Help! I keep coughing

[ThatLilacHedgehog]

Hi,

so I have a dry tickle cough that comes on once every 2 to 3 hours, I NEVER cough during the night when I’m sleeping. Sometimes I need water for it to stop, I’m just wondering as it comes on every 2-3 hours would this still be classed as a cough to be worried about?

AIBU in thinking I have a chronic cough

I had similar and was diagnosed with silent reflux and dry throat.
Specialist advised me to cut coffee and tea to no more than 4 a day, up water intake to at least 1.5l a day and cut down food that would aggravate the reflux like onions, peppers, tomatoes, etc

There is something called an over active cough reflex. I have a cough and often it’s the tickle that starts the cough that is the worse. I’m waiting for an appointment to see the cough clinic at my hospital.

Are you in any heart medication? Only ask as I’ve had a hideous cough for 18months and it turns out it was due to a side effect of ramipril which I’ve been on for 4 years - changed the medication and the coughing has stopped- thank god!!

have you tried antacids? I know a bit odd but I had a persistant cough for ages and someone suggested this to me so I took Gaviscon for a few days and it cleared up. It could just be mild acid but enough to irritate your throat
Going to the doctors is good call too for a cough that's lasted that long

I have cough-variant asthma. I'd never heard of it until I was diagnosed but it's not uncommon. It's kept under control by my asthma meds but it's generally triggered by allergies although I'm on meds for acid reflux too which also triggers it.
I'd definitely suggest going to the GP and getting a proper diagnosis as there are lots of possibilities. Honestly, none of them are particularly serious but a chronic cough is so annoying to live with. And they can probably do something to help you.