worrying too much because dh is sick

[Tiggeroo]

My dh is never, ever sick. Around three weeks ago he developed a nasty cough. It is worst in the morning and evening. It is snarly and he can't cough anything up. He finally went to the drs where they did a chest xray that was perfectly clear. Dr. put him on a cough med that's like mucinex only a little stronger and switched his bp med because that can cause a cough. Cough persisted and seemed to be getting a bit worst. He was weezing now. He went back to the dr. on Friday. He is now on a steroid pack, cough with codeine, and a nasal decongetant. Neither time was dr. esp. worried. Today we were shopping and he really started feeling bad. He's achey, tired and his cough was terrible. He avoids taking the codeine except at bedtime because it makes him tired and he doesn't want to comletely suppress the cough. When we came home from the store he looked terrible. His face was puffy, he had circles under his eyes and his color didn't look god.
Again, the dr. says there is a crud going around and it hangs on. He had a physical a month ago with full blood work and it was perfect.
My dh has turned 50 now and I find myself worrying whenever he does anything like shoveling snow or changing a tire or now when he's sick. He is very healthy, runs every day except now when sick, gets excellent reports from the dr. But I keep thinking this cough is something more serious.
Has anybody else had a long drug out cough?

 

[Goofycampers]

Did they put him on antibiotics? It sounds like they ruled out pneumonia but I wonder if he would benefit from nebulized meds to open up his airways a bit. Couldn't hurt. If his cough is worse at night that could mean his sinuses are draining, did they rule out sinus infection? Good luck

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Sorry to hear your DH is feeling so yucky! I had a flu bug right before Thanksgiving. Then it turned into a cough that has hung around and around and around. You get my drift. Is your DH's cough productive, is he coughing up stuff? My internal medicine dr. told me in the past (I've had coughs lasting for 4 weeks) that it's normal for it to hang around that long. He did say that if it worsens (fever, unable to catch breath due to so much coughing) to come back.

As for your DH, the cough medicine has codeine, right? I had a horrible reaction to it...feeling very weak and then throwing up for about 3 days. Has he been feeling more sick since taking it?

I hope he starts to feel better soon! It's always scary to watch someone you love being sick.

 

[Magic Mom]

DD had a virus the first week of Nov. It took about 5 weeks for the cough to go away. Hopefully your husband's cough is just a tough bug and it goes away soon.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Since he hasn't really had a fever and they ruled out pneumonia dr. didn't go with antibiotics. I thought they would put him on an inhaler since that's what I usually get (have asthma) and son who is prone to bronchitis gets this too. But dr. didn't think so. They did think sinus so they put him on a nasal decongestant. But since he has mild hbp it could only be a few things and I wonder if they are as effective. Cough isn't productive and dr. figured after a week on the mucinex if it wasn't it would be better to try to stop it. He thought the steroids and the cough syrup would do this. He only takes the codeine once or twice a day but he is on steroids, codein, and decongestant so I'm sure that is part of the reason for feeling a bit worst. Steroids normally make me feel great but I know not everybody has that reaction. It doesn't help that we've been trying to get a few things done for the holidays too so he's very busy at work and trying to go to the stores a bit here and there too. He just has no interest in doing anything holiday related and our tree is not decorated even. The kids will do it on their own tonight after work. I'm just going to settle for the tree. I told him to not get me any gifts. I can't imagine what I'd get if he shops tired on steroids and codeine.

 

[skw444]

I was sick with the flu at the end of October and it turned into Bronchitis. It was the beginning of December before the cough went away. My dr did give me an inhaler to help with the wheezing. Dr. said it could take over a month for the cough to go away. Hope your dh is feeling better soon.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

I would carefully check his medications, especially his BP for coughing as a side effect.

 

[binny]

I would carefully check his medications, especially his BP for coughing as a side effect.

thats what I was going to say. The Doc changed my mums BP medicine last month and it she was only for a week. Brought on a horrible cough that she is just now starting to lose. It was really bad. She felt achy and cruddy from all the coughing. So if they changed around any medications I woudl be asking about that


I hope he gets to feeling better soon!

