QuestionHi Doctor, thank you so much in advance for read my question. About 3 weeks ago I got what looks like a cold, I didn't had fever but I had the classical symptoms of a cold, however this time was a little bit different because what dominates my symptoms was the dry cough, I was also feeling tired with headache, and with pain in my joints and all that. Everything improve in a couple of days, and I was fine for like 5 or 6 days, and then the horrible cough came back, and i have been like this for the last 2 weeks, I have seen 2 doctors, and both of them have check my chest and back with the stethoscope and both said that my lungs sounds very clean. the first doctor say it is just a virus, the second one prescribe antibiotics and some Robitussin. I finished the antibiotics with no improvement, the only one thing that alleviates is the Robitussin, but obviously the relief is just for a couple of hours. My cough is dry but with the Robitussin it loosen up a little bit and I expel some phlegm. Other than that I feel fine I have a lot of energy. The problem is that this cough is interfering with my daily life. On top of that I am schedule for surgery (niessen fundoplication) in 10 days, and I am scare that I will have to cancel it. Is it common to be this sick for so long? Does virus suppose to do that?
What other conditions can do this? I am a 29 years old female. I had history of asthma, but I have been 12 years without a crisis, and since 2 years ago i started having GERD, that have not been able to be controlled by medication.
AnswerOften when someone has a cold, the cough may persist for weeks.... the airway tissue was damaged and as it repairs, it is hypersensitive. This can respond sometimes to asthma meds temporarily.
You also mentioned your reflux.... this can cause a chronic cough by refluxing acid at night when you are laying down and irritating the airways. Hopefully the surgery will fix that. Nexium or whether you are taking decreases the acid a little but doesn't change reflux overall.
