Quote:
Originally Posted by ducati1974
Please give me your thoughts /experiences with my symptoms. For the short version skip to the bullets below.
Last January I caught a very bad cold from a visitor. After two months of Dr. visits and antibiotics, I continued to have irritants in my throat causing me to clear it continuously and causing coughing. All other "cold" symptoms gone.
I had chest Xrays, and CAT scans and lung Dr. visits along with allergy meds, more antibiotics, inhalers and prednisone. While some things helped a little, it always came back.
Finally, I persuaded my Dr. that my cough was not from my lungs, but due to the irritants in my throat, so he sent me to an Ear, Nose, & Throat specialist.
The ENT diagnosed me with Acid Reflux and put me on Omeprazole (Prilosec). After 3 weeks the symptoms were almost gone, but then gradually came back about 60% and did not improve further.
The ENT told me to double the dose and come back in 4 months. The doubled dose did not help.
When my scrip ran out, after 2 months, my primary refused to refill it and wanted me to come in for a possible upper GI. I was so disgusted that he overruled the ENT that I balked and instead discontinued another medication I've been on for years (Citallopram) to see if that was the cause.
Now, a month later, with no improvement I'm reluctantly ready to go back to the primary to see if he can solve what seems to be an easy problem.
Current Symptoms:
>Continuous clearing of throat due to irritant (gunk) in throat
>Occasional coughing/ choking due to irritant
>Does not have that vomit acid taste
>Almost never a problem at night or early morning/ worst in evening
>Everyday occurrence
>No noticeable specific food causes
Thanks for your help
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You didn't say what medications you were taking, if any, before this all began with a "bad cold". And no one knows what your lifestyle is. Medications can have the effect of lowering your immune system and lifestyle can lower your immune system too.
With a healthy lifestyle and no medications, a cold, if you ever get one in the frirst place, shouldn't be something to see a doctor about. So I believe none of this would ever have been much of a problem if proper precautions were taken in the first place. And that means eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting moderate exercise (except when you're sick), avoiding stress and getting plenty of rest (especially when you're not feeling well.
No one should interpret my post as meaning you should stop taking medications. Although, it might not be a bad idea to review them and possibly stop any that are not absolutely needed. I was simply pointing out (above) that medications often have the effect of lowering your immune system. And I believe the problem above can be solved by concentrating on boosting your immune system.