/or air purifiers?
Is there any mold in your house? that also can cause coughs, allegies, etc.--can be fixed, although it's a pain.
I've had chronic sinus infections which were helped by using high grade air purifiers in a couple of rooms.
The other thing is that I draw with charcoal and pastels and when the pastel dust is really bad, I wear a mask. Really annoying, but it helps my breathing in general. So if you do any activity that creates a lot of dust, or perhaps in any area of the house near where the walls were redone, you might wear a mask--a little better than the ones in drugstores, but doesn't have to be a super-high grade one--or put an extra-strong air purifier.
It helped gradually over time-- took awhile, but did make a difference for me.
Jost
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:20
In reply to Re: Medicine for cough?, posted by Phillipa on November 23, 2006, at 11:48:57
I have tried a bunch of medicines, inhalers, etc. None of them really seemed to work. Cant remember the names of the inhalers, but some of the meds I still have are Hydroxyzine, Prednisone, and XPrect-Tat. Never took any of them more than a week bec I didnt feel like I was getting any results.
Any thoughts with what the docs were trying with those meds? Thanks
That is interesting about a humidifier.
Posted by notfred on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:20
In reply to Medicine for cough?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 23, 2006, at 1:39:16
> I was curious if anyone had any medical or medicinal suggestions for a cough?
>
>Post nasal drip is a common cause of cough. I have had a huge problem with it all my life. Has anyone mentioned if they saw any PND in your airway ?
My drip gets worse if I am dehydrated or my environment is too dry. I consume a gallon of water a day and use an ultrasonic humidifier to keep relative humidity at about 50%.
Treating a cause of the PND, for me, means treating my allergies.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:20
In reply to Re: Medicine for cough?, posted by notfred on November 23, 2006, at 12:51:06
Please tell me more. Is there a good web site with info on it? Thanks for everything, Michael
Posted by notfred on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:20
In reply to Re: Notfred, how did they discover PND?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 23, 2006, at 13:05:07
http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/nose/nasal.cfm
PND generally can be seen directly via the mouth.
The drip happens just past the tonsils. A bright light and a tongue suppressor is all a doc needs.
To look further down often a small scope is introduced into the nose and lowered into the either the wind or food pipe.
Posted by jealibeanz on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:21
In reply to Medicine for cough?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 23, 2006, at 1:39:16
Well, knocking down those walls most likely exposed allergens, as your implied. Have you gone back to your allergist and told him about your problems? Allergy shots do not provide immediate relief. They take years to be effective, since the whole idea behind the matter is that your body is exposed to more and more of the allergen over time. Eventually, you should become less sensitive.
I haven't heard of many allergy shot success stories... why? Because they're inconvenient and most people quit. Don't feel bad about stopping, since most people do, but just realize the reason you felt they didn't work is that you'd need to be persistent for years to see a change. It's hard to keep it up when you see no results.
I know talk oral medications and nasal spray. You just have to find the right combinations. There are many out there.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 24, 2006, at 18:35:21
In reply to Re: Medicine for cough?, posted by jealibeanz on November 23, 2006, at 13:52:24
I would love to hear the opinion of you and anybody else on allergy shots.
When I got tested, it showed I was allergic to dust, pollen and smoke, which I heard everybody on Earth is allergic to.
I took the shots for 2-3 months and did not feel they were making a difference.
Does it really work? Any success stories? It seems like a theory to me, rather than true medicine. I could be wrong, tho.
Posted by SatinDoll on November 24, 2006, at 20:11:32
In reply to Re: Jealibeanz, are allergy shots a theory?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 23, 2006, at 14:56:07
Have you been tested for asthma? Have the doctor tried Allbuterol? You almost know imediately that you have asthma if this medicine works. It is how I was dianogned with astma.
Posted by Lonely on December 30, 2006, at 1:20:19
In reply to Re: Jealibeanz, are allergy shots a theory?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on November 23, 2006, at 14:56:07
I took allergy shots for 6 years and it never really helped. I was allergic to dust, pollen, mold, horses, nearly all types of plants, and virtually everything for which they tested me.
The "de-sensitization" shots seem to work for some people but then I wonder if they wouldn't have gotten better anyway or with other treatment. My shots were admittedly 30+ years ago but I could never get beyond the beginning dose without wheezing, swelling, itching and generally reacting badly. Several times they had to give me epinephrine or something like that - really causes the "shakes." A couple years ago another allergist on the other side of the country leaned on me to do them again which I refused. I really think it contributed to other diseases that started during my teen years.
I have sneezing, chronic sinusitis (catscans and mris have shown it) runny nose, headaches, itchy eyes, ears, nose, throat all the time. Easily break out in rashes and have moderate to severe asthma. I guess the shots are based on the theory that the body will better recognize the intruder (as harmless) and stop fighting it - kind've the opposite of the idea behind vaccinations which want the body to recognize the intruder and disarm it. The allergy shot theory seems like faulty thinking to me. I've read and had doctors admit that 50% + of patients who take the shots do not find them helpful.
I might start on xolair - waiting to see what happens - need more info. Good luck to you!
> I would love to hear the opinion of you and anybody else on allergy shots.
>
> When I got tested, it showed I was allergic to dust, pollen and smoke, which I heard everybody on Earth is allergic to.
>
> I took the shots for 2-3 months and did not feel they were making a difference.
>
> Does it really work? Any success stories? It seems like a theory to me, rather than true medicine. I could be wrong, tho.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Health | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.