topic Re: Lingering cough................. in Wellness

Lingering cough.................

granddi — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 06:18:48 GMT

So hubby had that awful cough with upper respiratory ailment before Christmas. Took the usual Mucinex, decongestant, Rx cough med and Z pac. He was getting better and 10 days ago the cough came back. Went back to the over the counter meds but that cough is just so deep. He is just not a patient-patient. So I said well I think we are going to have to resort to some "folk medicine"

We made a Hot Toddy--2 oz warm water with 1 tsp honey, 1-2 tsp lemon juice, a little cinnamon and 1 1/2 oz whiskey. This morning he said " I don't know if its just my imagination but I am 99% better. Slept all night and no cough." Has had a little cough late this evening. Maybe this bug has just run it's course but my dad always gave us a spoon of "whiskey and honey." Remember when OTC cough med had alcohol? In fact we called it GI-gin.

Re: Lingering cough.................

adelle38 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 06:31:25 GMT

If he's had a cough for a month, he needs to see a doctor. It could be a symptom of something very serious.

Re: Lingering cough.................

ID2 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 14:29:13 GMT

Call a doctor and make an appt. asap!

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VaBelle35 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 14:57:04 GMT

Time for an appointment. The two ladies who sit in the offices in my hallway went on Friday. I went to both of them on Thursday and said to them it's been since 12/22 and they both sound just as bad today as they sounded on 12/22.

Re: Lingering cough.................

number one queen — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 15:16:46 GMT

When we were kids my parents gave us the same recipe,always did the trick!

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Anglophilly — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 15:36:51 GMT

Same horrible cough thing has been going around here, and it seems to last a long time.

I started right before Christmas. GP prescribed an antibiotic, though it's probably viral, not bacterial. (I have other health issues) Got better, then started again last week. Different antibiotic, nasal spray and antitussive. If it's not gone after 10 days, chest x-ray.

I've been dosing with the hot tea, lemon and a spoonful of brandy. Not a cure, but very pleasant. I'm convinced a dose of Elixir Terpin Hydrate would do the trick. Hasn't been sold in decades. Burned going down, and probably didn't cure, but lessened the yucky cough.

Re: Lingering cough.................

emmysmom — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 15:41:29 GMT

Lol! I think our grandmothers were on to something!!

Re: Lingering cough.................

Gayle2 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 15:43:45 GMT

I hope he gets well soon. Some upper respiratory infections can settle into the lower lobes of the lungs...that may require more then one round of antibiotics. I have a family member that has multiple medical issues. Because of the multiple dr. appts....I/we always act with any type of treatment.....what results should I expect? What sign/symptoms should I act on (i.e. schedule another dr. apt). It takes the guess work out of it.

Re: Lingering cough.................

sidsmom — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 15:50:15 GMT

I agree w/ everyone by returning to the doctor to be safe.

In the meantime, keep his torso elevated @ night...that makes a huge difference! Yes, he said he slept better, but his perception of 'normal' might be off. Getting more/ better sleep will make him stronger, thus able to fight off this crazy upper respiratory stuff going around everywhere this year (Yep, it got me, too!). Good luck.

Re: Lingering cough.................

Lacey1 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 17:04:30 GMT

Just my opinion as a registered nurse: Those symptoms definitely warrant a chest x-ray at this point. Put a hold on the 'folk remedies' and get the to the doctor.

Re: Lingering cough.................

vabreeze — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 17:08:20 GMT

Your symptoms are descriptive of a friend who, when she finally went to see a doctor, was diagnosed with pneumonia. Hurry to the doctor!!!!

Re: Lingering cough.................

SeasonedCitizen — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:13:52 GMT

granddi--Have been plagued with this cough for 2 or 3 months. Have been to the Dr. 3x and had 2 chest xrays--no pneumonia, etc. Non of the cough meds were working. I go to a military infirmary, so asked the Dr about GIgin and he just stared at me. In the 50's and 60's that cured everything that ailed you.

Re: Lingering cough.................

HonnyBrown — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:29:23 GMT

I get a cough like that during allergy season. My Southern bred Mom tells me to make the same concoction!

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wagirl — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:29:47 GMT

I got my first bout with bronchitis before Thanksgiving and had a retched cough for the next 5 weeks---had anti-B's for 5 days and then it was up to me to figure out what to do about the cough. I can't take OTC meds or anything with codeine in it so just drank tons of liquids, hot and cold and waited it out. I just noticed the other day that I wasn't coughing much----finally!! Was told to expect the cough to last that long. Maybe your dr would prescribe a prescription cough med. But if your remedy works and there are no other suspicious symptoms, good for you.

Re: Lingering cough.................

rudy — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:33:30 GMT

He should see a doctor ASAP for a lingering cough. That happened to a family member last month, and seeing a doc has saved his life.

Re: Lingering cough.................

goodstuff — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:33:37 GMT

Glad to hear he's doing better. Various cold and flu bugs are rife in our area, and almost all of them have included a nagging, lingering cough. It took me three weeks to shake it, but I'm fine now. Keep an eye on it, though, and if the cough doesn't go away totally in the next week or so, it's probably time to see a doctor.

Re: Lingering cough.................

Lacey1 — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:51:23 GMT

On 1/17/2015 wagirl said:
I got my first bout with bronchitis before Thanksgiving and had a retched cough for the next 5 weeks---had anti-B's for 5 days and then it was up to me to figure out what to do about the cough. I can't take OTC meds or anything with codeine in it so just drank tons of liquids, hot and cold and waited it out. I just noticed the other day that I wasn't coughing much----finally!! Was told to expect the cough to last that long. Maybe your dr would prescribe a prescription cough med. But if your remedy works and there are no other suspicious symptoms, good for you.

A nagging, lingering cough IS a suspicious symptom.

Re: Lingering cough.................

wonderfulworld — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:49:23 GMT

Probably not the case here but I know two people who had long standing coughs (months). One went to a renown Cough Clinic. In both cases the answer was weight lost, diet changes and gerd medication. The reflux irritated and caused the cough. Who would have thought?

Just throwing this out as additional info.

Re: Lingering cough.................

wagirl — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:57:51 GMT

On 1/17/2015 lacey1 said:
On 1/17/2015 wagirl said:
I got my first bout with bronchitis before Thanksgiving and had a retched cough for the next 5 weeks---had anti-B's for 5 days and then it was up to me to figure out what to do about the cough. I can't take OTC meds or anything with codeine in it so just drank tons of liquids, hot and cold and waited it out. I just noticed the other day that I wasn't coughing much----finally!! Was told to expect the cough to last that long. Maybe your dr would prescribe a prescription cough med. But if your remedy works and there are no other suspicious symptoms, good for you.

A nagging, lingering cough IS a suspicious symptom.

Agreed---but it can be the nasty side effects from a previous illness that takes time to go away, especially from a respiratory bug. As my dr told me---to expect 5-6 weeks of getting rid of it. She was right!!

Re: Lingering cough.................

qbetzforreal — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 20:53:44 GMT

post nasal drip.