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Desperate (and tired)
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| Ok, what I want to do is go off on a rant about NHS doctors, but I'll
resist that. Suffice to say, the way UK doctors treat patients (and I
was told this straight out) is that they treat based on symptoms, and
if you respond to the treatment positively, then that's what you have.
They do not actually test for much of anything. This is causing much
frustration for me, as it's a very slow process. I really need some
advice, until I can get to a REAL doctor in about 3 or 4 weeks (we
leave the UK then)...
I'm still experiencing a horrific, chocking cough, over a dozen times
in a 24 hour period. It's worse at night. It keeps me from falling
asleep, and when I finally do, it wakes me up multiple times during the
night. To make things worse I had some kind of flu recently, and the
choking cough caused me to vomit more than once. Now, it's just like
I'm *about* to vomit, but don't quite. It's very distressing, not just
for me, but for those around me (including my spouse). It's like I'm
desperately trying to dislodge something stuck in the back of my throat
(in fact, sometimes I find I throw my head back, when the cough gets
really bad). I often make this weird noise sometimes, sort of like a
choke, but I think it might be the air I'm swallowing when trying not
to cough when in public (I get perfect strangers offering me water, or
cough drops) coming back up. After a couple of coughs, the back of my
throat feels scoured dry, but once the coughing bout ends it's OK. I
don't have a continual sore throat, in fact right now it feels fine
(last coughing bout was about 1/2 hr ago). Coughing bouts last 2-5
minutes, on average.
I've been to a GP and a thoracic specialist. The thoracic doc said it
could be: reflux (duh), post nasal drip, or (strangely) asthma. She
started with the drip, and put me on Nasonex. No effect. I've tried
cough meds, dexo-whatever and pholcodine (sp?), no effect. I've tried
those 24-hour antihistamines. Nope. Sudafed. Nope. I've tried
taking up to 150mg Rantinine (sp?) about 1/2 hour before bed (I'm on
30mg Lansoprazole) with probably no effect (the first night cough
seemed delayed, but still happened). It does seem to mostly trigger
within an hour or so of eating, and I mean eating ANYTHING. I'd
already stopped eating 2 hours before bed, now I don't eat 3 hours
before bed. I'm now losing weight because I'm afraid to eat & trigger
a coughing bout. Not that it seems to be making a difference. I can't
raise the head of my bed as I'm now in a hotel with only the posessions
in my suitcase.
I had a CT today (there's an odd shadow on my chest x-ray) and though
the results arent' officially back yet the technician said she "didn't
see anything alarming".
I'm desperate for some relief. Sometimes, for no reason I can tell,
Nyquil will let me sleep, at least until it wears off - then I wake up
coughing again. I can't tell any more if this is some horrific LPR as
Howard suggests (likely, I think, or I wouldn't be posting here), or
some other thing.
I'm desperate. Any advice on what I can do to affect my refluxate (If
this is indeed reflux I'm worried about the damage it's doing) enough
to reduce/stop this cough? Howard, do you still think, given the above,
it's LPR, or something else?
jmc
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| Howard McCollister 2006-03-31, 10:16 am |
|
"jmc" <dragons@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1143814533.596412.144400@t31g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Ok, what I want to do is go off on a rant about NHS doctors, but I'll
> resist that. Suffice to say, the way UK doctors treat patients (and I
> was told this straight out) is that they treat based on symptoms, and
> if you respond to the treatment positively, then that's what you have.
> They do not actually test for much of anything. This is causing much
> frustration for me, as it's a very slow process. I really need some
> advice, until I can get to a REAL doctor in about 3 or 4 weeks (we
> leave the UK then)...
