I caught whatever respiratory infection was going around then, and I haven't been up to snuff since. I'm always weary, and lethargic. I have this racking cough too. Still manage to get a days work done, and get the gardens in, firewood split and stacked, and etc.. Had to do a sleep study because of the type of work I do (Commercial Drivers License), and I failed the initial one. The secondary one was a blood oxygen test. Failed that one too with blood oxygen levels of 88%. (No wonder I'm so weary all the time) I went to my regular Dr. about this cough. Chest X-ray was clear. He was able to listen to my lungs during a coughing fit, and with the information I gave him about the blood oxygen levels (a pulmunologist (sp?)is doing the sleep study) He believes that I now have asthma. Starting some steroids Monday to reduce bronchial inflamation and see if this is temporary. I will still have to sleep with a CPAP machine though. If the initial course of medications do not 'cure' me, I'll be on a daily medication and have to carry a rescue inhaler. GETTING OLD AIN'T FOR THE WEAK....OR TIMID!
Goodness, sure hope at least one of the Doctors can give you meds that clear that cough up. My youngest daughter uses a CPAP machine too....I didn't know you could 'fail' those sleep studies.
Oh, feel better! I was having a similar problem and discovered I was having a reaction to the chlorine in the pool where I was taking aqua aerobics! I love to swim and it broke my hear to stop but my breathing got better and no more bronchitis! I learned gasoline fumes, acetone, and other organic solvents can cause this! I hope they learn what is making you sick and fix you up fast!
Have you been tested for pertussis (whooping cough)? It doesn't appear as a "whoop" with adults, only with children. A persistent cough can be pertussis in an adult. Even though you may have been innoculated against whooping cough as a child, booster shots are needed to keep your immunity up. Whatever it is, I hope it can be cured or at least stopped in its tracks!
Do get better fast! I hope they find out what's the matter and can prescribe something that will help you.
FBG, I sure hope you and the drs get you to feeling better soon. My MIL had Whooping cough a few years ago. it is also known as the 100 day cough(I think) 'cause that is how long it lasts. All the doctors kept telling her it was her asthma. The "new" Dr caught it at the end of it's cycle after she had been to the ER, Fam.doctor, Pulminologist and a few others time and again for the whole winter (by then MANY people had been exposed to it). They did a blood test and the markers in the test indicated how long she had had it and it was almost over by then. That was a very good suggestion by Jane, but I think it would have stopped by now IF it was Whooping cough...but you never know. The other thought is that even being a little bit over weight can cause sleep apnea, too. Whatever it is I hope you feel better soon, though.
Yikes FBG glad you are still here and kicking. My hubby use to us a C-Pap machine but hated it. We then heard of a dentist in our area that was able to make a mouth piece that you where in your mouth at night to help people who have sleep apnea. It has been working great for him for over 2 yrs now. You should see if you could get some Mullen tincture and drink some a couple times a day. Smoking it would be even better for your lungs. Do a web search and see just how beneficial it is for folks who have lung issues. It will surprise you how good it works. But of course a DR. will hardly ever tell you to use something they won't make any money on. Sorry--it's one of my pet peeves. They often do not know what they are really doing. That is why they call themselves--Family Practice Doctors. I don't mean to slam anyone if you are in the Med. Practice.
That's why I call myself fatbaldguy! :-D I only have mild sleep apnea, not enough by itself for the CPAP. It is the low oxygen levels in the blood that make it necessary. The two doc's are trying to figure it out. Ms. 2shoes, I will look up Mullen tincture, and see if it is available locally. Thanks for all the good thoughts all. This is a good place.
