In 2002, shortly after being diagnosed with H. pylori, I developed a chronic cough. I was sent for X-rays, CT scans, etc., which all came back normal. An ENT specialist said I have GERD (after having my tonsils out a few years back to help the coughing). Another doctor said I had bronchitis. A pulmonary doctor said I have asthma. The albuterol and Advair helped, but it didn't go away. I tried steroids and codeine syrups, but nothing seems to work permanently. My cough is productive, but my throat gets irritated from it, and I sometimes wet my pants a little when having an attack. It seems to be worse when the weather is damp or muggy. I cannot go inside a used bookstore or most of the large clothing stores. I go into coughing fits and start gagging, my eyes tear up, and I run for the door! My chronic cough keeps me from doing things or going around people for fear of having an “attack” and being embarrassed (again). It is particularly bad after eating a meal. I'm tired of clearing my throat all the time and coughing my head off. I feel bad that my coughing may annoy my husband, but he says it doesn't. It's been almost seven years now, and I have no more energy. Published: January 06 ::

My 8-year-old son has a chronic cough. Cough syrups do not work very well. He has had a couple of visits to the ER within the last two years. His doctor is skeptical about calling it "asthma" even though he prescribed an inhaler, which does little to settle the coughing spasms. We recently visited an ENT because we know his tonsils are big and enlarged and felt if he has his asthma/breathing difficulties maybe alleviated by removing them. We had to cancel the surgery last week because he was wheezing on the day of the surgery. He still has his chronic cough, and I am now skeptical about having his tonsils removed until summer vacation. I need to visit with someone who can help my family determine if it's allergies and not his tonsils that are causing the chronic cough. Published: January 06 ::

I have had a chronic, dry cough off and on for several years. I find that when I eliminate wheat or gluten from my diet, my sinuses dry up, the coughing stops, and I feel better. This usually takes five to 10 days to clear my system. This means removing bread, pasta, cookies, crackers, buns, and hidden gluten in sauces, soups, cheeses. It is not easy living without the above items, but there are other products I can eat: rice, corn chips, spelt bread, gluten-free pasta. I hope all this will be of help to some of you. Published: January 06 ::

If you have a chronic cough, think about having an endoscopy performed. I've had this cough for several years with vomiting. I’ve gone through sinus medications, thought I worked in a "sick" building, and then I just began telling everyone it was allergies. Recently, I was hospitalized for something else and had an endoscopy performed. It came back with Barrett's esophagus. I am told this is the beginning of esophageal cancer. So if you cough all the time, ask your doctor to schedule an endoscopy! Published: January 06 ::

When I was little, I was diagnosed with asthma, and I had pneumonia when I was 6. The asthma went away until around middle school. In eighth grade, I was coughing constantly. My mom kept shoveling cough syrup down my throat, but wouldn't take me to the doctor until I cracked a rib... from coughing! What a stupid way to crack a rib! The chest X-rays also showed I had pneumonia again. This incident led to multiple doctors’ visits and an eventual diagnosis of allergies and the return of my asthma. I'm now a senior in high school, and I'm still coughing. It's annoying and embarrassing. It drives everybody crazy. Sometimes Mucinex helps but not much. I'm going to go crazy. How can I go through college if I'm coughing so much I can't hear any of my classes?! Published: January 06 ::

My chronic cough started in 1995. It wasn’t too bad at first. Now I cough about every 15 minutes. In the mornings, I throw up as well. My nose is only full in the mornings, and I can feel nasal drip. I have been on inhalers, different sinus and asthma medications, and cough meds. The doctor says there is nothing wrong with me. I have been taking Mucinex Extra Strength one tablet every two to three days, alternating with sinus or cold OTC medication. This seems to help somewhat. If I take the Mucinex every 12 hours for two days, there is no more mucus, but I have an extremely dry cough that makes it hard to catch my breath and does not subside as quickly as when you clear the mucus. It's horrible! Published: December 03 ::

I began chronically coughing about four years ago. I was diagnosed with allergies, GERD, then asthma, then emphysema, and then back to asthma. I have had every inhaler you can think of. I purchased a clear air machine for $900. I also purchased special non-allergen sheet and pillow protectors, but still I cough constantly. It’s worse at night because I start to choke until I vomit. The only things that have helped me are steroids (prednisone) and a cough syrup with an opiate. The doctor who diagnosed me with emphysema put me on a cough syrup. I was on the cough syrup for a year (1 tsp at night), and it worked. Then my regular doctor decided it was addictive and didn't think I should continue. The cough came back almost immediately, and I have been suffering ever since. I am at my wits end. Published: December 03 ::