Chronic Cough: what might be the cause?

Hi everyone, does anyone know if mri/mra of head and neck is ok to do if you have metal dental work or mercury fillings from years ago. There seems to be a lot of disagreement on the internet. One danger is that mercury can leak during the exam causing mercury poisoning. I've never heard of tbis, but I've read that these machines are so powerful they ca n causes dental work to become loose.

Any thoughts?

Ask your doctor about LSN… Laryngeal sensory neuropathy. If he or she does not know what it is find a specialist (otolaryngologist) that does. Better yet, go straight to an otolaryngologist.
Following many tests, I was diagnosed at the Jewish National Health Hospital in Denver. The Mayo Clinic should be able to do the same thing.
LSN It’s something that the doctors are just now learning about. I have had this cough all my life and diagnosed with everything you can imagine. Finally, one doctor said, “I think you have an over sensitive larynx.”, referred me to MC or NJH to undergo multiple tests to eliminate everything the general doctors thought it may be, (but we’re incorrect).
Basically, it’s an over sensitive larynx. The medication that proves to be the most effective is in Japan. However, has not been approved in the US as of now. They are going to revisit the testing or so they say. Your doctor can prescribe what he or she feels is the best that there is to offer at the time. The thing that helps me the most is carrying around thermos with hot water. And using cough drops. Air conditioning and perfume are the most difficult situations for me to endure. That’s when the hot water helps. I hope this helps you.
Ronda

I think that guy is trying to sell you a medication that his company promotes.
You need an otolaryngologist who perhaps will diagnose you with (LSN) laryngeal sensory neuropathy. Go see the specialist and let them diagnose you. What saves me the most is caring around a hot water thermos and cough drops. When I need to cough, I drink the hot water and that helps my breathing.

See an otolaryngologist. Ask about LSN: Laryngeal Sensory Neuropathy. Try sipping hot water when you need to cough. Your otolaryngologist can discuss available medications which may help.

For 3+ years, I have had chronic post nasal drip which appears to be the cause of a concomitant chronic cough. I see my family physician twice a year and ask him about it every time. He seems mostly disinterested in it. At one point he suggested smokers cough though I quit smoking 16 years before the cough started and haven't even been in a room where someone else was smoking. At another, he suggested it might be an allergy and I should try Claritin or zyrtec. I did & they had no effect.

So far, it's been mostly an annoyance, but it just became a bigger problem. I'm having eye surgery in January. If I have an uncontrollable coughing fit in the middle of it - or even forcibly hold back the urge to cough - it could be disastrous.

I've made an appointment with an ENT for a few weeks from now. In the meantime, any suggestions as to what other avenues I can pursue would be appreciated.

@schmoomom, welcome. I moved your question about post nasal drip appearing to cause a cough to this existing discussion where @cindykoch was asking similar questions:
- Chronic Cough: what might be the cause? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-cough-1/

Click the link to read previous helpful posts with possible suggestions to help you prepare for your upcoming meetng with an ENT.

Hi, my mother is suffering from dry cough since 35 years. Although she did not have it persistently for many many years (occuring only once or twice in a month, recovering quickly) but lately, it has become part of her life. She is 56 years old and keeps coughing when someone cooks something (especially in oil), eats oily or spicy food, there is dust, etc. Doctors have asked her avoid all the aforementioned allergens, but it's very hard to avoid everything. It's so bad that she coughs every 10 to 20 minutes or in hour's gap. Her symptoms:

- coughs are dry
- she gets itch in the throat and that leads to coughing
- her eyes and nose waters when her throat itches
- she has to cough forcefully to pacify her throat
- when she goes to sleep, she gets cough

Anywhere we go, she coughs first. Anything she eat, she has to cough. She hasn't had proper sleep because she keeps waking up coughing.

It's heartbreaking for me to see her like this. Is there somone in this forum who has suffered from this kind of cough and can direct me in the right direction please? Has something worked for you?

You should try seeing a Neurologist.

Often times this is due to nerve heightened sensitivities that become reactive over time-like non allergic rhinitis.

There are often some nerve related medications that can help with this.

Don’t waste your time w/ an ENT.

Hi, I have had severe dry coughing spells for the last 3 years. I had throat cancer twice, and never smoked. Had extensive chemo and radiation treatments, The radiation totally damaged my throat area. I cant eat or drink anything by mouth. So, my throat is constantly dry and irritated. I think your mother has a throat condition that should be evaluated by an ENT doctor. For temporary relief for my coughing spells I take Mucinex DM. It is the ONLY over the counter medicine that stops my coughing. You might want to try this medicine for your mom. Hope this helps!

I just wanted to add one more thing. It's never a "waste of time", to see an ENT. You want to rule out any conditions your mom might have. The doctor then might refer you to a Neurologist if in his judgement thier is nothing wrong with her larynx, muscle structures, etc.
I have gone to the best cancer hospital in my state. My ENT has over 30 years experience, and is on the Board of Directors. They always advise the patients to get second opinions if they are not satisfied. I speak about this, cause I have coughing spells like your mom for the last 3 years. People who never had this coughing issue dont have a clue of what to do, unless they are a qualified medical professional. I listen to my doctors who are far more educated with experience, than I am.
Is your mom getting any better?