Question: Hello,
I have had sinus problems since childhood. Last spring (2013), I got the cold that never went away. Congestion, coughing, diminished taste and smell, and a raspy voice stuck with me. Then, in February this year (2014), I got a cold and started coughing...coughing nearly 24 hrs a day, to the point of throwing up. Nothing helped until my doctors started me on prednisone. That was the magic cure! Until, they tried to wean me off of it. Within hours of my first missed dose, I would start coughing. By the next day, it was uncontrollable again.

We did chest xrays, ct scans of my sinuses, pulmonary exams, etc, the doctors all decided the culprit was my sinuses. I was told I had sever sinus disease and needed to me cleaned out to improve drainage. So, on 9/12/14 I had endoscopic sinus surgery and an adenoidectomy. I have been feeling okay and the nurse has assured me that my congestions post-surgery is normal. Well, a few days ago, I started coughing again. I am still on 10mg of Prednisone daily so, this is making me very upset.

When I asked my doctor what the next step would be if the surgery didn't help me, he said, "Medication." I don't think this is reasonable! The coughing has to be caused my something, right? I feel like very little attention has actually been paid to my throat and chest. What should I ask for? What should I pursue? I am overweight...could my cough be caused by my weight in any way?

I am currently taking 10mg of prednisone every day, 1200mg of Mucinex 2x a day and Flonase 2x a day. I am also taking Vitamin D, B-12, and Benzonate when the coughing is bad.

Thanks.

Hello,
I sent a reply with questions but it doesn't show here so I will try again.
I have never gargled after Flonase, what will that do?
My doctors did do a blood test and scratch test for common air born and food allergies but the tests came back negative. I did try taking Allegra or Zyrtec for a month but it didn't help.
One of the original suspected causes was acid reflux but after some time on Prilosec, there were no changes. The doctors also said that the prednisone would have increased reflux symptoms but that didn't happen so, they ruled it out.
I also completed a spirometry test and, while the results showed moderate constriction even after a breathing treatment, the doctors didn't seem to consider it much of a factor in the cough.
As I said, the only thing that has actually helped is prednisone (10mg a day). That is why the doctors have really only focused on the sinuses and lungs.
I did email my doctors and request a look at my throat. What else should I be looking for?
Thanks,
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