Persistent cough, tests and x-ray

[PandaEyes2]

Hi,

I've just got back from the doctors because I've had a persistent cough for about 3 months now. He's not entirely sure what it is....

His checks there all came back ok but has prescribed me a peak flow meter and I have to record my readings for the next 2 weeks morning and evening. Does this test for asthma? There is a history of asthma in my family, and what sort of readings are expected normal? He's told me how to use it but not what it actually does.

I'm also going for a chest x-ray next week to rule out anything else, although I've no idea what to expect from this either?

I'm nearly 26 so he said it could just be virus after virus and the cough is lingering. What ever it is, it's driving me mad. I'm quite fit and healthy and spend at least 4 evenings in the gym so I'm surprised if it is just illness.

Anybody else going through this or been through this and can offer and advice or insight into the flow meter thing.

Hi, I've had something similar now for 10 years.

It started when I was 20 and ill one winter with an awful productive cough and the cough didn't go away. I kept going back to the Doctor, I had chest x-rays and antibiotics and in all honesty it took years for anyone to suggest it was asthama related - so it's great that they're looking into that already with you.

I am now on an inhaler, to use daily, and the cough is much more controlled, although still persistant and worse in the cold and damp weather. Apparently I don't actually have asthama, but some sort of restrictive airways which is similar to asthma but not quite - odd but that's my diagnosis.

The peak flow meter is something they use to measure your breathing and can be useful in seeing whether you're taking in enough air, I think. Mine is always quite low, they used to be concerned, but not so much any more as it's always consistant.

So, it could be a virus that you're just not able to shake, or it could be something asthma related. It's good they're checking you out though, as it too at least 5 year for me to convince my doctor that my cough was constant and something more than a chest infection.
I hope you get to the bottom of it soon!

My adult son recently went to the doctor with the same as you, he had a chest X-ray and that was clear, consultant wasn’t worried but if he is still having the cough in 3 months time he will look into asthma
treatment as there is a family history of that.
The peak flow readings you are being asked to do are you used in an asthma diagnosis.
Do you smoke?

I can't help with the peak flow but I did see the doctor last year with a persistent cough which I'd had for several months. I had an x-ray and then a CT scan. Nothing sinister was seen so I was referred to respiratory clinic. Turns out my cough and throat clearing is caused by reflux... I had no idea reflux could cause chronic coughs?! It can be silent reflux too where the only symptom is coughing. Might be nothing like that for you but thought I'd share in case it could be a factor

Thank you for all your replies! It seemed like he wasn't really sure what was going on so he's just ruling everything out.

As I say there is family history of asthma and my cough does seem worse in the evenings and at night, so could actually be the root cause, maybe he's more on the ball than I thought lol. He had a feel of my glands and throat and asked what the scar on my neck is from... when I was 2 years old I had localised TB and had he lump removed. He seemed a little surprised and then suggested the x-ray as people can get TB and not realise as it can clear up on its own apparently. I haven't had the jab because it was taken out of the schools just before I went for it.

I don't smoke although I used to a few years ago.

And he did actually mention the silent reflux thing. So he said if the readings come back fine and the chest x-ray then it may be worth looking into something like that. I've got to go back in 2 weeks with my readings anyway. Will he have any results from my x-ray or will someone only call me if they do find anything?

I would book a telephone appointment for about a week after X-ray ,if your GP has that system and discuss the results.

My x-ray results took forever to get back... 5/6 weeks in the end!! They said it was down to using private firms to report on them now. Hopefully you won't have to wait that long!!

I've booked an appointment for the Friday 6th to have a look at the results from my chart thing, my x-ray is the Thursday before so hopefully he will have results by then. Although I'm not worried about the results, he couldn't hear anything on my chest. But then I'm not entirely sure where the cough is actually coming from if that makes sense. @Evizza that sounds like a complete pain, nothing it every just straight forward is it

I'd forgotten about reflux causing coughing, it could well be that if it turns out not to be asthma. They did give me treatment for refulx in case my cough was caused by that instead, but it wasn't and the treatments didn't help at all - I think they initially gave me a nasal spray and then some tablets which just made me sick.

I had a cough from Christmas that lasted about two months. I got better and now have the same thing again. It's very odd- a cough with no cold preceding it. I assume it's viral but I'm bloody well sick of it!

I've been coughing for a year now and had all the tests which showed clear. The inhaler didn't help, nor the antibiotics or steriods. I am now trying stronger gastro pills (which we tried first and did nothing on a lower dose) to see if it really is coming from my stomach. I've just put "chronic persistent cough" down on my travel insurance. Good luck!