panicmom07 Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Hi - I am new to this board and very freaked out about what I believe may be a "persistent" or nagging cough. I have been coughing since August and scare myself silly reading about the obvious cancer concerns with a cough that doesn't go away. It is Non productive and does not keep me awake at night, but more of an annoying "tickle in your throat" that gives me the urge to cough. Finally seen at the Instacare last week where I was perscribed Allegra and Aciphex with a "shot in the dark" DX of possible allergies or Reflux. Lungs sound perfectly clear with no wheezing. Does a cough related to lung cancer ever get a little better, or does it continally get worse? Although I still cough daily, it doesn't seem as bad as it it used to be. Please advise exactly what they mean by persistent cough... P.S. - I am a 39 yr. old female with a prior "social" smoker history several years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyoung20 Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 My persistent cough was productive although it never progressed. I would ask for a chest x-ray, ct if possible. Have they mentioned bronchitis? The fact that your lungs sound clear is a good thing I would think. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about but I would get it checked out. God Bless!! Jamie Please let us know what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 GET AN XRAY. Persistent cough. Next if you lose your voice it may be bad scenario but not fatally bad. My late wife had a persistent "Smokers Cough" and now that is history. Do yourself a favor and at least get an xray. I am also a former smoker so... PLEASE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Prior to Col's dx, a persisten cough would be described in my dictionary as any cough annoying you for over a year. Sounds funny, but that's what I would have said. Rub some dirt on it and get back in the game. Post DX, anything that scares you or that doesn't feel normal to you, or that has you asking questions. I agree with Randy, get an xray, especially if it is worrying you silly. Col had persitent cough and shortness of breath (SOB as I learn the terminology, as I used to think SOB was the guy that cut you off on the highway). Col's lungs sounded clear, and we were back and forth for months. hindsight 20/20 I can see things as far back as May '06. DX date of tumor is Oct '06. If not for a VERY DILIGENT eye dr, being cautious, no MRI would have ever been ordered, no brain tumor discovered, no brain tumor removed, no LC ever discovered, and worst of all, probably no Col. As it stands now, we got lucky, caught it, and are still here fighting it a year later. I'm not trying to scare you. It is probably nothing, and we are all praying to insure that it is nothing. My post is to convince you to have an xray, put your mind at ease, and go on being healthy. Wish you the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 ditto on replies above. If you're at the point of asking us "what counts as persistent?," then it is persistent. Go have an x-ray, if nothing else you'll have peace of mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welthy Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Get to a doctor and have an x-ray. That little tickle in the back of the throat cough started for my husband in the fall of 2004 and he brushed it off as post nasal drip. The cough ended with his Stage IV diagnosis in March of 2005. I don't know if it would have made a bit of difference for him with as much cancer as he had, but we would have had the "jump" on it sooner. (We don't do a lot of Monday morning Quarterbacking here.) This may be nothing for you to worry about. It never hurts to get things checked out. I've insisted on x-rays at any time my cough was questionable. Prayers for good results and best of luck! Welthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley (MLC) Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Definitely get the chest xray and don't let the Dr. talk you out of it! I wish my mom had insisted on an xray much sooner. Shelley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carleen Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 The important thing is peace of mind. I think if this is causing you concern and you are frightened by the "what if" then I suggest you go and request a chest x-ray. Often if you go to a doctor and just tell them the symptoms, especially when you are only 39, they go with the most common diagnosis' such as allergies or pneumonia; things that are diagnosed without lab testing. In most doctor's minds, you are too young to worry about such things and add to that you are only a social smoker, you are not the high risk person. So, you need to take control of your medical destiny and actually request what you want, otherwise they will not suggest it. My husband was only 31 at diagnosis and he didn't smoke. He went in to the ER with chest pains and was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. It was a diligent primary care doctor that he saw on follow up that actually diagnosed him. He did not have a cough, and the doctor could hear just from using the stethoscope that his lungs were not clear (which is what the ER assumed was fluid and pneumonia, but which actually turned out to be tumors). Every person is different, and there is no way to say that you have a persistant cough and smoke therefore you could have cancer. On the other hand there is nothing to say that you don't. Cancer actually exhibits very few symptoms usually until it is quite advanced. So, if it is something you are worried about, the best advice I can give you for your physical health and your mental health is to get tested. I will say a prayer tonight for you that this cough of yours is seasonal allergies and hayfever or a cold virus hangin' on there and nothing more. God Bless you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panicmom07 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 Thank You everyone for your kind words of encouragement... I was really hoping I that I was going to hear that coughs associcated with the DX were going to be on the extreme opposite, and unfortunately, I am now scared sick hearing symptoms just like mine experienced by your loved ones. Dry cough, clear lungs, healthy people, tickle in the throat, etc... are NOT the words I was hoping to hear. I know that it sounds selfish to say that I have a loving husband and 3 kids, (17, 13 & 4) who NEED their Mom around because I am sure that you have all encountered those same wishes. I am going to make an appointment tomorrow, scared as I am. Keep me in your prayers please, as I need all the help I can get right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzie Q Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Oh, please don't let us frighten you! The intent (if I may be so bold to make the assumption from all the previous