Acting out of character because of f’ing cough

[Pinkycloud]

Tonight I’ve had a bottle of wine, 2 codeine, and a ‘once a day’ antihistamine. Not with any other purpose except utter desperation to ease this hideous cough. I’m pissing everyone off, most of all myself, I’m struggling to breath (I can breath, but I struggle with deep breaths), I have nasal drip, I just can’t do this anymore. Everything always goes to my chest, but I’ve never been a smoker. Have had countless GP appointments and x/rays over the years - all showing nothing wrong. I just feel so f’ing down. Help?

What helped me with this was dynamist nasal spray and fexofenadine. Both on prescription and still taking them a year on. It was asthma UK who suggested my symptoms might be caused by allergies. They were right and the above treatment has resolved the post nasal drip and consequent excess chest mucus and coughing. I hope this helps you.

I feel your pain. I have this too - nearly two weeks of it. I recommend trying to sleep propped up. That has really helped me as has eating very very lightly in the evening. I'm not sure there's any science behind that but it seems to help.

The trouble with suppressing the cough is that that prolongs it. Good luck though!

I have something similar, waiting for consults to find out what is driving in. Nasal drip never stops, getting infections - its been going on for over a year. Someone just suggested ashwoganda - not sure if that is the spelling - said it helped with similar symptoms.

Try omprezalone - it could be a reflux cough?

Thanks all - really appreciate your replies and will try some of your suggestions.

Definitely try a week of omeprazole.

And ditch the alcohol! It won't help.

I have this and it's caused by allergies. I take Fexofenadine 120mg each day, use a saline nasal spray to flush out allergens and help draw out the sinus gunk, then a steroid nasal spray to reduce inflammation. The body produces mucous to protect itself, but it goes into overdrive with the allergens. It's horrible. It affects my eyes as well.

It's miserable isn't it. I found codeine spread throughout the day helped even more than two at night.
I have them on prescription for a bad back so I appreciate not everyone wants to start taking codeine every 4-6 hours!

Echinacea is good for general run down colds, coughs etc, you can get it in boots, Echinforce I think it's called.

Also the holy trinity vitamin c, zinc and d are my go to for immune boosting.

As above could definitely be acid!

Secondly my husband had a terrible post nasal drip cough after flu. The doc prescribed him a nose spray specifically to stop the post nasal drip and it worked perfectly. Please contact your GP to ask about this - I don't know the name of it unfortunately.

Could it be a reaction to sulphites? Sadly all wines we've found contain them, as do most squashes, stuff in vinegar, stuff with dried fruit in it, etc.

If I have more than a glass of wine I get a cough, I have asthma though.

I feel your pain - have just come out the other side of several weeks of coughing. Sleeping propped up with a hotwater bottle on my chest helped at night.
I do however reflect on a trip to the vets with my then young dog who had a nasty cough. Having ruled out kennel cough, he thought it was due to a very sore throat. Prescribed antibiotics for the throat infection and gave her an injection to stop the coughing as she looked so miserable. And it worked! Many times I have wished there was something similar for humans.