 

[LuvOrlando]

It sounds like you are but still, just be careful with the Codeine. It's ok at night but around the clock suppression of the cough reflex can help Pneumonia get a foothold. I am familiar with the medication and use it for my 2 Asthmatic kids. It is a useful medication because without sleep a person's body simply can't fight off infection, but around the clock is bad. Not only does it prevent the person from coughing and clearing the airways but it makes the person tired, so they walk around less, so they breathe less deeply, so stuff accumulates... see the cycle. My MIL, a RN, gave herself Pnaumonia this way not too long ago. I tried to ell her but you know how that goes In our house it is only ever used at night. If your DH is suffering with a cough listen for a change in pitch. If it goes from deep and wet to dry and airy get him back to the DR ASAP. My own DD went from clear lungs to 2 with fluid in under 72 hours. Watch closely and if your instincts tell you something is wrong listen to them.

Some symptoms of Pneumonia are, inability to breathe deeply and the force air back out forcefully.
Tired when trying to move around (no meds in the body) because you're not getting enough oxygen.
Blue lips, fingertips or toenails.
Sometimes fever, sometimes not.
Change in the sound of the cough, it will pick up with frequecy and the pitch will change from deep and wet to much dryer and airy. It's noticible to even an untrained ear IMO. Asthma cough sounds the same way, sort of croup. I happen to think the change in pitch of the cough is singly the best indicator of lung infection. Both of my kids have had Pneumonia and both times I heard it before they wee diagnoed.
In my DD's case her voice sounded odd.

I hope your DH recovers quickly!

 

[MizTink]

i had a terrible cough for the longest time. tried every cough med, had 2 chest x rays.....nothing helped. i was close to suicide because of that awful cough!!! well, one day at work i was about to scream, and remembered something that i had read before about reflux causing a cough. i walked right over to the pharmacy and bought prilosec otc. within 2 days my cough was GONE. completely. i take zantac now and can tell if i have skipped a few days because the cough starts coming back.

 

[bumbershoot]

he doesn't want to comletely suppress the cough

I think he's got the right idea. Now knock out the decongestant and think about dropping the immunosuppressants (steroids), and he might start looking and feeling better once the gunk is out of his system.


This is how I treat my own health, this is how I urge my husband to do it, and what we've done with DS, most of my old friends are natural-living and live like that as well, and it seems to work really well!

 

[Christine]

A cough can really whip your butt! They hang on for a LONG time. And since your DH has had all the tests to rule out more serious things, I wouldn't worry too much. He's got some inflammatory response going on in his bronchial tubes and until that dies down, he's going to be that way.

You would think the steriods would help but they obviously don't with something viral. I had whooping cough (pertussis) a few years ago and NOTHING worked. I only got minimal relief from one of those prescription nasal sprays--and I mean minimal.

Honestly, I would work on keeping him well-rested, eating well, and not doing anything that is going to further inflame his airways (like being out in really cold air, extreme physical exertion, being around wood-burning stoves/fireplaces). Treat it like you would an asthmatic patient--his airway is very sensitive at this point. And, again, I'll say it: rest and eat healthy.

 

[mum4jenn]

My dh is never, ever sick. Around three weeks ago he developed a nasty cough. It is worst in the morning and evening. It is snarly and he can't cough anything up. He finally went to the drs where they did a chest xray that was perfectly clear. Dr. put him on a cough med that's like mucinex only a little stronger and switched his bp med because that can cause a cough. Cough persisted and seemed to be getting a bit worst. He was weezing now. He went back to the dr. on Friday. He is now on a steroid pack, cough with codeine, and a nasal decongetant. Neither time was dr. esp. worried. Today we were shopping and he really started feeling bad. He's achey, tired and his cough was terrible. He avoids taking the codeine except at bedtime because it makes him tired and he doesn't want to comletely suppress the cough. When we came home from the store he looked terrible. His face was puffy, he had circles under his eyes and his color didn't look god.
Again, the dr. says there is a crud going around and it hangs on. He had a physical a month ago with full blood work and it was perfect.
My dh has turned 50 now and I find myself worrying whenever he does anything like shoveling snow or changing a tire or now when he's sick. He is very healthy, runs every day except now when sick, gets excellent reports from the dr. But I keep thinking this cough is something more serious.
Has anybody else had a long drug out cough?

My own DH has has a bad cold/cough for several weeks now. He was very sick and then got a bit better and then it hit him hard again. He is finally on his way to feeling better. He asked a pharmacist and he told him that some of the colds this year are hanging around much longer than usual. I know a lady that works at another school that also had a bad cold/cough for well over a month.

 

[anniemae]

I have no advice, but I just wanted to echo what others have said. I have heard there is a lot of "stuff" going around and that people have cough's that just linger and linger..........

