Question: Hi doctor,

I'm a 32 years old woman, it's the flu season here in Norway, everyone is sneezing and coughing in my workplace and in the house.

I've been sick since Wednesday 5th October. my symptoms are:
- itchy, tickly throat with mild body ache, no fever and no runny nose.
- I feel like I constantly need to clear my throat, feels like something is stuck.
-chest feels congested or tight, but no breathing problems.
- Cough feels dry and chesty, it gets worse at night and interrupts my sleep, so I haven't had good night sleep for a while now.
- I also have a post nasal drip.

The cough did not get any better since October 5th and last night I coughing interrupted my sleep at least 4 times and it was awful.

I've seen a doctor here twice, she looked into my throat, listened to my breathing and said my tonsils are a little bit swollen but no white patches and it's probably just a viral infection that will pass on its own. she mentioned that my breathing sound normal.

They are quite strict in Norway about medicine, so I was advised to get OTC cough syrup named Solvipect(guaifenesin) and throat lozenges named zyx(benzydamin) which gives me a temporary relief.

Other things I've been doing : cleaned & dusted the house, change bed sheets and pillow covers every 2 days, no diary products, no caffeine, no spicy food, no alcohol, have chicken soup with garlic & onion, drink fennel and chamomile tea, drink ginger and honey tea, gargle with salt water, take honey before bed and rub tiger balm on my chest, back & throat.

I tried a humidifier at night but it made my cough worse.

I hope you can help me.
Thanks in advance and I hope to hear from you soon.