posts) is to let you know that you often have to be firm with your caregiver. They sometimes brush off symptoms of younger, healthier patients that they would definitely follow up on in an older, less healthy individual. And that's because the odds are in YOUR FAVOR that this is not cancer! And I say that as a 41-year-old basically healthy female who has been humored TWICE in the last 3 years to have a chest x-ray for a persistent cough. I even got a work up with a pulmonary specialist for suspected COPD on a Chest xray. All benign results. Focus on the odds being in your favor, but get the xray anyway, for your peace of mind. ~Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Ok panicmom. Slow down, take a breath. NO ONE hear wanted to scare you. I was afraid of doing that with my post, and I APOLOGIZE, that I did it. I speak for me only here, but I still believe that we are exceptions. I wanted you to go get an xray, because in my heart I believe it will be NBD. That's no big deal for those of you who don't yet get the text messaging lingo. I'm still learning it myself. I didn't mean to insinuate that these symptoms are concrete. It goes a lot deeper, in my situation than that. We had WAY more symptoms than you described. It's just for us, hindsight is so clear. Remember that for us, every little thing will bother us if we let it. I'll also note that I had about 3 different things done after Col's DX just to set my mind at ease, because the what if's became worse than the symptoms. Guess what, all came back normal. Have the exray, come back and tell us it was nothing, and we'll all be thrilled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panicmom07 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 Oh No-No, I am not at all offended by any of the posts from everybody. I got the messgage everyone was sending that it is best for my piece of mind to order the X-Ray. I will admit, I am the worst at ordering doctors to perform tests, mainly because of my fear to hear the worst. You are all so very kind to exhibit such concern and I really do appreciate that. I know that none of you have said anything to intentionally scare me.. (my extreme worry took me to this website to begin with) I am going to win whatever is ailing me, but at the same time, it is so encouraging to know there are so many people like you all that want to help me through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Please once again GOOGLE "Persistent Cough" These coughs can be caused by MANY MANY MANY MANY MANY MANY THINGS, and lung cancer may not be one of them. Medicines may cause Persistent Coughs. The air you breathe can cause presistient coughs. I suggest you google it, then go get a doc to do an X-ray and go from there, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Just think how much better you'll feel when you get a chest x-ray done, and they say you have allergies, or maybe even slight, persistant bronchitis or something like that! Take it from the world's biggest coward when it comes to getting tests done-- (me)-- it's terribly nerve racking to take the plunge and insist on a test, but so nice if you get to hear the words "It's nothing to worry about"! And if by chance it IS something "not so simple", best to find it out and get started on treatment to make you feel better! Let us know how it goes! Nova Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Get the x-ray. My lungs were clear - and I had pneumonia! Follow-up x-ray showed a cloud and at 34 with a history of never smoking, I was diagnosed. It was all by accident and pure dumb luck. If scaring you gets your butt in for a more in-depth, peace of mind scan, BOO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panicmom07 Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 so, I made my appointment and wa able to get into the Heart & Lung Center today at 1:00. Not knowing, the doctor I saw ended up being a pulmonary specialist in the "heart" field rather than an actual "lung" specialist. At any rate, again was told that the lungs sound beautiful, and EKG was normal. His thought after hearing the cough was that it sounded more like an allergic cough. Sent me off for a chest X-ray and I am awaiting the results as I write. Thanks again to everyone for the support and the encouragement to give me the motivation to go get it checked out... So, next step.... What if the Xray is normal? Do you push further to have a CAT or MRI? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 In my opinion if the Xrays come bacj normal I thas been apleasure knowing you. THey may not authorize any further test if X ray is negative for anything. If they see something suspicious they will schedule an MRI or a cat scan to find out further info. Wish ya the best and Hope for even better than that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recce101 Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Hi, panicmom, welcome to the group! I haven't been on the site since yesterday, so I'm a bit behind on my reading. First, I agree with everything that's been said above, and I see you took the advice and got a chest x-ray, for which you're awaiting the results. But just to round out the picture, I'll try to explain what my "persistent cough" felt like (that's the reason for my visit to the family doc which started this whole chain of events, as you can see in my profile below). My cough was not prompted by a drip-type tickle in the throat, which I've had plenty of throughout my life and still do. This one, which went on for a month with no change, occurred only when I breathed in deeply. It was a completely dry tickle, as if someone was in there with a feather a couple of inches below the adams apple. And the cough was also completely dry, with no throat clearing sensation and nothing to spit out. After a month of this, there was a sudden change in the sound of the exhaling air during the cough, like the feather guy now had a tiny high-pitched air whistle that he held in the stream of outrushing air. I could produce the same little whistle by breathing in deeply and then exhaling forcefully through the mouth. My friend Mr. Google convinced me that this sound was not something to be toyed with, so I picked up the phone and made an urgent same-day appointment. I don't fully understand the mechanics of what caused my particular tickle and whistle, but it was apparently related to the large amount of fluid (pleural effusion) which filled almost 3/4 of my right chest and significantly compressed the lung on that side. I'm surprised that my shortness of breath was so mild. When the fluid that could be reached was drained (thoracentesis) a few days later, the feather/whistle guy departed and has not returned. Looking forward to hearing about your x-ray results. I seriously doubt if "cancer" will be part of any diagnosis you receive. Aloha, Ned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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