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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Cough And Neutrophilic Bronchitis
Question: Hi I have had a chronic cough for ten years since the loss of my eldest son in a car accident I have since lost my youngest son at the age of 24 who fell from a roof. I have had numerous tests over the past five years. My lungs have always been clear and it was a possible case of reflux - I was prescribed Lansoprazole 15g. I was sent for more tests and they thought I might have asthma and put me on Symbicort turbohaler this had no effect. In May 2013 my husband made me an appointment at The University Hospital of Leicester (Department of Respiratory Medicine. The diagnosis was evidence of Neutrophilic Bronchitis - recommendation - 250mg Erythromycin once daily for three months.
It did help as I came to the end of the three months - I stopped taking the drug and within a few weeks my cough came back with a vengeance my Doctor prescribed some alternative anti biotics - but to no avail.
I take Fluoxetine daily - I am 62 years and am overweight but continue to diet the best I can.
My cough is so bad that the noises i make when clearing my throat are embarrasing. They effect my relationship with my husband and does not allow me to go out socially.
Regards XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
My email address is YYYY@YYYY
PS; I do help you can help or at least point me in the right direction
It did help as I came to the end of the three months - I stopped taking the drug and within a few weeks my cough came back with a vengeance my Doctor prescribed some alternative anti biotics - but to no avail.
I take Fluoxetine daily - I am 62 years and am overweight but continue to diet the best I can.
My cough is so bad that the noises i make when clearing my throat are embarrasing. They effect my relationship with my husband and does not allow me to go out socially.
Regards XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
My email address is YYYY@YYYY
PS; I do help you can help or at least point me in the right direction
Brief Answer:
reflux, allergies, anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
I am very sorry that you have had this problem for so long.
Chronic coughs can have many causes and sometimes are very hard to diagnose and treat.
I will off some suggestions and some ideas for specialists to see in follow up.
First, reflux is a very common cause of cough and if the lansoprazole helped at all it may be helpful to use a higher dose and perhaps even try taking it twice a day. Other things that may help reflux are avoiding alcohol, raising the head of the bed by about 3 inches, losing weight and not eating anything within 4 hours of going to sleep. Allergies are another cause of chronic cough and the best things to try for this are nasal steroids (prescription), nasal saline and antihistamines.
Asthma can also cause a chronic cough and it may be useful for you to get pulmonary function testing by the respiratory specialists. Specialists that may be helpful to you for these problems include pulmonary, ENT (ear, nose and throat) and gastroenterology.
Finally, some people have food allergies that can cause coughing. I would first try eliminated all dairy for about a month and then if that is not helping try eliminating gluten for about 3 months.
It is important that if you feel that you have anxiety or depression due to the loss of your sons that you get counseling for that as well. Drinking plenty of water, eating healthy food, avoiding tobacco and exercising daily will help in your general health.
I wish you the best in trying to get a diagnosis and adequate treatment.
reflux, allergies, anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
I am very sorry that you have had this problem for so long.
Chronic coughs can have many causes and sometimes are very hard to diagnose and treat.
I will off some suggestions and some ideas for specialists to see in follow up.
First, reflux is a very common cause of cough and if the lansoprazole helped at all it may be helpful to use a higher dose and perhaps even try taking it twice a day. Other things that may help reflux are avoiding alcohol, raising the head of the bed by about 3 inches, losing weight and not eating anything within 4 hours of going to sleep. Allergies are another cause of chronic cough and the best things to try for this are nasal steroids (prescription), nasal saline and antihistamines.
Asthma can also cause a chronic cough and it may be useful for you to get pulmonary function testing by the respiratory specialists. Specialists that may be helpful to you for these problems include pulmonary, ENT (ear, nose and throat) and gastroenterology.
Finally, some people have food allergies that can cause coughing. I would first try eliminated all dairy for about a month and then if that is not helping try eliminating gluten for about 3 months.
It is important that if you feel that you have anxiety or depression due to the loss of your sons that you get counseling for that as well. Drinking plenty of water, eating healthy food, avoiding tobacco and exercising daily will help in your general health.
I wish you the best in trying to get a diagnosis and adequate treatment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you so much for your response. I will take your advice and as of today will take two lansoprazole each day and monitor for one month.
I will also take your advice and have some respiratory tests done.
I haven't smoked for more than ten years. I was never a heavy smoker just a social smoker.
My husband XXXXXXX constantly researches coughs on the internet.He is now of the opinion that the sphincter muscle at the base of the oesophagus may be damaged or not working properly. What do you think?
Finally I have a USB recorder And have recorded my coughing today, may I send it to you if I can work out how?
regards XXXXXXX
I will also take your advice and have some respiratory tests done.
I haven't smoked for more than ten years. I was never a heavy smoker just a social smoker.
My husband XXXXXXX constantly researches coughs on the internet.He is now of the opinion that the sphincter muscle at the base of the oesophagus may be damaged or not working properly. What do you think?
Finally I have a USB recorder And have recorded my coughing today, may I send it to you if I can work out how?
regards XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
sphincter is possibility
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your follow up. It is possible that you have a problem with the lower esophageal sphincter. If the sphincter is not working properly then it can certainly be a cause of reflux. Reflux is a common cause of cough. There is also a variant of asthma called cough variant asthma, and that is why I thought it would be good to get pulmonary function testing done. I will be happy to listen to your cough if you can find a way to upload that. I hope you are free of this problem soon.
sphincter is possibility
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your follow up. It is possible that you have a problem with the lower esophageal sphincter. If the sphincter is not working properly then it can certainly be a cause of reflux. Reflux is a common cause of cough. There is also a variant of asthma called cough variant asthma, and that is why I thought it would be good to get pulmonary function testing done. I will be happy to listen to your cough if you can find a way to upload that. I hope you are free of this problem soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hello Doctor,
I am about to send you a zip file with four seperate sound files.I have posted it to a file sharing site.
Please see link below:
http://www20.zippyshare.com/v/0000/file.html
I look forward to your reply
Regards
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
I am about to send you a zip file with four seperate sound files.I have posted it to a file sharing site.
Please see link below:
http://www20.zippyshare.com/v/0000/file.html
I look forward to your reply
Regards
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Sounds like reflux cough
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for sharing those files. Though many types of cough can sound quite similar, this sounds like a cough that you could get from reflux. I hope you get a good diagnosis and treatment soon
Kathy Robinson MD
Sounds like reflux cough
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for sharing those files. Though many types of cough can sound quite similar, this sounds like a cough that you could get from reflux. I hope you get a good diagnosis and treatment soon
Kathy Robinson MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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