>
> I'm still experiencing a horrific, chocking cough, over a dozen times
> in a 24 hour period. It's worse at night. It keeps me from falling
> asleep, and when I finally do, it wakes me up multiple times during the
> night. To make things worse I had some kind of flu recently, and the
> choking cough caused me to vomit more than once. Now, it's just like
> I'm *about* to vomit, but don't quite. It's very distressing, not just
> for me, but for those around me (including my spouse). It's like I'm
> desperately trying to dislodge something stuck in the back of my throat
> (in fact, sometimes I find I throw my head back, when the cough gets
> really bad). I often make this weird noise sometimes, sort of like a
> choke, but I think it might be the air I'm swallowing when trying not
> to cough when in public (I get perfect strangers offering me water, or
> cough drops) coming back up. After a couple of coughs, the back of my
> throat feels scoured dry, but once the coughing bout ends it's OK. I
> don't have a continual sore throat, in fact right now it feels fine
> (last coughing bout was about 1/2 hr ago). Coughing bouts last 2-5
> minutes, on average.
>
> I've been to a GP and a thoracic specialist. The thoracic doc said it
> could be: reflux (duh), post nasal drip, or (strangely) asthma. She
> started with the drip, and put me on Nasonex. No effect. I've tried
> cough meds, dexo-whatever and pholcodine (sp?), no effect. I've tried
> those 24-hour antihistamines. Nope. Sudafed. Nope. I've tried
> taking up to 150mg Rantinine (sp?) about 1/2 hour before bed (I'm on
> 30mg Lansoprazole) with probably no effect (the first night cough
> seemed delayed, but still happened). It does seem to mostly trigger
> within an hour or so of eating, and I mean eating ANYTHING. I'd
> already stopped eating 2 hours before bed, now I don't eat 3 hours
> before bed. I'm now losing weight because I'm afraid to eat & trigger
> a coughing bout. Not that it seems to be making a difference. I can't
> raise the head of my bed as I'm now in a hotel with only the posessions
> in my suitcase.
>
> I had a CT today (there's an odd shadow on my chest x-ray) and though
> the results arent' officially back yet the technician said she "didn't
> see anything alarming".
>
> I'm desperate for some relief. Sometimes, for no reason I can tell,
> Nyquil will let me sleep, at least until it wears off - then I wake up
> coughing again. I can't tell any more if this is some horrific LPR as
> Howard suggests (likely, I think, or I wouldn't be posting here), or
> some other thing.
>
> I'm desperate. Any advice on what I can do to affect my refluxate (If
> this is indeed reflux I'm worried about the damage it's doing) enough
> to reduce/stop this cough? Howard, do you still think, given the above,
> it's LPR, or something else?
>
Sounds like pretty clear-cut LPR to me.
HMc
| |
|
| jmc wrote:
> Ok, what I want to do is go off on a rant about NHS doctors, but I'll
> resist that. Suffice to say, the way UK doctors treat patients (and I
> was told this straight out) is that they treat based on symptoms, and
> if you respond to the treatment positively, then that's what you have.
> They do not actually test for much of anything. This is causing much
> frustration for me, as it's a very slow process. I really need some
> advice, until I can get to a REAL doctor in about 3 or 4 weeks (we
> leave the UK then)...
>
> I'm still experiencing a horrific, chocking cough, over a dozen times
> in a 24 hour period. It's worse at night. It keeps me from falling
> asleep, and when I finally do, it wakes me up multiple times during
> the night. To make things worse I had some kind of flu recently, and
> the choking cough caused me to vomit more than once. Now, it's just
> like I'm *about* to vomit, but don't quite. It's very distressing,
> not just for me, but for those around me (including my spouse). It's
> like I'm desperately trying to dislodge something stuck in the back
> of my throat (in fact, sometimes I find I throw my head back, when
> the cough gets really bad). I often make this weird noise sometimes,
> sort of like a choke, but I think it might be the air I'm swallowing
> when trying not to cough when in public (I get perfect strangers
> offering me water, or cough drops) coming back up. After a couple of
> coughs, the back of my throat feels scoured dry, but once the
> coughing bout ends it's OK. I don't have a continual sore throat, in
> fact right now it feels fine (last coughing bout was about 1/2 hr
> ago). Coughing bouts last 2-5 minutes, on average.
