Ah, nuts. I finally counted up how long I’ve been dealing with this damn irritating persistent cough and found that it’s been eleven weeks. That’s it; no more neglecting my own health. I got in to see the doctor again yesterday, complaining that since my previous visit, I’m still coughing and it had worsened again in spite of taking prescription meds for a couple of weeks. Thursday night was the worst, and I didn’tsleep at all – sat up coughing my head off until 330am, then dragged myself upstairs and disturbed David and Riley with my hacking, hacking, hacking cough the rest of the night.
David wasn’t feeling good either, and by chance we both went to the doctor yesterday (one right after each other, apparently missing each other by 20 minutes).
So here is my current list of crap that I’m taking just for this stupid cough. Last night it was mercifully much improved; I hope it’s because of my newest medication, but I suspect it’s actually because the weather has warmed up. But now that I think of it, yesterday was still pretty cool and rainy, so maybe there’s reason for optimism.
- Albuterol HFA – 2 puffs every couple of hours
- Fluticasone Propionate (Flonase) – nasal spray. 2 hits per nostril morning and evening.
- Benzonatate (Tessalon Perles) – 2 gelcaps 3 times daily
- Walgreen’s Honey Menthol Cough Drops – I’m on my third bag of 100
- Wal-Zan 75 Acid Reducer – once daily (there’s a possible acid reflux component)
I’m trying to be more consistent about this regimen as far as the inhaler and the nasal spray. The inhaler goes with me to work, but the Flonase (which I prefer to call “Nasey-Poof” for some reason) stays home.
There are some things even I won’t inflict on my cow-orkers (some of whom are responsible for triggering my allergies when I’m at work, I might add).
The Tessalon Perles will go with me as well, since I’ll need to dose myself sometime in the afternoon as well as the evening.
I will say that I haven’t been coughing as much today, although it’s still a factor. Also, I get pretty breathless because I keep catching myself breathing shallowly, which I think is an instinctive way to reduce the chance of bringing on a big coughing fit. Easy does it.