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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Cough, Dizziness And Fatigue In An Elderly Person
Question: I have been suffering from a flulike condition for over a month. I'm 82 and in otherwise pretty good health. health, but the several different doctors I've seen are not helping me. They've been subscribing many things: first of all treating for a virus which helped somewhat but I completed the prescriptions and the symptoms returned stronger, Another Dr subscribed the inhalent Brio and another emergency inhalent that did not help at all. In fact these inhalent caused even more problems. So Istopped after10 days and am better off than before them, but still sick. Another Dr stated that it probably was'nt even a virus. But I now believe it to be a virus because it has all the cold/viral symptoms: bad, deep ongoing coughing that keeps me awake, lots of phlegm and sinus discharge, weakness, dizziness. ,etc. ,etc.
I think that I'm simply old and frustrated with a very bad flu/cold but everyone seems to want to make more of this and are reaching for more complicated reasons. I live In a small somewhat medically bereft medical area and must drive to more major medicinal supportive areas for treatment. Thank you.
I think that I'm simply old and frustrated with a very bad flu/cold but everyone seems to want to make more of this and are reaching for more complicated reasons. I live In a small somewhat medically bereft medical area and must drive to more major medicinal supportive areas for treatment. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
antihistamine, decongestant, mucolytic, fluids, emergent inhaler
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Post nasal drip of mucus is one of the more common causes of persistent coughing.
Some persons may not detect drip itself. It can be due to infection , as in your case, or allergy.
Treatment would involve the use of medications that you may using already, such as : (a) anti histamine decongestant combination- these are over the counter medications that would help to dry up any secretions eg allegra d, zyrtec d, claritine d etc
(b)topical steroid nasal spray eg nasonex, nasocort, flonase, rhinocort.
One of these may help but may require a prescription from your doctor
(c)a mucolytic to help break up the mucus so that it can be easily expelled eg bisolvan, guaifenesin, mucomyst
These are over the counter medications, initially there may be increased coughing mucus tries to come out but this would decrease
(d)fluids, again to help decrease mucus thickness
(e)if it does not make you feel too unwell the emergent inhaler which is likely ventolin may help to open any closed airways that may be contributing to coughing
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
antihistamine, decongestant, mucolytic, fluids, emergent inhaler
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Post nasal drip of mucus is one of the more common causes of persistent coughing.
Some persons may not detect drip itself. It can be due to infection , as in your case, or allergy.
Treatment would involve the use of medications that you may using already, such as : (a) anti histamine decongestant combination- these are over the counter medications that would help to dry up any secretions eg allegra d, zyrtec d, claritine d etc
(b)topical steroid nasal spray eg nasonex, nasocort, flonase, rhinocort.
One of these may help but may require a prescription from your doctor
(c)a mucolytic to help break up the mucus so that it can be easily expelled eg bisolvan, guaifenesin, mucomyst
These are over the counter medications, initially there may be increased coughing mucus tries to come out but this would decrease
(d)fluids, again to help decrease mucus thickness
(e)if it does not make you feel too unwell the emergent inhaler which is likely ventolin may help to open any closed airways that may be contributing to coughing
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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