To consider seeing the GP for this?

[GimmeeCaffeine]

Hi all.

For the past few months (since my DD was born) I’ve had this persistent dry, tickly cough at night. I hardly cough at all during the day when I’m upright, but pretty much as soon as my head hits the pillow at night I’m hacking away! Most nights it’s not too bad but there are some nights where it’s awful and I’m awake for hours.

I’m in my early 20s, don’t smoke, fit and well with no known allergies or health problems. This coughing only started after my DD was born nearly six months ago. I feel absolutely fine otherwise and have no other symptoms, but when I’m coughing sometimes I’m coughing so much I’m wheezing/can’t catch my breath. Our bedroom isn’t dusty. I tried using cough syrup and it made no difference.

I’m reluctant to see the doctor only to be told it’s hay fever or something!

Thanks

I get this dreadfully from about March-September from pollen. You should always see a doctor with a persistent cough, but given that you feel relatively well, I'd try an antihistamine before bed first to see if it helps.

It could be silent reflux. Try a course of nextium or something like and see what happens.

But tbh any persistent cough should been checked out.

Absolutely see the GP about it. You need proper sleep not to wake up because of the cough. It can’t be very nice for you.
It could be anything, chest or throat related, Allergy, I really wouldn’t know.
Have you tried gargling with salted water before bedtime? It won’t solve the cause of the problem but might ease the symptoms temporarily until you see your GP.

If it wasn't for the fact that I'm in my 50s and do smoke a bit in the evenings, I could have written your post. I know I should say it to the GP, but tbh I just deal with it by taking some OTC co-codamol when it happens (codeine is well known as a cough suppressant) . I think it's post nasal drip.

Do as I say, not as I do, and see the GP. Then report back to me.

Oh and seeing as I'm in my 50s and had a hysterectomy 4 years back, obviously I've not just had a baby!

Would it be worth - to save your time as much as anything, given the difficulty of getting an appointment with the GP - having a chat with a pharmacist first?

Just a thought.

Of course you should see your GP about this, OP.

I was expecting something trivial - a cough that keeps you awake every night is not trivial and can be treated.

I've had exactly the same 5 years ago and they diagnosed me with asthma. It comes and goes but since I've been pregnant it's come back permanently. I've never had an attack as such, just the coughing and wheezing at night.

I'd see a GP, but like a previous poster I'd query silent reflux. Especially since it started around pregnancy and starts when you lie flat. When I was pregnant with both my children I had the most horrendous coughs. GPs would just nod sympathetically and mutter about pregnancy lowering the immune system. I also had acid reflux, common in pregnancy, which Gaviscon wouldn't touch. During my second pregnancy I got fed up of constantly feeling / being sick from the acid (the tipping point might have been when I puked on my boss's shoes during a coughing fit), and demanded something better than Gaviscon. And the cough vanished along with the reflux.

Could it be an allergy to your pillows? Perhaps if they are feather pillows, or even some of the memory foam/soft fill ones can cause allergies. I would consult the GP, but I would also be trying some hypoallergenic pillows.

Yes, see your GP. Even if it is just hay fever, at least you'll know and they can suggest something to take for it.

There are lots of things it could be, as PPs have said. Another possibility is an allergy to fungal spores in the air which are mostly present at night. My brother gets wheezing and a tickling cough in bed at night, only in summer, and this was found to be the cause. He has an inhaler for it now. (Fungal spores as in fungus that grows outside but the spores are carried on the air - not from mould in the house or anything.)