I have extreme cough and need some opinions

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello to all,

I am currently serving in the ARMY stationed in Stuttgart, Germay. I will be ETS'ing next year where I will be pursuing a career in Nursing. Now onto my problem. I know that I should only follow a doctors orders, etc. but I just need some feedback as your vast knowledge & experience will help me find some answers, guesstimates, whatever.

My history: 73" 195lb Male. Smoker x 1/2 pk "Marlboro Reds" for approx. 8 years. Throughout that time I had only the usual seasonal upper respiratory infections etc. This time I have been experiencing something just unusual in its severity. I will be leaving tommorow for Spokane, Washington to marry my Fiance and would really appreciate some feedback soon. Below you will find an excerpt from an E-Mail I had sent earlier concerning my problem. It dscribes the symptoms as best as I can. I will monitor this thread every hour or so to answer any questions you may have. Excerpt:

"By the way, I have begun to get a serious upper resperitory Infection going on here. It is too late to go to the clinic. I know I will need Antibiotics which should clear it up within a week with plenty of time before the wedding. I have been experiencing the worst, most painful cough I have ever had. I want to say I have Bronchitis but it doesnt sound Bronchial nor do I produce anything. Its strictly a dry cough. I have tried 4 different cough preparations here and none have worked so far. I know smoking has alot to do with it but it has been so severe this last week that I can only tolerate 3-6 cigarettes compared to my usual 10-12. The cough feels as if it is in my upper lungs and not from deep within. It is so severe that my face turns red as blood and my eyes want to pop out of my head. Usually I get bouts of this every so often throughout the day but mostly before bed, during the night, and early morning. The coughing usually lasts about 5-6 minutes where afterward I can only draw in short breaths of air. If I were to attempt a regular breath I start another bout of coughing lasting no more than 3 minutes. At no time will I ever produce any sputum etc. I have tried anti-histamines but to no avail. I know a post-nasal drip when I get one but this thing takes the cake. No fever or wheezing. Whats up with this I wonder.

I didnt have time to go to the clinic this past week but the only thing they would have done was to give me an antihistamine, Tylenol, a Z-Pack, and OTC Guiefinisen cough syrup. If they wanted to give me a stronger cough syrup they only have the same type of cough syrup with 10% Alcohal, 8mg of Codiene, and the usual Guiefinisen. I told the clinic it was worthless and besides I am intolerant to Codiene b/c of side effects. Military medicine goes to the cheapest, and I mean cheapest bidder, so they have little else for cough. I may attempt to go to an Urgent Care Facility in Spokane, something like our Pri-Med. I need to get some antibiotics in me or I fear the worst could develop. Besides that I need an INHALER that can open me up so I can breathe better after coughing. Last but not least, I need a heavyweight cough syrup like Tussionex or Kwelcof to give this horrible cough a Southpaw it'll never see coming ;-). I mean I literally am drained after coughing like this. I could go to Faichild Airforce Base located there but thats military medicine which is just the same as here. I dont care about a $100.00 walk-in Appointment fee. Nor the price for the meds either. We've got the money, but this cannot go on. Whats your take on my symptoms?? E-mail me back when you get this so I'll have something to read like you did yesterday."

Thanks Alot to everyone,

Garrett

My E-mail can be provided upon request.

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hello to all,

i am currently serving in the army stationed in stuttgart, germay. i will be ets'ing next year where i will be pursuing a career in nursing. now onto my problem. i know that i should only follow a doctors orders, etc. but i just need some feedback as your vast knowledge & experience will help me find some answers, guesstimates, whatever.

my history: 73" 195lb male. smoker x 1/2 pk "marlboro reds" for approx. 8 years. throughout that time i had only the usual seasonal upper respiratory infections etc. this time i have been experiencing something just unusual in its severity. i will be leaving tommorow for spokane, washington to marry my fiance and would really appreciate some feedback soon. below you will find an excerpt from an e-mail i had sent earlier concerning my problem. it dscribes the symptoms as best as i can. i will monitor this thread every hour or so to answer any questions you may have. excerpt:

"by the way, i have begun to get a serious upper resperitory infection going on here. it is too late to go to the clinic. i know i will need antibiotics which should clear it up within a week with plenty of time before the wedding. i have been experiencing the worst, most painful cough i have ever had. i want to say i have bronchitis but it doesnt sound bronchial nor do i produce anything. its strictly a dry cough. i have tried 4 different cough preparations here and none have worked so far. i know smoking has alot to do with it but it has been so severe this last week that i can only tolerate 3-6 cigarettes compared to my usual 10-12. the cough feels as if it is in my upper lungs and not from deep within. it is so severe that my face turns red as blood and my eyes want to pop out of my head. usually i get bouts of this every so often throughout the day but mostly before bed, during the night, and early morning. the coughing usually lasts about 5-6 minutes where afterward i can only draw in short breaths of air. if i were to attempt a regular breath i start another bout of coughing lasting no more than 3 minutes. at no time will i ever produce any sputum etc. i have tried anti-histamines but to no avail. i know a post-nasal drip when i get one but this thing takes the cake. no fever or wheezing. whats up with this i wonder.

