Very Nasty Sorethroat And Coughing Fits

[mommysboy]

I'm 50, recently had a general check up with blood tests and am athletic. I suffer from IBS symptoms and allergy type nasal problems when in Bangkok.

My symptoms started 5 days ago with a slow onset cold, just occasional sneezing and runny nose, but a few days ago became just like a normal cold. For a day I also had red eye and stinging eyes. Last night I became quite badly stricken with an extreme coughing fit and catarrh, a real deluge. It made me feel quite frightened and very claustrophobic, I couldn't breathe. In the evening my stomach started to feel very acidic and my air tube really hot, and I started to get this dry hacking cough with little gasps for air. Just very, very sore from throat downwards.

Now I have a really sore throat with swollen glands. I looked at the back of my throat and as far as I can see it's just red but looks like the gap is a lot narrower than usual.

A couple of hours ago after a coughing fit, I vomited repeatedly and am suffering from this repeated dry painful cough which makes my bronchial quite sore, and still the unrelenting sore throat, but my nose is not running nearly so much. My air tube is still hot and again I feel acidic.

I am suffering from frequent small coughing fits, which end up feeling nauseous and regurgitating a little.

I haven't had a headache at all, and I don't think a real fever, and although I'm now feeling a bit put upon, I've felt quite strong throughout.

I'm guessing it's an adeno virus and not a lot I can do, but the cough doesn't seem normal. Could it be anything else?

I also don't understand why my colds are quite so severe, after all my girlfriend just sailed through with barely a splutter.

Is there anything I can do?, these episodes are quite debilitating, definitely not just the sneezes.

[meatboy]

i had simuler symptoms 24years ago down in patts.went to see the doctor who was my reguler one dr.billini who had a good look down my throat and said you might have been drinking out of dirty glasses and also told me to drink plenty of water,she gave me a course of tabs.which after a week done the trick.now i only seem to get a sore throat when i sleep right in front of the air con.the doctor also said i must stop kissing the mouchi some hair was stuck in my throat

[cmsally]

Both the bowel symptoms and the cough/throat could be caused by post nasal drip. Infected/blocked sinuses draining down into your throat and lungs (especially when asleep).

Especially likely if you already have nasal allergies.

If you have allergies and sinusitis it tends to hang around and make your cold last longer because your sinuses don't clear as fast.

Try a nasal saline rinse to clear the debris, if that doesn't work see an ENT specialist. They can take a look and check for nasal polyps etc.

[mommysboy]

i had simuler symptoms 24years ago down in patts.went to see the doctor who was my reguler one dr.billini who had a good look down my throat and said you might have been drinking out of dirty glasses and also told me to drink plenty of water,she gave me a course of tabs.which after a week done the trick.now i only seem to get a sore throat when i sleep right in front of the air con.the doctor also said i must stop kissing the mouchi some hair was stuck in my throat

Thanks good advice. I'm pretty sure the initial infection was just a cold that I picked up from my partner, had it been from the 'other' then that might be some small consolation, as I would at least have had some fun. I don't drink nearly enough water and the air con is harsh in my room. I'm trying to wean myself off the air con, but not easy in Bangkok.

[mommysboy]

Both the bowel symptoms and the cough/throat could be caused by post nasal drip. Infected/blocked sinuses draining down into your throat and lungs (especially when asleep).

Especially likely if you already have nasal allergies.

If you have allergies and sinusitis it tends to hang around and make your cold last longer because your sinuses don't clear as fast.

Try a nasal saline rinse to clear the debris, if that doesn't work see an ENT specialist. They can take a look and check for nasal polyps etc.

A runny nose and blocked sinus is almost a way of life for me in Bangkok and what you write rings clear bells.

I recently had a holiday back in Blitey and the doctor checked me out and put me on Beconase. The clear air and the nasal spray worked a treat can't explain the sheer relief. But 2 weeks back in Bangkok and here we go again. I just popped out and got some more Beconase (as I left the bottle back home in England).

Thanks to both contributors for taking the time to help. Fortunately, I feel much better today and the cough is already easing.

[KarenBravo]

Why would anybody with a medical complaint come on an internet forum seeking advice?

You are courting disaster; go and see a qualified person. i.e. a doctor.

[Sheryl]

Zinc supplements can be helpful in shortening the duration/severity of respiratory infections.

I use redoxan, a Vit C/zinc preparation you can get at any boots, watsons's or pharmacy. I also recently saw Zinc throat lozenges available in LOS for the first time (they've long been sold in the US and work wonders).

If the swollen glands persists and/or if significant fever develops, you should see a doctor as antibiotics might be indicated.

[Sheryl]

P.S. and staying out of Bangkok and other polluted areas works even greater wonders.....

[cardholder]

Why would anybody with a medical complaint come on an internet forum seeking advice?

You are courting disaster; go and see a qualified person. i.e. a doctor.

Have you never read Sheryl's responses ?

She really is my favourite poster on Thai Visa and her advice is extremely informative and valuable.

I have filed a number of her posts for future reference. Without wishing to embarrass her, I think her reply on 'white rice' should be published internationally.

Thai Visa can be a useful source of information for anyone who is feeling 'mai sabai'. It is, of course, no substitute for medical opinion/attention when required.

[cmsally]

Why would anybody with a medical complaint come on an internet forum seeking advice?

You are courting disaster; go and see a qualified person. i.e. a doctor.

Fair enough and I don't think anyone is going to trust a forum implicitly without taking medical advice.

However when it comes to doctors sometimes they can be less than helpful. Every doctor I went to prescribed antibiotics for my sinusitis which were of no help and made me feel worse.

What really got me annoyed was that not even one doctor (and I saw many) told me about nasal irrigation (which really helps) as does taking more exercise, especially aerobic exercise.

The only proper diagnosis I got was when I voluntarily got myself admitted to hospital and got them to do a CT scan, so I could find out exactly which bits blocked. Only then did I get a nasal steroid spray prescribed!

[anterian]

Why would anybody with a medical complaint come on an internet forum seeking advice?

You are courting disaster; go and see a qualified person. i.e. a doctor.

Fair enough and I don't think anyone is going to trust a forum implicitly without taking medical advice.

However when it comes to doctors sometimes they can be less than helpful. Every doctor I went to prescribed antibiotics for my sinusitis which were of no help and made me feel worse.

What really got me annoyed was that not even one doctor (and I saw many) told me about nasal irrigation (which really helps) as does taking more exercise, especially aerobic exercise.

The only proper diagnosis I got was when I voluntarily got myself admitted to hospital and got them to do a CT scan, so I could find out exactly which bits blocked. Only then did I get a nasal steroid spray prescribed!

On this forum there are several retired doctors, health specialists, biologists, scientists in general, we sort of peer review each other's comments and being actually resident in this environment have first hand, often personal experience of problems and remedies. We also know what is available in Thailand.

In your case sinusitis, post nasal drip problems will not be helped by antibiotics unless these are causing secondary infections. Steroid sprays should be used sparingly, try to find a spray based on oxymetazoline, sold locally as "illidian"... I may not have the spelling perfect.

Sudafed or antifed tablets will help you at night, however as these contain pseudephedrine, they are now banned by the Thai government (idiots). They now offer "Rhinadine" (Bromophenilamine).

Nasal irrigation with salt water is excellent, a good way is to hold a saucer of salt water tight under your nostrils and sniff strongly, if you don't taste it in your throat sniff harder.