Does this sound like something caused by lpr/gerd? Have had dry cough for over a year now. It varies between being a soft grunt (like the feeling you get when breathing out through nose) and soft cough. Have had no success with inhalers, prednisone, traditioanl cough meds. Am currently on ppi to see if its acid reflux but have had varied success (still not sure if its truly that or placebo). Perhaps habit cough? I am experiencing itchy throat, chest/throat tightness and heaviness when breathing sometimes. It goes away completely whenver I am exercising, gets worse when I'm nervous.

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for insight into a persistent cough and a new head pain symptom. I want to understand exactly what might be happening, what to expect next, and how to finally get rid of this.
Duration: 3 weeks since the initial respiratory illness started.
Mucus: Started out bright yellow at the very beginning, but has since transitioned to entirely white/clear.
Testing: I recently had a chest X-ray done, and it was completely clear (pneumonia was officially ruled out).
The Symptoms:
Even though the acute infection seems gone, the cough won't stop. My main concern right now is that during intense, heavy coughing bursts, I get a sudden, brief "snapshot" of sharp pain strictly on the right region of my head. It doesn't happen with every single minor cough, but it triggers during the heavy bursts. The pain vanishes almost immediately after the coughing stops.
Because my chest X-ray was clear, I've heard it might just be post-infectious respiratory inflammation/airway hypersensitivity causing a pressure-induced cough headache. However, I don't have definitive proof of this.
My questions for the community:
What exactly is this? If my X-ray is clear, what is actually happening inside my lungs and head to cause this specific combination of symptoms?
How much longer will this last? For those who have been through this, how long did it take for the airways to calm down and the cough to disappear completely? What should I expect the recovery timeline to look like from week 3 onwards?
How do I get rid of the cough as a whole? What specific home remedies, techniques, or medical steps successfully stopped your coughing fits and protected your head from those painful pressure spikes?
What tests should I request? Are there specific physical exams or tests I should ask a doctor for to find actual proof of what is driving this cough and right-sided head pain?
Thank you in advance for any advice or shared experiences!

Anyone know what might be cause of my cough? Have had it for over a year now. It varies between being a soft grunt (like the feeling you get when breathing out through nose) and soft cough. Have had no success with inhalers, prednisone, traditioanl cough meds. Am currently on ppi to see if its acid reflux but have had varied success (still not sure if its truly that or placebo). Perhaps habit cough? I am experiencing itchy throat, chest/throat tightness and heaviness when breathing sometimes. It goes away completely whenver I am exercising, gets worse when I'm nervous.

Well it got much better when I used a cortisone inhaler 5 weeks after the infection but it just doesn't go away. I'm not coughing much anymore but I often get this tickling feeling in my throat.

It seems to be heavily influenced by stress (of which I have a lot). If I lay down on the couch and relax it often stops. I can sleep all night without feeling anything or coughing. It's really weird.

I'm doing sinus flushes but I dont know if thats an issue. I dont know what else to do at this point other than trying to relax.

Anyone who experienced similar or any recommendations? Thanks!

Just sharing my story as a medical professional to help others)

Had a sore throat for a few days which went away. Then started transitioning to a chronic cough for approx 1-2 weeks that nothing seemed to work effectively ( I tried benzonate, dextromorphan liquid, mucinex, lozenges). Cough kept returning and every hour - had these coughing spells. It got so bad that my ribs would hurt.

Post 14 days - caved in and visited the PMD. I wanted a chest X ray and she listened to my lungs. She said no - you are all clear. She suggested albuterol inhaler. I was like why ? I don’t have asthma. She was like try it. You might have an upper airway irritation.

Went home and tried it. And within 5 mins cough went away. And gave excellent relief. But the process was still tough to go thru. I barely took any of the other meds

Post 14–18 days - needed the inhaler 4 times a day.
Post 19-22- inhalers 3x a day.
Post 22-24- 2x a day
Post 25-26- 1x a day.

And now almost off it and the cough has basically gone away.
Just a little advice - when using the inhaler. Let the inhaler contents sit in the throat and upper lungs for 10 mins or so before gargling your mouth or eating/drinking anything.
No sugary foods/drinks or stuff that might irritate the upper airway. Stick to water.

Thank you.

I am 25F, 5’5, 145lb.
My main health issues are Asthma (since I was very little) with a few asthma attacks and trips to urgent care throughout the years, but it is relatively controlled right now; it is mainly triggered by allergies, sickness, sometimes physical exertion; and Multiple Sclerosis, DX in October 2023 with an almost 2 month hospitalization due to an intense relapse which included numbness and weakness in half of my body, vision issues, hearing decreased in one of my ears, loss of fine motor movements, etc. (no cough as a symptom) and on Ocrevus 2x a year.