i didnt have time to go to the clinic this past week but the only thing they would have done was to give me an antihistamine, tylenol, a z-pack, and otc guiefinisen cough syrup. if they wanted to give me a stronger cough syrup they only have the same type of cough syrup with 10% alcohal, 8mg of codiene, and the usual guiefinisen. i told the clinic it was worthless and besides i am intolerant to codiene b/c of side effects. military medicine goes to the cheapest, and i mean cheapest bidder, so they have little else for cough. i may attempt to go to an urgent care facility in spokane, something like our pri-med. i need to get some antibiotics in me or i fear the worst could develop. besides that i need an inhaler that can open me up so i can breathe better after coughing. last but not least, i need a heavyweight cough syrup like tussionex or kwelcof to give this horrible cough a southpaw it'll never see coming ;-). i mean i literally am drained after coughing like this. i could go to faichild airforce base located there but thats military medicine which is just the same as here. i dont care about a $100.00 walk-in appointment fee. nor the price for the meds either. we've got the money, but this cannot go on. whats your take on my symptoms?? e-mail me back when you get this so i'll have something to read like you did yesterday."

thanks alot to everyone,

garrett

my e-mail can be provided upon request.

wow really really sorry to see your sick :crying2: it seems your pretty stressed :uhoh3: :bluecry1: and with little time on your hands.......but if you where my family my brother my husband my boyfriend even with me being a nurse i would say get your butt :madface: to the doctor with love ;) of course.........never feel you should not be seen and examed by some one , i hate xrays but with your smoking history i would want one done.......in the mean time and i am old fashion lots of lots of fluids ............unless your someone with heart problems like chf or someone who should not be on lots of fluids b/c of some underlying medical problem ....if not thenhot tea with honey being my favorite when i have an upper respiratory infection...........do you have fever i always worry if if its a bacterial infection and you wait to long to be seen......basics is for the the doctors to see you and prescribe you something based on there findings......but the first and most important thing you can do for your self and i know you know what it is is to stop smoking :smokin: :eek: :nono: .........your getting married which is so awesome you have some one who loves you :heartbeat ........if you love :heartbeat them too give them the best gift :biggringi you can by trying to get help to stop smoking :yelclap: .........your lungs are telling you they are not well if you think how you feel now is bad ...........god forbid you get copd :redlight: :sniff: or enphezema :sniff: ......and have to depend on o2 all your life please please :cry: :lol_hitti :rolleyes: once the doctors see you and you drink your hot teas with some lemon and honey ......please please get help to stop smoking :smackingf :yeahthat: so your beautiful love to be never has to suffer seeing you with heart disease secondary to smoking or lung disease ok.......smoking not only messes up your lungs but your vascular system as well......that is not something anyone should argue or fight with you about :smiley_ab but your should want to go willing for your own good :yeah: ......i pray you get well soon and see the doctors i know you want to and time seems to be a problem or something is interfering with you going :uhoh3: :idea: :nurse: ......but please go .......if you where my spouse to be i would care more about that then if you showed up to the wedding on time ........your life is more important :kiss .....no more cigarrettes please . :nono: ..............with all my heart :redpinkhe i hope you accomplish this. :yelclap: ........its like the joke when the patient says doctor doctor it hurts when i go like this and the doctor says well stop doing that................lol .........well stop hurting yourself :banghead: angryfire :p and give your lungs and body a break :flowersfo .....get the help you need for your cold by seeing your doctors pronto (immediately) :yeahthat: then please quit smoking :icon_hug: ......with love from far away ...........angela :loveya: :nurse:

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

First, the obligatory this is not a medical advice board spiel.

2nd: consider pertussis. It's not just for kids anymore.

PLEASE quit smoking. If this is scaring you, it's a good wake-up call.

And don't assume what the doc will do if you go - so go! :)

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First, the obligatory this is not a medical advice board spiel.

2nd: consider pertussis. It's not just for kids anymore.

PLEASE quit smoking. If this is scaring you, it's a good wake-up call.

And don't assume what the doc will do if you go - so go! :)

I will look into what you both have said. You are also absolutley correct. Smoking must stop and I will set a date ASAP. Another question I am curious about is if the doctor decides to treat with medication, would it be inapropriate for me to request a certain medication. I.E. something that has worked well before?

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Go to a doc....do not tell them how to treat - you may say something worked well in the past - but do realize this may be something different.

Your date to quick smoking cannot wait.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
Another question I am curious about is if the doctor decides to treat with medication, would it be inapropriate for me to request a certain medication. I.E. something that has worked well before?

