Random long-term cough and post-nasal drip

[restlessduck]

Been coughing every summer ever since I got Covid-19 ~2 years ago. Last year I had a cough and horrible post-nasal drip for about 5-6 months and now it seems like it's about to start up again. My doctor told me the cough is probably anxiety. The cough is really weird. It's like when I start coughing a lot I find it hard to stop but when I stop thinking about the cough I don't cough anymore. Sometimes it feels like it's hard to breathe. Like my lungs aren't expanding enough. I'm worried about asthma but it's probably very unlikely cause no one in my family has asthma, I'm 21 years old and I don't smoke. And when I cough there is no wheeze. Right now I also got a headache and get lightheaded every now and then but that's just probably from working too much. I really wish there was some way to just stop this. Like a non-prescription medicine. It sucks to suffer and not even be able to afford to go to the doctor or even to therapy.

 

[lukef777]

Yep that sounds like the anxiety cough. The feeling you are describing about being hard to breathe is due to abnormal amounts of carbon dioxide in your body due to habitual hyperventilation. I often experience and hear from others that they can't get a a "satisfying deep breath". That is partially due to the muscles in the back being tight and not letting your diaphragm expand at the amount it would like to. My advice that solved the deep breath problem is to practice the buteyko breathing technique. Instead of taking large breaths, practice taking short breaths for a period of time and then try to take that deep breath that feels like you hit the extra gear. The headache and lightheadedness is more than likely a result of muscle tension from coughing along with the carbon dioxide levels I mentioned earlier. Hope you feel better! I'd also like to mention that your health is incredibly important and even taking a trip to urgent care for a doctor to listen to your lungs with a stethoscope is very important

 

[restlessduck]

That's EXACTLY what I'm feeling! Like I can't take a satisfying DEEP breath.

buteyko breathing technique

Haven't heard of that before. Going to google how to do it. Thanks.

 

[MARCC]

I have had nasal drip for years along with ringing and buzzing in my left ear. I have been to my regular physician and my ENT physician who have told me not to worry.

 

[PieFan]

Hello. I'm new. I've had a lot of breathing problems and a cough and post nasal drip forever. Drives me crazy sometimes. I'm planning a break fro eating dairy (which is not easy!) just to see if it helps.

 

[Hobbit]

Yes i suffer from post nasal drip as well . Especially bothersome at night when laying down , produces morw coughing. Dairy does increase pleghm production .

 

[restlessduck]

Hello. I'm new. I've had a lot of breathing problems and a cough and post nasal drip forever. Drives me crazy sometimes. I'm planning a break fro eating dairy (which is not easy!) just to see if it helps.

Yeah dairy, especially chocolate, tends to make it worse for me.