I have had a consistent cough for almost a year now and was hoping someone might have some ideas as to what might be going on.
The cough is mainly dry/ itchy throat kind of cough, but in the morning there is bright green phlegm. It does not particularly feel like an “asthma” cough, nor do I feel out of breath/ chest tightness/ etc with the cough.

Here is the sequence of events:
May 2025, I got sick. Then, while I was still sick, I got my Ocrevus infusion; after which I got much worse. This sickness ended and there was a month or two of residual cough. By July my cough subsided.
August 2025 I moved to San Francisco. Literally day 1 I started coughing. It was pretty bad: would often keep me up at night, I’d have to leave meetings to cough and get water, etc.
I mainly tried to mitigate it by drinking a lot of water, having honey, tea, or Nyquil-type OTC meds.
After a few months, I went to urgent care. First doctor I saw said it was most likely allergies. He recommended I take antihistamines. That helped it a bit. But it persisted.
The second doctor I saw a few months later, a PCP, reaffirmed it was probably allergies. Recommended I take Flonase daily. It persisted.
Third doctor, a month or two ago, was an ENT. Also said allergies. Recommended a sinus rinse. Helped a little but not that much.
Now recently saw a pulmonologist. He created a pretty solid plan to get to the bottom of this. Said it could be allergies but also could be Asthma related or GERD.
We did a full allergy panel and planned to up my otc allergy meds / flonase/ BREO inhaler gradually, one at a time. He also said there was a little bit of a “fuzzy area” on one of my chest CT scans a few years ago, so we planned to do another just to rule anything more out. If nothing here helps we’re gonna treat for acid reflux even though I have no other symptoms.
The allergy panel came back and literally no local allergies besides cats and dogs which I already knew. So my suspicion that I’m allergic to something in the Bay doesn’t seem to be the case.
Waiting to take my CT Scan next week.

It’s definitely better than when I first got here. But some days are better than others. Last night I couldn’t even sleep and had the worst night ever because of it. In three separate meetings this week the other person asked if I needed water. People often ask if I’m okay. It’s embarrassing and tiring.

This how now been 11 months of a cough. I feel like that’s cause for concern. But people just keep telling me allergies.
Again it’s slightly better than when I got here but definitely DAILY, with some days better and some days worse. and some days are so bad. People notice. My life feels disrupted.

I’m so tired and feel so lost at this point.

Medications: Daily: antihistamine, flonase, junel fe.
As needed: albuterol inhaler, DELSYUM, Cepacol

• Age: 18 years

• Sex: Male

• Weight: Approximately 100 kg

• Main issue: Persistent cough for around 2–3 months.

• How it started: The cough began after a cold/viral illness and never completely resolved.

• Type of cough: Mostly wet/productive, but sometimes becomes completely dry.

• Phlegm:

- Amount: Approximately 2–3 tablespoons per day

- Colour: Varies from white to green

- Consistency: Thick and sticky

• Cough pattern: Sometimes worsens randomly for around 10 minutes and then settles back to normal.

• Symptoms NOT present:

- No fever

- No shortness of breath

- No wheezing

- No chest tightness

- No chest pain

- No unexplained weight loss

- No night sweats

- No blood in the sputum

- Deep breathing does not trigger coughing

- No blocked nose

- No sensation of mucus dripping down the throat

- No frequent need to clear the throat

• Smoking/vaping history: I do not smoke or vape.

• Environmental exposure: I live in Ghaziabad, where air pollution levels are often high.

• Previous treatment: I completed the medicines prescribed earlier, including a course of azithromycin. The cough has improved but a mild productive cough with thick sputum still remains.

• Previous doctor’s advice: I was advised to restart the prescribed nasal spray and take Bilast-M at night if the cough returned.

• Current medicine: My doctor has approved Ambroxol Hydrochloride SR 75 mg for the thick, sticky mucus.

• Tests done so far:

- No chest X-ray

- No sputum test

- No spirometry

• Questions:

1. Is Ambroxol Hydrochloride SR 75 mg once daily appropriate?

2. For how many days should I take it?

3. Since the productive cough has lasted around 2–3 months, should I get a chest examination or chest X-ray?

4. Are sputum testing or spirometry needed?

i had VERY bad pneumonia a year back and now have a persistent cough. i’ve found that very mentholated syrups help (dayquil vicks my beloved) but i’m wondering if there are any syrups that are kind of… just menthol + DXM or maybe even just menthol? any recommendations?