If you have had problems with something before, certainly advise that (specifically, "I took codeine cough syrup and had X reaction/side effect, so I'd prefer not to use that.") I don't advise going in and asking for a zpak. Just explain your symptoms and let the provider figure out what to give. :) As someone who works in a clinic and sees innumerable sore throats every day, for example, every one thinks they need antobiotics. Probably only a 3rd do, with the other 2/3 splits between viruses and allergies. With the risks of antibiotic resistance, our providers like to make sure that something is actually bacterial before they treat it as such.

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No Problem, I did look into Pertussis and the symptoms do seem fairly related. It reminded me of a comment my Fiance made a week or so ago after a coughing fit. She said that my lips were bluish. I guess I should have looked in the mirror to confirm for myself but stupidly dismissed it as the lighting within the room. I should mention that I am 23 years old and otherwise fairly healthy. I will go to an Urgent Care Facility in Spokane/Cheney Washington area as soon as I arrive tommorow. I must and will stop smoking. I will continue to monitor this thread by the hour. Sincerely, Garrett

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As an experienced US Army soldier, I know how hard it can be to get good medical attention. I had a condition for a few years and was never properly taken care of. Anyway, if you have an opportunity to go to an AF medical facility, go there! :) From the airmen I've spoken to in the past, the AF takes great care of their people (I wonder if they would take care of Army soldiers well).

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I will look into what you both have said. You are also absolutley correct. Smoking must stop and I will set a date ASAP. Another question I am curious about is if the doctor decides to treat with medication, would it be inapropriate for me to request a certain medication. I.E. something that has worked well before?

Consider TB, Mycoplasma. And..... see a practitioner ASAP. :)

Congrats on your marriage and hope you're feeling better soon.

Tina, APRN,BC, RN

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Specializes in ER.

I agree with everything said here so far. I am a smoker as well, and though I'm not proud of it, it is SOOOO hard to quit that I haven't YET succeeded. I usually get bronchitis/some other resp infection at least once a year, but if I were having the problems you described, I would probably be scared enough to quit smoking right then and there. Go see a doctor immediately, and I would insist on a chest x-ray and a TB test if you haven't had one very recently. I'm 23 as well, and in the past year I've noticed more difficulties with respiratory things and I can tell that my heart is also starting to suffer from my smoking. I keep trying to quit, and something always gets me going again - but at least during the times I'm trying I'm not smoking, and I will continue to keep trying. It is one of the best things you can do for your health. I have seen some of the worst things that can happen to people who keep smoking, and it's really gross. Please try and quit. (I know it's hard to take that seriously from someone who smokes, but I am trying to quit - have a patch on at the moment - helping some I guess, but I'm still in a pi$$y mood most of the time!) I can understand with the stress of an upcoming marriage it would be really hard to quit right now, but sometimes it's easiest to quit when you're sick, because I never want to smoke near as much when I have a resp infxn... I can go a day or two without if I'm really feeling crummy. Maybe that can help you kickstart your new non-smoking habit! :) Good luck on quiting, feeling better, and your upcoming marriage. Best of wishes to you, your new bride, and your life together. :balloons:

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No Problem, I did look into Pertussis and the symptoms do seem fairly related. It reminded me of a comment my Fiance made a week or so ago after a coughing fit. She said that my lips were bluish. I guess I should have looked in the mirror to confirm for myself but stupidly dismissed it as the lighting within the room. I should mention that I am 23 years old and otherwise fairly healthy. I will go to an Urgent Care Facility in Spokane/Cheney Washington area as soon as I arrive tommorow. I must and will stop smoking. I will continue to monitor this thread by the hour. Sincerely, Garrett

Garrett,

Get your butt to the doctor!! You certainly wouldn't want to cough up a lung during your wedding.;) Take care of yourself!! And of course, stop the smoking, your lungs will thank you for it!! Have a safe trip and congratulations!!

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Hey All,

Thanks for the great responses and I will try to respond individually to some if possible. Get this as it turns out I live right next to the middle/high school and the majority of those students live here and also at Kelly Barracks. Something I wasnt aware of was the fact that Kelly Barracks was quarantined due to, of all things, Pertussis(Whooping Cough). So that just may be what I have. I am unsure of the treatment at this point but I will be seen tommorow hopefully. I have noticed the coughing spells increasing throughout the day. I will just try to cough into a handkerchef (sic) while traveling as I would hate to spread this as much as possible. Apparently they have been very strict on this quarantine at Kelly Barracks but me living the life of a shift worker has me blind to everyday going ons.

If anyone knows the treatment protocols for this please let me know. I know that each doctor does his/her own thing and I wont take any responses as gospel but any ideas?

Sincerely,

Garrett

(PFC Wynn)

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