Larynghitis - 11 days and counting - Extreme Coughing Spasms

[cowgirlnerd]

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!

[tomsant]

It is because no one is sure about the dx and you are young. There is the facility, money and the inclination...:-)

Best of luck!

TA

[cowgirlnerd]

I spoke with my ENT yesterday (his nurse actually) and he has decided to ask a specialist from Bham (a larger city with a medical university here in Alabama), to come review my case.  The specialist is going to conduct a sonar (I believe that's what she said) scope down my esophagus to see actually what's down there.   They will numb my throat and then place the scope all the way down my esophagus (ouch)

She said they want to look for any abnormalities; polyps; gastric reflux; etc.  

Who knows.  

[tomsant]

Many of the doctors disbelieve a diagnosis of adult whooping cough. As I told you earlier, it is 'fairly' new.

But the diagnosis now is 'presumptive' and it can be confirmed only once it goes away for good, after the 3-4 months. He has put you on yet another antibiotic, as he will not be able to forgive himself in case this is not whooping cough. You should know any diagnosis is an educated guess.

(At least now you can cough comfortably;-)

Best rgds

TA

[cowgirlnerd]

I thought the same thing when he told me all of that.  He actually gave me another antibiotic just in case?  He told me that if it's not better by 1/27 we will need to look further.  I just wish it would be over.

It was amazing that when he told me of the prognosis and had that puzzled look, I thought of what you had told me of the whooping cough information.  

[tomsant]

I think the 'scopy findings are similar to the ones in whooping cough. As far as I know diagnosis at this stage is by testing for 'pertussis antibodies' in blood.

You may visit : http://www.whoopingcough.net/For_doctors.htm , take a printout and give the same to your doctor.

Best rgds,

TA

[cowgirlnerd]

Well, they put the scope down my nose and throat and there is a lot of irritation, redness, swelling, etc., in my esophagus.  He  couldn't get into the voice box because it was so irritated that I started gagging, etc., but he thinks there is a viral infection in my esophagus and voice box.  Not sure, but thinks that is what it is.

Still, I have no voice - but it seems to be doing a teeny tiny bit better.  He gave me some more Tussinex (sp?), that helps with the coughing, which I still have.

He said it might take 10 weeks to get over it.  He has calculated that at a week from tomorrow.  If not better by then, they are going back in my throat to culture, etc., and see what is going one in there.

He gave me also, another antibiotic - the last kind available that I haven't taken - he said, to ensure there wasn't something lingering in a bacterial infection.

Oh well!  We will see!  

Rach