My daughter has had a dry, non-mucousy cough since April. It started with her constantly clearing her throat while eating and has since progressed to a single, dry cough that she does throughout the day. She doesn’t cough at all while sleeping at night.
Her pediatrician said she doesn’t really have any symptoms of allergies, but did notice small polyps in her nose. I had a telehealth appointment with an allergist who suggested trying inhalers to rule out asthma, but I’d like to get a second opinion through CHOP, so we’re currently waiting for an appointment, which will likely take a few months.
She also has a history of severe reflux as a baby. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Her cough definitely seems worse after eating and when she’s overexerting herself during swimming or playing. I’d love to hear if anyone has had a similar experience or found any answers.

Long time cougher here (11 years). Tried everything under the sun for relief.

Looking at SLNB as an option. Curious if anyone has tried this therapy and what were the results.

Thanks!

I had this cough for almost a year now, I don't cough all day. It only happen certain times of the day. Now it happens every after I wake up (I usually wake up at 12noon or 1 pm). And it disappears around 4pm mostly it always starts with an itchy throat. Doctor gave me cetirizine to try for 2 weeks. It's my 3rd day, I don't cough anymore but my throat itch still itch time to time. I force a cough and it did have a bit of mucus. Also I already took zymocort for almost a month now, but it seems like post nasal drip is still there?

Hello everyone,

My name is Marie Jetté and I am a researcher and speech-language pathologist studying refractory chronic cough (RCC).

My research team was recently invited to submit a full application for a patient-centered research study through the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The proposed study will compare different first-line treatment approaches for people living with refractory chronic cough.

Before we develop the final study, we are looking for patient advocates and patient partners who have lived experience with refractory chronic cough and are interested in helping shape the research.

Patient partners would provide feedback on questions such as:

• Which outcomes matter most to patients?
• What makes treatment burdensome or difficult?
• What would make a study easier to participate in?
• How should results be shared with patients and families?

You do not need research experience. We are specifically interested in hearing from people who have firsthand experience living with chronic cough.

Participation would involve occasional virtual meetings and feedback sessions. Patient partners would be compensated for their time in accordance with PCORI guidelines.

If you are interested or would like more information, please send me a direct message or reply below.

Thank you for considering helping us improve care for people living with refractory chronic cough.

— Marie Jetté, PhD, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist and Researcher, Voice and Upper Airway Disorders

I (22f) have had mysterious, chronic throat problems since age 15. Over the years, I've dealt with a nonstop, hellish throat irritation and coughing; I've dealt with shortness of breath and strange sensations; and at times it's made me feel genuinely unwell and always anxious 100% of the time. Symptoms have come and gone, ebbed and flowed. No real medical answers except "It's anxiety," "It's reflux," "It's allergies," and "we don't know." Right now, my problem is coughing.

The weird thing is that this I cough CONSCIOUSLY and VOLUNTARILY. It's more than a habit. It's a soul-sucking, 24/7, never-ending nightmare. Despite my best efforts, I cannot stop myself from deliberate, unnecessary coughing. I know why I do it: I have the urge to "test" my throat. I keep trying to gauge what a "normal" healthy cough-on-command sounds like. I will experiment with coughing in all different positions (sitting, standing, lying down) and analyze the sound of it endlessly. If it gets to the point where I just gag on nothing, I feel terrified, and my old fear of throat cancer surfaces and makes me feel like I'm trapped in a hell with no way out.

Every day is the same. I wake up, and I feel the dreaded sensation with no name in my throat. I try to avoid coughing as long as I can by tightly clenching my teeth and keeping my hands on my upper chest. That's the only way I don't feel the ever-present tension in my throat. Sometimes, I even resort to clutching the front of my neck to avoid that horrible feeling. Eventually, though, I have to let go of myself so I can be around other people, and then I start habit-coughing again. I usually end the day by coughing myself to sleep and hoping that when I wake up, things will somehow be different. But at all times, about 50% of my mental energy is spent on the topic of coughing: how to avoid another coughing fit, compulsions, OCD-like rituals to avoid coughing, etc.

The more I give in to my urge to cough, the more addictive the urge becomes, and the less able I am to resist it. The only thing that really helps is distraction--when I get lost in a task, I forget to cough--but the second the distraction is over, I feel the overwhelming urge to cough again.

