Cough is back

Hello all. I now have a persistent cough with stuff coming up. As I reported back in June, I was taken off of antibiotics (I had been on them for 7 yrs). I had been doing well, but now the cough is back. I think I may have caught it from a six yr old neighbor. We usually walk our dogs together and try to socially distance, but being only 6, she would drift in close to me at times. She got very sick with a bad cough and very infected throat. Against my better judgement, I still walked with her. Anyway, my dr had prescribed me an antibiotic to keep on hand in case of an exacerbation. Not sure whether to start taking that or go back on my tobramycin in case it is mac or pseudo trying to come back. This cough could also be from my daughter's cat (she moved in with me at the end of June in may be allegic). What to do, what to do???

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Hi Terry @windwalker, Yikes! Don't you hate those what to do questions? Sorry to hear that your persistent cough came back. Dumb question from me but does the mucous that comes up with the cough seem similar (color, etc.) to what it was before you went on your tobramycin? Are you able to ask you doctor for advice on whether to use the antibiotic or go back to your tobramycin? I inherited my neighbors kitten when they found out their son was allergic to cats but he would break out in a rash where he hugged the cat. Hope the cough goes away quick!

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Argh! Terry - I was faced with a similar situation with increased clear mucus and some chest pressure.

Decided to treat as an allergy first, then proceed. Upped my inhaler and Breathe Easy tea and I'm doing better but still frequently short of breath. Seeing my primary Tuesday for another pre-op (more hand surgery) and will get her opinion.

If your mucus is stickier or colored, I would call doc. Otherwise treat as allergy first and see what happens? Cats are deadly for me, even being around someone who has one at home can give me an asthma attack.

Sue

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@windwalker Oh no, sorry to hear that, maby try your Dr antibiotic and do a sputum or 3 to check for mac and pseudo. Really I have no idea tho so do what you think. lol Take care Heather

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@windwalker Terri, oh dear, hate to hear that your cough is back. I've been coughing still for two and half years and I've been doing allergy shots for a year and that's has helped some (I also have cats and one is sitting in my lap at the moment and I'm mildly allergic so go figure). But it's weird because these past two days my cough has gotten worse in the late afternoon, evening....I also have ragweed allergies which is in bloom so I don't know if it's that (even with the allergy shots) or what it is. I just tested negative a few months ago for any bugs so I'm thinking this is allergens. I hope you don't have any bugs back. I would tend to try the antibiotic first and see if that helps since you have it on hand. But I'm certainly not an expert. I think that coughs are such an enigma. I don't think doctors really know what to do with them. I've had two pulmonologists that really didn't seen to care about my coughing. Thank goodness I have a bottle of cough syrup with codeine (but not codeine...it's something else because you're hard pressed to get codeine anymore) for when it ever gets bad at night. And then I changed it up with some over the counter cough syrups....keep us posted on how it's going. Nan

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@johnbishop

Hi Terry @windwalker, Yikes! Don't you hate those what to do questions? Sorry to hear that your persistent cough came back. Dumb question from me but does the mucous that comes up with the cough seem similar (color, etc.) to what it was before you went on your tobramycin? Are you able to ask you doctor for advice on whether to use the antibiotic or go back to your tobramycin? I inherited my neighbors kitten when they found out their son was allergic to cats but he would break out in a rash where he hugged the cat. Hope the cough goes away quick!

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Hi John. I have been monitoring the color of the sputem. So far, it is clear, which is a good sign. How are you doing?

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@sueinmn

Argh! Terry - I was faced with a similar situation with increased clear mucus and some chest pressure.

Decided to treat as an allergy first, then proceed. Upped my inhaler and Breathe Easy tea and I'm doing better but still frequently short of breath. Seeing my primary Tuesday for another pre-op (more hand surgery) and will get her opinion.

If your mucus is stickier or colored, I would call doc. Otherwise treat as allergy first and see what happens? Cats are deadly for me, even being around someone who has one at home can give me an asthma attack.

Sue

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Hi Sue. I suspect it is the cat also. I have been taking antihistamines which seem to be working, but I do not want that to be my permanent solution. I also put a hepa free standing air purifier in my bedroom and I think that has been helping. So, you are having the shortness of breath too? Me too, more than usual. I think mine is due to the high humidity here. I can't wait for that to go away.

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@nannette

@windwalker Terri, oh dear, hate to hear that your cough is back. I've been coughing still for two and half years and I've been doing allergy shots for a year and that's has helped some (I also have cats and one is sitting in my lap at the moment and I'm mildly allergic so go figure). But it's weird because these past two days my cough has gotten worse in the late afternoon, evening....I also have ragweed allergies which is in bloom so I don't know if it's that (even with the allergy shots) or what it is. I just tested negative a few months ago for any bugs so I'm thinking this is allergens. I hope you don't have any bugs back. I would tend to try the antibiotic first and see if that helps since you have it on hand. But I'm certainly not an expert. I think that coughs are such an enigma. I don't think doctors really know what to do with them. I've had two pulmonologists that really didn't seen to care about my coughing. Thank goodness I have a bottle of cough syrup with codeine (but not codeine...it's something else because you're hard pressed to get codeine anymore) for when it ever gets bad at night. And then I changed it up with some over the counter cough syrups....keep us posted on how it's going. Nan

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Will keep you posted! Are you coming to Bluffton any time soon?

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@heathert

@windwalker Oh no, sorry to hear that, maby try your Dr antibiotic and do a sputum or 3 to check for mac and pseudo. Really I have no idea tho so do what you think. lol Take care Heather

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Hi Heather! You know me, I will stay on top of this. What have you been up to?

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@windwalker

Hi John. I have been monitoring the color of the sputem. So far, it is clear, which is a good sign. How are you doing?

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Hi Terri! So good to see you posting again. I'm doing better than I deserve and enjoying it. A balmy 55 degrees here and I can feel winter on the doorstep...it's way too early.

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@windwalker

Will keep you posted! Are you coming to Bluffton any time soon?

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@windwalker Terri, I hope to! Will let you know! Nan

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