>
> I've been to a GP and a thoracic specialist. The thoracic doc said it
> could be: reflux (duh), post nasal drip, or (strangely) asthma. She
> started with the drip, and put me on Nasonex. No effect. I've
> tried cough meds, dexo-whatever and pholcodine (sp?), no effect.
> I've tried those 24-hour antihistamines. Nope. Sudafed. Nope.
> I've tried taking up to 150mg Rantinine (sp?) about 1/2 hour before
> bed (I'm on 30mg Lansoprazole) with probably no effect (the first
> night cough seemed delayed, but still happened). It does seem to
> mostly trigger within an hour or so of eating, and I mean eating
> ANYTHING. I'd already stopped eating 2 hours before bed, now I don't
> eat 3 hours before bed. I'm now losing weight because I'm afraid to
> eat & trigger a coughing bout. Not that it seems to be making a
> difference. I can't raise the head of my bed as I'm now in a hotel
> with only the posessions in my suitcase.
>
> I had a CT today (there's an odd shadow on my chest x-ray) and though
> the results arent' officially back yet the technician said she "didn't
> see anything alarming".
>
> I'm desperate for some relief. Sometimes, for no reason I can tell,
> Nyquil will let me sleep, at least until it wears off - then I wake up
> coughing again. I can't tell any more if this is some horrific LPR as
> Howard suggests (likely, I think, or I wouldn't be posting here), or
> some other thing.
>
> I'm desperate. Any advice on what I can do to affect my refluxate (If
> this is indeed reflux I'm worried about the damage it's doing) enough
> to reduce/stop this cough? Howard, do you still think, given the
> above, it's LPR, or something else?
>
> jmc
Jodi...See, I remember your name (since I asked you what it was if you
recall). I have tried to track all your posts and it does get a little
difficult (I try to track so I don't ask you something you already said -
Howard is a great doctor and a tremendous asset to the ng, but he certainly
doesn't have the time to backtrack previous posts). But I want you to know
that I always read everyone's posts with concern, and try to see if I can
offer any advice (but I would certainly not try to diagnose you, and neither
can Howard, as you know).
Based on what I have read in this post and some of your previous posts, here
is what I would do if I was you.
You said you were moving back to the U.S. in 3-4 weeks, which creates a
timing problem at best. So unless you have an emergency type situation, I
would wait until you get to the U.S. and make an appointment with a gastro
as soon as you can and ask for an EGD. I don't know what your insurance
situation is, and if you will need to start over when you get here, since
that will certainly be relevant as to how you proceed.
You said the 30 mg of lanzaprazole doesn't help. An ENT or a gastro will
undoubtedly double the dose, but there is no guarantee that will help either
[and that shit can cramp and cement your stomach if you take too much of it
:-)]. And then they can recommend one of the other sister drugs in the
family at a high dose, and the saga goes on. You have been to a
pulmonologist and a GP (I don't think you have been to an ENT or a gastro).
But each one of the specialties are very likely to try to blame it on one of
the other specialties [remember I have been to 75 docs in my life, and my
gastro problems are the lesser of my concerns right now - they're second or
third, :-)]. But I have oodles of experience with ENT's, gastro's and
pulmonologists (mostly negative experiences), as I have explained to the
group before.
Having said that I would go with the gastro and an EGD when you get to the
U.S. (you may have to start with a GP first, not knowing your insurance
situation). I don't know what else to say right now. Maybe take the Nyquil
(or just a cough suppressant without the antihistamine and decongestant) if
you think that will help you sleep (but of course if you take the Nyquil
with all three ingredients it will have a greater sleepy effect). I wish
you the best of luck. I live by myself and have suffered a lot in my life,
so I do care.
Have you tried taking swig of one of the antacids (generic would be fine) to
see if that helps your coughing spasms. Just a thought.
Pete
| |
|
| Suddenly, without warning, Howard McCollister exclaimed (3/31/2006 5:03 PM):
> "jmc" <dragons@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1143814533.596412.144400@t31g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> Sounds like pretty clear-cut LPR to me.