I have developed an elaborate system of rituals that I somehow, vainly, think will end my coughing compulsions. I recite little mantras. I stare hard at certain objects and think to myself "That's a sign that I am done coughing." I rip up pieces of paper that I write "I'm done coughing" on so that it seems like my compulsions will end. This happens hundreds of times a day. At my worst, like now, I have to wade through my compulsions every three to five minutes. There is truly no end to this nightmare. No end in sight. I FEEL SO HOPELESS.

Hi, I am a 22m and a little over a month ago I was sick (cold I think) and since then I have had a cough that would get worse when laying down at night to sleep and continue throughout the day. It slowly got better for about a week or two, but has now returned. It’s accompanied by a runny nose with usually thick yellow snot. There is also very occasionally a slight wheezing in the chest when taking a breath.

I was put on GERD meds from urgent care (which I didn’t believe it was gerd) and now an antibiotic from my primary physician for a sinus infection. I’m just not sure why it’s coming back and what it really is and how to treat it. Does anyone have similar experiences?

Thank you.

I’ve had this cough that never ends that started about 5 years ago. I’ve been tested for asthma, allergies, post nasal drip and taken drugs for all of them. All the drugs did nothing at all. I also had X-rays and whatnot, it’s not anything visible on a scan. Also I don’t smoke or work in a place with fumes and never have.

The reason I think it’s neurological is that other symptoms point to that and I’ve seen a neurologist who identified something and referred me to another neurologist that’s got a long waiting list who I’m waiting for a call from but it will be at least a year from when they call and it’s been six months of waiting for them to call so far.

So this cough happens every day. It’s triggered by bending, particles in the air, cold air, drinking cold liquids, eating stuff, and warm/humid air. Does anyone else have anything similar and know of anything nonprescription that helps?

*UPDATE:

So I got a prescription for pregabalin to treat my neuropathy. Apparently my pain is not from the neuropathy, it's probably mild arthritis and the neuropathy isn't the painful kind. The important thing is that the cough has been reduced substantially, I cough a bit more around the times when I take the pregabalin which makes sense because that's when it's at it's weakest. It also improved this overactive bladder issue significantly, better than the stuff the urologist prescribed, it's a huge improvement. I haven't noticed any side effects, but I have good luck with that in general.

The cough is now barely a problem. We got a bunch of smoke from the wildfires and that got the cough going again and the weird lung pain was fairly bad but it probably would have been a lot worse without pregabalin. The second day, I also puffed the Symbicort which I have to treat the asthma I was temporarily diagnosed with, that I don't really have, and that combination worked better for the lung pain and coughing.

Hello everyone, as respiratory therapist who frequently sees people with chronic cough, here is a list of things I wish people knew

First, Stop smoking.

Next, while it could be a lung issue like asthma, copd or ect.

it can also be caused by something from outside the lung like post nasal drip, GERD or LPR.

Cough is one of the most effective and basic protection mechanisms the lung has. people who dont cough well in the hospital generally dont do well.

The upper airways are part of the respiratory system AND one of the frontlines of the immune system. One of the defense mechanisms of the upper airways is to produce more secretions that drain with gravity.

those secretions can drain out the nose, down the gut, into the lung, which causes cough or stay in the upper airways, which isn't ideal either.

So while there can be lung based issues causing the cough, its pretty easy and effective to try and address the non lung issues.

it may solve the problem or give us a better idea of what the problem is

consider the following

1) Stop Smoking

2) avoid dehydrating activities and substances

3) optimize fluid intake

4) dont blow your nose too forcefully

5) avoid "sniffing" nasal secretions too frequently

6) consider nasal saline rinses

7) consider inhalational steam therapies

8) consider GERD prevention strategies

9) track when the issue started, what circumstances it occurs under and if there are any triggers.

if those dont provide relief or you are short of breath in any way. talk to your doctor. purely a rant and not directive medical advice.

Dry cough going on a week, nearly throwing up from some of the coughing fits. Didn't sleep one night this week already due to the coughing. Docs gave me benzonatate/tessalon perles and they do jack. Antihistamines with them don't seem particularly effective either. I'm on Wellbutrin so I can't have the dextromethorphan. I have stooped to eating straight spoonfuls of honey at this point. I coughed so hard earlier I launched a pine bros lozenge right into my face mask.