Sounds like you are doing the right thing by keeping the dr. in the loop and don't hesitate to send him back or call if anything gets worse or changes.

Hugs to you, it's no fun when family is sick.

 

[Bren's Mom]

OP, I could have written your post! My dh (in his mid 40s) developed a cough a number of weeks ago that was kicking his butt. Finally went to the Dr...no decreased lung sounds, she gave him cough med with codeine and something else for the cough...it seemed to do nothing for him. Eventually she started him on an antiobiotic after another full week, just to be on the safe side. He's still got it (I think we're at 4 weeks or 5 weeks now) but it's much, much less. We think it was viral and one of those coughs that just hangs on.

FWIW, my little guy (who's 4 now) had a cough like this when he was 2...in the winter...and it held on for a couple months. I was frantic, but the pediatrician kept saying it would go away eventually. He did have a chest x-ray, it was clear. He wasn't bringing up anything green, so they didn't want him on an antibiotic, which was fine. But it was worrisome.

I think your dh will be ok, it just needs time. Hopefully he'll be feeling better sooner rather than later!

 

[Disneylover79]

My dh is never, ever sick. Around three weeks ago he developed a nasty cough. It is worst in the morning and evening. It is snarly and he can't cough anything up. He finally went to the drs where they did a chest xray that was perfectly clear. Dr. put him on a cough med that's like mucinex only a little stronger and switched his bp med because that can cause a cough. Cough persisted and seemed to be getting a bit worst. He was weezing now. He went back to the dr. on Friday. He is now on a steroid pack, cough with codeine, and a nasal decongetant. Neither time was dr. esp. worried. Today we were shopping and he really started feeling bad. He's achey, tired and his cough was terrible. He avoids taking the codeine except at bedtime because it makes him tired and he doesn't want to comletely suppress the cough. When we came home from the store he looked terrible. His face was puffy, he had circles under his eyes and his color didn't look god.
Again, the dr. says there is a crud going around and it hangs on. He had a physical a month ago with full blood work and it was perfect.
My dh has turned 50 now and I find myself worrying whenever he does anything like shoveling snow or changing a tire or now when he's sick. He is very healthy, runs every day except now when sick, gets excellent reports from the dr. But I keep thinking this cough is something more serious.
Has anybody else had a long drug out cough?

I have a coworker that is exactly like your DH...she has had it for 3 weeks..only difference is she WON'T GO to the dr....maybe try hot tea with honey....prayers that your DH will feel better soon

 

[Tiggeroo]

You are making me feel better. We tried natural before the dr with hot tea with honey and lemon. Homemade Ginger tea. This morning I could hear that his sinuss are stuffy in the am so there must be something causing it. His hbp meds could cause a cough so he's that the first thing the doc changed. He'll gave two long weekends soon and I'm hoping the rest and time to drink tea and hot soup in the daytime will help.

 

[AristocatFan]

So sorry you are going through this! Two years ago DH had a cough like you describe for 10 months! After many trips to the doc and many different theories it was finally discovered he had developed allergies. He was sent to an allergist and had the lovely test done. He is allergic to all dust, mold and cats. We've had a cat for 8 years, never a problem before! He's been receiving shots once a week and the cough is gone and he's doing much better.

 

[4nana]

Sorry to hear your DH's under the weather, so much sickness going around this year it's worrsiome. My DH and SIL both had similar illness last year. It seems the cough syrup w/codine, steriod pack, and nasal decg. was the best treatment. They also found a neti pot helped clear the sinus very beneficial, as were hot steamy showers and hot herbal teas also. Here's hoping your DH feels much better soon, Lord knows I know what it's like to worry about an ill DH.

 

[disfan07]

Yes...the crud...lol.
Thats what my doctor said I had when i ended up in the hospital in october. My chest x-ray was clear and I had no fever but I have severe steroid dependent asthma that drops my O2 sats. whenever i get sick so i was admitted for preventative measures. 5 days of IV steroids, IV fluids and IV antibiotics and Neb treatments every four hours, I was discharged WITH the cough. 7 weeks later...I still have a cough from "the crud" and I am back in the hospital because my asthma flared up from a sinus infection.

My doctor said that somethign has been going around for months that is viral, but not the flu. thats why they are all callign it "the crud" and the worst thing is a cough that can linger for months.
Unfortunately, its a wait it out type of thing and just watch for any signs of difficulty breathing.