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Larynghitis - 11 days and counting - Extreme Coughing Spasms
Ok, I have been sick for about 6 weeks now - off and on with flu like symptoms, going to bronchitis a couple of times (I have had chronic bronchitis for about 5 years). I have been through 3 rounds of antibiotics, have tripled my dosage of Advair to 500mg twice daily from 250 mg once - I am taking Combivent inhalers every 4 hours, I have recently been given a massive cough medicine to make me stop coughing (isn't working) - which is the second kind of cough medicine, Singulair...
There have been 2 rounds of chest X-rays; blood work (which only shows an elevation that represents a mild asthma attack - ok, this is 6 weeks, come on), and now I am scheduled to go to an ENT on Tuesday.
The general consensus from the 3 doctors (2 ER's and my family doctor) is that I am having allergies with asthma issues. I have coughed so hard that I have bruised my esophagus, and so now for the 11th day - I have no voice - I mean NO voice. I still have extreme bouts of coughing that expel ALL of the air from my lungs, and make me cough to the point of completely losing my breath ( and loss of bladder control at times). It comes in spasms like 5 or 6 bursts of coughs at a time - deep unproductive coughing.
I feel like I am choking and there is something stuck in my throat. X-rays don't see this.
What in the world will they be looking for when I go and has anyone had anything like this? I KNOW I am sick - they tell me I am sick, but act like it's no big deal....except urging me to get seen by a specialist right away. I am exhausted and want this resolved - what do you think?
HELP!
There have been 2 rounds of chest X-rays; blood work (which only shows an elevation that represents a mild asthma attack - ok, this is 6 weeks, come on), and now I am scheduled to go to an ENT on Tuesday.
The general consensus from the 3 doctors (2 ER's and my family doctor) is that I am having allergies with asthma issues. I have coughed so hard that I have bruised my esophagus, and so now for the 11th day - I have no voice - I mean NO voice. I still have extreme bouts of coughing that expel ALL of the air from my lungs, and make me cough to the point of completely losing my breath ( and loss of bladder control at times). It comes in spasms like 5 or 6 bursts of coughs at a time - deep unproductive coughing.
I feel like I am choking and there is something stuck in my throat. X-rays don't see this.
What in the world will they be looking for when I go and has anyone had anything like this? I KNOW I am sick - they tell me I am sick, but act like it's no big deal....except urging me to get seen by a specialist right away. I am exhausted and want this resolved - what do you think?
HELP!
Hello Dr. Tom
Still no headway. No voice and they have scoped me to death. They are doing voice exercises now to see it they can get the voice back. They still don't really know what happened. Think maybe I had pneumonia at some point and caused the severe coughing....etc.
I have a little more sound coming out, but when they did the thing that measure the sounds from my vocal cords, basically, I have no sound in the midrange and very little in the lower range. I can make a loud shrill high pitched scream noise, but only rough sounding talking voice.
Who knows. I am beginning to think it's always going to be this way. Plus, I still cough but it has improved.
VERY tired of this.
Still no headway. No voice and they have scoped me to death. They are doing voice exercises now to see it they can get the voice back. They still don't really know what happened. Think maybe I had pneumonia at some point and caused the severe coughing....etc.
I have a little more sound coming out, but when they did the thing that measure the sounds from my vocal cords, basically, I have no sound in the midrange and very little in the lower range. I can make a loud shrill high pitched scream noise, but only rough sounding talking voice.
Who knows. I am beginning to think it's always going to be this way. Plus, I still cough but it has improved.
VERY tired of this.
My pt continues to be fine, though during the 'scopy he coughed for a minute or so. His larynx is normal, surprisingly no redness.
I gave him Dexamethasone 4mg twice daily for three doses. I might have given it when the whooping cough is already on its way out :-) But it has given him some gastric irritation.
Hope you will get well soon!
Best,
TA
I gave him Dexamethasone 4mg twice daily for three doses. I might have given it when the whooping cough is already on its way out :-) But it has given him some gastric irritation.
Hope you will get well soon!
Best,
TA
True on the being with the near and dear - but since it's been going on so long (before Thanksgiving) I know they are tired of it! :)
I went through 2 rounds of steroids and they didn't work at all on me (plus the Advair 500mg twice a day that has steroids).
Oh well! I hope he gets better ....ahh sleep .....wouldn't I love some of that!
I went through 2 rounds of steroids and they didn't work at all on me (plus the Advair 500mg twice a day that has steroids).
Oh well! I hope he gets better ....ahh sleep .....wouldn't I love some of that!
You may feel secure, but otherwise there is nothing much to do once you are in the hospital. At least at home you have the near and dear with you !
Our lab people are looking around where they can get the blood test for 'pertussis antibodies' done. It is not a usual test one has heard of. They say they may have to send the sample to UK!
My patient did better after a shot of steroid yesterday, I just wanted the inflammation to go for a while. He was very thankful today as he could sleep peacefully last night. But I said this may be shortlived as I can't continue giving such medicines!
Plan to scope him tomorrow.
Best,
TA
Our lab people are looking around where they can get the blood test for 'pertussis antibodies' done. It is not a usual test one has heard of. They say they may have to send the sample to UK!
My patient did better after a shot of steroid yesterday, I just wanted the inflammation to go for a while. He was very thankful today as he could sleep peacefully last night. But I said this may be shortlived as I can't continue giving such medicines!
Plan to scope him tomorrow.
Best,
TA
I wish my doctors would just put me in the hospital!! I would do anything to get the dx for this horrible mess! I am going to mention the whooping cough that you helped me with.
They are looking at possibly tumors, but want the additional scope before cutting on me. They are also doing additional blood testing. My ENT finally told me he wasn't sure at all what's causing it, but was sure it wasn't as simple as a normal viral infection in my throat, etc.
Take care of that patient!!! It's a HORRIBLE HORRIBLE thing to be coughing uncontrollably with exhausting spasms!!! Let me know what you find out, if you can - I am curious!!!
Thanks again for all of your help!!!
Rach
They are looking at possibly tumors, but want the additional scope before cutting on me. They are also doing additional blood testing. My ENT finally told me he wasn't sure at all what's causing it, but was sure it wasn't as simple as a normal viral infection in my throat, etc.
Take care of that patient!!! It's a HORRIBLE HORRIBLE thing to be coughing uncontrollably with exhausting spasms!!! Let me know what you find out, if you can - I am curious!!!
Thanks again for all of your help!!!
Rach
You will not believe it!
I think I have one such patient in the ward now. He has been having allergic rhinitis and asthmatic bronchitis. He got admitted to my side only 3-4 days back. Until today, the dx didn't strike me.
In spite of this discussion! :-)
But I wonder if "pertussis antibodies' can be tested for here.
Best rgds,
TA
I think I have one such patient in the ward now. He has been having allergic rhinitis and asthmatic bronchitis. He got admitted to my side only 3-4 days back. Until today, the dx didn't strike me.
In spite of this discussion! :-)
But I wonder if "pertussis antibodies' can be tested for here.
Best rgds,
TA
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