Persistant congestion with cough - what worked for you?

Wow! I’ve had the same thing since January! It’s slowly getting better, but lots of (drinking) fluids seems to help. Slowly, but slowly, it seems to be subsiding. Take your multiple vitamins, aspirin, stay warm, get plenty of sleep, ... You know, the usuals…
And be sure to cover your mouth when you cough and/or sneeze!
(It seems that the more gray stuff I cough up from deep in the lungs helps a lot. Try not to inhale any dust of any kind…)

Yay OMG I’m so glad I’m not alone but wait since January? That’s almost 8 months!?
Have you had the congestion and post nasal drip, mixed with wet and dry cough, you feel fine in yourself maybe a little tired but just congestion in your sinuses!? What did the Dr say to you?
Agh thank you – so nice when you know you’re not a looney all by yourself.

Can’t afford to go to the doctor, just hangin’ in there… I mean here… I’ve taken cold and flue meds but little results. Time seems to be working the best.

But what I’ve got – sounds exactly like what you’ve got? Mean it just sticks around doesn’t it!

Yepper, sounds the same. Post nasal drip out the wazzoo…

Allergies

After a year and a half of persistent, out-of-control coughing, with one failed course of meds after another and some very defeated doctors, I went to see an allergist. That was the ticket.

Not to say that I haven’t been sick since, but these days I get a cold or flu and suffer its symptoms, and then I get better and they go away.

I think I developed a major susceptibility to chest colds and heavy coughs when I had whooping cough at the age of 14. When I get a cough, it’s bad. But nothing like that 18-month siege has happened since I started being treated for allergies, and that was years ago now.

@ARE_you_kidding_me Funny you should mention that. I have never been bothered by allergies.

I went back to the DR today, she gave me steroids and said it’s alleriges mixed in with cold virus and I have predisposition to allergies so its all inflamed. Sounds fair.
Then I went to a cafe and sat behind someone who wouldn’t stop coughing, as we were leaving I said to her – ‘oh food stuck in your throat that’s the worst,’ then she said, ‘yeah I’m just getting over the flu, everything makes me cough.’ – great and I was sitting right beside her, fingers crossed I don’t get that now!

@Jeruba what did they treat you with? ;)

Treated for allergies, you mean? or before that?

The allergy treatment – was it a antihistamine?

I discovered I’m allergic to a number of commonly eaten foods. Dairy, Gluten, Sunflower, Almond, Eggs, Mushrooms, Yeast, and Vinegar, are most of them. When I don’t eat them my symptoms go away.

If your cough is better, and you feel well overall, I would wait a few weeks and see if the congestion clears. Two reasons, if your still fighting sounthing give your body a chance to get over it, if it’s allergies it might clear with the season change.

If you still feel that you are sick with a bacterial infection I would try a completely different class of antibiotics, or a much broader spectrum, or a higher dose or longer dose, but if it’s not clearing by day 6, it’s not working in my opinion. I don’t know everything you have taken. The best in my opinion for persistent sinus bacterial infection is Augmentin (penicillin) and Levoquin (Quinolone). But, again, I’d wait a few weeks if you don’t feel ill overall, I wouldn’t go running for more antibiotics right away unless your cough persists, fever, or overall under the weather feeling.

People have chronic sinus trouble and just live with it treating symptoms. Having said that, I truly believe that when adults go from no sinus trouble to chronic problems, obviously something changed. There was some sort of event. The question is being able to treat what happened, when I think sometimes medical science really has no idea.

Are you dating someone? Could they be reinfecting you with kisses or from oral sex?

My wife and I had a problem with what seemed to be a cold that we could not shake. Black mold was found to have established itself in our ventilation. Moisture the cold air from the AC caused condensation in the vents providing a habitat for the mold. The HVAC system was professionally cleaned and the problem was resolved.

I avoid doctors at all cost so I tend to self medicate. My brother jumps to the doctor every time he gets a hangnail. I had a similar problem in early 2017 & my brother said his doctor had given him a script for Flonaise. I did some research & learned that I wouldn’t need a prescription to get the generic Fluticasone Propionate which I could buy OTC at pretty much any drug store or even Walmart or Amazon. Within a few days I was feeling better & all my symptoms were gone within the week. Since then, I’ve discovered the wonderful world of Essential Oils. I make my own version of the Thieves Blend. This blend assists with colds, Flu, & other upper respiratory conditions. I wear a diffuser necklace so I have the blend available 24/7. When I have to be out with the public, I’m constantly lifting the diffuser to my nose so I can offset the dangers of others’ illnesses when they should have stayed at home. I used to get the Flu a minimum of twice a year. Since I’ve started using the Thieves Blend, I haven’t had even one bout with the Flu.

Another thing that I used to use but is harder to get now is Zinc lozenges. They worked so well that the big pharma companies worked hard to get Zinc banned & they pretty much succeeded. Zicam used to have a Flu version but the FDA /big pharma made them pull it off the shelves. Now they make a Colds version which isn’t as good as the Flu version; but it’s better than nothing. It does help to dry up the post nasal drip & any relief is better than no relief!!!

Good luck on finding the combination that will work for you!!!

Hey guys, yeah well I have another cold now – , i was just getting over the congestion and bam!
My daughter brings home so many colds from school and i get them all, thing is is that i feel ok within myself i just am super blocked now .. but I was reading this “Colds are transmitted through virus droplets that a sick person sheds when they cough or sneeze. In addition to coughing and sneezing, cold symptoms can include a sore throat and a runny, stuffy nose. ... People with allergies may be more prone to catching colds.” The last part being the most important – peole with allergies may be more prone to catching colds…” I think that’s the link!!!
x

I was taking Roxithromycin – Dr put me back on steroids, but I have itchy eyes and sneezing .. so I think it’s both, for some reason I get worse allergies in winter, probably because I’m always inside!

@tan253, I was given a comprehensive allergy test and then prescribed injections that targeted the specific allergens that I reacted to. There were six of them. I did weekly shots for a year and then moved to longer intervals. I’ve been on maintenance for years now and get shots every 4 to 6 weeks. If I wait longer, they drop the dose down and I have to work back up to it. I take a prescribed antihistamine too.

Those treatments changed my life. I was plagued by allergies, mostly “hay fever” type, from young childhood, and nothing helped much until I saw this allergist in my forties. That’s a long time to be miserable. It was the untreatable cough that got me in there, and that turned out to be a good thing in the long run.

Maybe you have a dust or mold allergy? Or, a pet allergy if you have pets. Those can be worse in the winter. Have you started using any new cleaning products in the house?

I’d wait until your past this cold, and then deal with it if symptoms persist.

Similar to @Jeruba, my father found significant relief from allergy treatments. His allergies didn’t really develop until his 40’s.

My allergies did not develop until age 40 either.

The dr gave me antibiotics and steroids to fight it! Feeling better and now worried about side effects to antibiotics…. go figure!

So this is your 3rd antibiotic right? They gave you a different one I hope. Something very broad spectrum like Augmentin or Levaquin?? Might be a different name in your country.