>
> HMc
>
>
>
Howard:
Thanks. I agree. Question for you - Is Zantac 75, taken twice a day
per package directions, on top of my Lansoprazole 30mg, safe enough to
take for a couple of weeks? I tried that yesterday, and it actually
helped. I've got a cold though, or the tail end of the flu, so I'm not
sure if this "thick" feeling I've left in my throat is from the cold, or
if the flare-up of LPR (or whatever) has caused damage.
jmc
| |
|
| Suddenly, without warning, Pete exclaimed (4/1/2006 3:17 AM):
> jmc wrote:
>
>
> Based on what I have read in this post and some of your previous posts, here
> is what I would do if I was you.
>
>
> You said the 30 mg of lanzaprazole doesn't help. An ENT or a gastro will
> undoubtedly double the dose, but there is no guarantee that will help either
> [and that shit can cramp and cement your stomach if you take too much of it
> :-)]. And then they can recommend one of the other sister drugs in the
> family at a high dose, and the saga goes on.
>
> Having said that I would go with the gastro and an EGD when you get to the
> U.S. (you may have to start with a GP first, not knowing your insurance
> situation). I don't know what else to say right now. Maybe take the Nyquil
> (or just a cough suppressant without the antihistamine and decongestant) if
> you think that will help you sleep (but of course if you take the Nyquil
> with all three ingredients it will have a greater sleepy effect). I wish
> you the best of luck. I live by myself and have suffered a lot in my life,
> so I do care.
>
> Have you tried taking swig of one of the antacids (generic would be fine) to
> see if that helps your coughing spasms. Just a thought.
>
> Pete
>
>
Pete: Yes, I've been to a gastro, he put me on the 30mg and told me I
have a 'floppy LES'. Haven't been back, but I agree that'd be what I
need to do while in the US. Insurance isn't an issue, but finding a
good doc in the short time I'm in the US, and where I'll be, is. But
any doctor who gives a ... well, who cares at all will be better than
the care I've received here.
I have tried antacids, don't think they help much - the coughing fits
don't last long enough to tell, it's just that they're terrible when
they happen. If you haven't read my other new post yet, I've found some
relief in taking Zantac 75 per the package directions - not sure why it
was less effective when taken before bedtime, but seemed to be more
effective if I take one midafternoon, then one before bedtime. Provided
Howard doesn't give me any warnings, I'm just going to take the Zantac
at 12 hour intervals for a few days. I'm thinking this current flare-up
is stress related, and may go back to normal once the stress reduces.
jmc
| |
| Howard McCollister 2006-04-01, 12:15 pm |
|
"jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
news:497licFman3fU1@individual.net...
>
> Thanks. I agree. Question for you - Is Zantac 75, taken twice a day per
> package directions, on top of my Lansoprazole 30mg, safe enough to take
> for a couple of weeks? I tried that yesterday, and it actually helped.
> I've got a cold though, or the tail end of the flu, so I'm not sure if
> this "thick" feeling I've left in my throat is from the cold, or if the
> flare-up of LPR (or whatever) has caused damage.
>
The use of H2 antagonists like Zantac in conjunction with PPI's is a
reasonable approach. It's usually recommended as a short-term solution, but
there should be no problem with it for the time being.
HMc
| |
|
| Suddenly, without warning, Howard McCollister exclaimed (4/1/2006 5:37 PM):
> "jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
> news:497licFman3fU1@individual.net...
>
> The use of H2 antagonists like Zantac in conjunction with PPI's is a
> reasonable approach. It's usually recommended as a short-term solution, but
> there should be no problem with it for the time being.
>
> HMc
>
>
Howard, thank you. It does seem to be working for now, I'm definitely
coughing "that" cough less, and for less time when I do. Now if I can
just shake the cough the flu or cold gave me, pghlemy nasty thing too.
This'll definitely be a short term thing. I've already asked Mom to
make an appt with her doctor, as soon as I get there.
Hubby wants to invoke the lemon law  Told him it's way too late for
that... If only there was some way I could swap out my defective
parts,like I do my computer
jmc
jmc
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| Floppy LES? Mine told me I had a sagging LES. I think I prefer floppy
to saggy.
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