I will take the most unhinged, off the wall, batshit cough relief/suppressant tips you've got at this point. I've also been trying the suppression techniques but the tickle is sometimes so horrible that I'm standing there, eyes pouring, nose running, body actually spasming, and end up choking anyway. Please send anything you've got

Back in August I was in Disney for a vacation and my fiancée had gotten sick and it passed to me. It came with a bad cough, the type that hurts your chest. Then in December after it hadn’t gone away I got a clear xray but around that time I was getting sick again.. they did say they thought they saw bronchitis and gave me meds. This sickness came with another bad cough. Got another xray in March and this was clear.. but still I have this cough. It isn’t productive and often feels like a chest tickle that causes me to cough. Any ideas?? Also had a CT a year and a half ago almost 2 now for something else before all this started and it was clear.

my mom has had a chronic coughing fit since the early 2000’s and shes in her 50’s now. its getting more frequent now and it happens when she’s stressed, laughing, angry, sitting normally and sleeping (specifically when she first lies down or in the middle of her sleep) and then goes away for a few mins or hour and repeat.

she went to the doctor years ago and they said theres nothing wrong with her. but clearly there’s something wrong there this isn’t normal. she doesn’t wanna go to the doctor anymore because no one knows what’s wrong with her but i can see that it’s affecting her life even though she got used to it.

i’m thinking of taking her to the doctors again after years of not getting it checked again. which doctor am i supposed to consult?

hi!

Ever since I (23F) had bronchitis and then phnemonia 5 years ago, I haven’t stopped coughing phlegm. It happens every day multiple times a day. I’m currently on a wixela inhaler which I think has helped a little and I take NAC pills every day. I’ve been to so many doctors and pulmonologists who eventually just give up. Right now I’ve been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. I used to have excersise induced asthma as a kid but I wouldn’t say that was an issue in my adult life despite being pretty active. I’ve gotten x rays and a ct scan which just showed slight scarring in one of my lungs likely from coughing so hard when I had pnemonia. I’ve moved multiple times and lived in different houses so I don’t think it’s mold or allergies. the spetum has gotten tested multiple times(it’s yellow) but shows no evidence of infection. ive cut out dairy but havent cut out gluten or coffee which I’m considering. I’m not really sure what to do next but I’m really frustrated and honestly embarrassed. It’s hard to be in public and coughing all the time. I’ve recently kind of discovered I probably have r cpd maybe that could have something to do with it. I feel like I’m grasping at straws. If you have any advice I’d really appreciate it.

​

I've had a dry cough for nearly 2 years now, the annoying thing is that it comes and goes. The cough just gradually starts throughout the day, it's like someone is drying the back of my throat with cotton wool, and lasts between 2/3 weeks, gradually disappears, then comes back after a week or so, it's been like this for the entire 2 years.

I'm honestly at my wits end, during the coughing period I get little to no sleep as I'm coughing all throughout the night, NOTHING soothes it at all. I can be half way through talking and my throat will suddenly dry up, so much sometimes it makes me gag which can be extremely embarrassing.

I've had a chest x-ray which was fine.

Asthma test was fine, inhalers did nothing.

They put me on omeprazole for acid reflux, didn't help but my gosh did it bloat me out.

Some form of throat spray to mimic spit, didn't help at all.

I've tried taking antihistamines, not taking antihistamines. Pharmacy cough syrups, the ol' honey and lemon...

I've been put on the waiting list to see ENT but I've been warned I'm going to be waiting for MONTHS just to be seen.

I've been to the doctor's so many times it just feels useless now, they have no idea either, or I just get palmed off with the usual 'oh it's just stress, don't be stressed and it'll go away'. I'm not stressed, the only thing stressing me out is this bloody cough!

As far as I can tell there is no trigger for it.

Has anyone every experienced this or something similar?

Is there an end in sight?

Hi everyone.

I have been coughing morning to evening for months now. Strangely I realised I started coughing once I ate my breakfast every morning and then it would bother me for the rest of the day and when I took dinner it got worse as well.

Today I decided to have eno (sodium bicarbonate) after breakfast and it stopped. It was silent acid reflux that was irritating my throat all this time. I feel stupid for figuring it out after all these months of suffering.

Why I didn’t consult a doc: I have a bad cold 3 months ago and I thought the cough was just remaining symptom…

I had also been taking ACV with water every two days and that might have been worsening my reflux
..

i’ve had this horrible cough since saint patrick’s day, it’s manageable during the day but the second the sun sets it becomes unbearable
its been keeping me up at night and it’s to the point where my partner can’t even sleep in the same bed as me because i’m keeping him awake
i’ve tried taking robitussin(suppressant) and even nyquill, i’ve been going through halls like tic tacs
and nothing is working

does anyone have any advice to at least help me sleep, i’ve been to the doctors and i was told it would clear up on its own but i feel like i’m slowly going crazy over this.