[Blackcat99]

I've had a dry unproductive "smoker's cough" for 3 weeks. I don't smoke.
I feel tired and I have chest discomfort. What do you think I have? Thanks for your opinions.

[steel magnolia]

Are you on an ace inhibitor?

Have you been exposed to TB or had any other symptoms?

Allergies?? (My husband will react like this from the pollen of the sycamore trees that line our street.)

Fever?

[Blackcat99]

Hi Steel Magnolia. Thanks for your response. No I am not on an ace inhibitor. I did visit a nursing home 3 weeks ago. I hope I wasn't exposed to TB. I have no fever and no known allergies. Last night I was having a lot of coughing and chest pain so I am going to the walk-in urgent clinic when they open in 30 minutes today. I'll let you know what the doctor thinks it is.

[Blackcat99]

I just got back from the clinic. My vital signs were fine and my chest x-ray was negative. I was diagnosed with bronchitis and was given free samples of Avelox antibiotics. I also got a prescription for Phenergan cough syrup with codeine. I have to give my new job a urine drug screen test tomorrow so will wait until after my test before I get the cough syrup. I am so very happy I got all those free antibiotic samples!!! :hatparty: :hatparty:

[needdynurse]

Originally Posted by Blackcat99

I've had a dry unproductive "smoker's cough" for 3 weeks. I don't smoke.
I feel tired and I have chest discomfort. What do you think I have? Thanks for your opinions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You should have seen your DR. after week one.But my opinion as an R.T is
that your trachea has been irritated,could be viral or bacterial,only a throat
swab will tell you for sure.In the mean time look or have somebody look inside your mouth for any sighn of pus in posterior oral pharynx,maybe on tonsils.
If BLACK CAT means that you own one, It can exacerbate your already
coughing problem and perpetuate it if you have a cat dander allergy,Have you
had an allergy skin test? If not,ask DR. if it would be appropriate for you.
you may have allergies to something else in your house.--N*B* you can
develop an allergy to anything anytime in your entire life.Lastly the pain in your thorax is probably caused by the demand that you are putting on your
intercostal muscles and diaphram. Hope this helped. NRSDUG/RT

[Blackcat99]

Thanks Needdy Nurse. I have had a miraculous recovery and am no longer coughing. Yes I probably should have gone to the doctor sooner. I am the kind of person who thinks if I just ignore it maybe it will just go away all by itself.