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   Alice McFlurry :bc: (alice@beige.party)'s status on Friday, 15-Dec-2023 22:46:11 JST Alice McFlurry :bc:

   I’m not looking to treat Mastodon like WebMD, but there are a lot of smart people on here, so I figured I'd see if I can find anyone who has any idea what's wrong with me.

   Back in August, I got a cold. It wasn't COVID, but it was a sore throat, runny nose, and cough.

   After about a week, everything was gone except a mild, dry cough (almost like a tickle) that makes me cough several times an hour.

   My breathing has also been weaker since the start, but not terrible. I don't have a history of asthma and I really only notice when I intentionally try to inhale and realize my lungs don't appear to have the same strength or capacity they used to have.

   After about two months, I went to the doctor to ensure all was well, but she was just like "Sometimes coughs linger. Here's a prescription for allergies and acid reflux in the event it's any of those things."

   I don't have a history of either, but I was willing to try anything so I took everything for a month, but the cough never subsided. I also had a chest x-ray which looked normal.

   It's now been 4 months with this dumb cough and I feel like a baby for complaining when it's not THAT bad, but still annoying to have had a cough for that long, especially during a time like COVID when everyone is on high alert.

   I should note that whatever this is doesn't appear to be contagious because I've been coughing nonstop for four months and my husband never got sick.

   Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this and/or what I can try to do to get this cough to subside?

   • Embed this notice
     Alice McFlurry :bc: (alice@beige.party)'s status on Friday, 15-Dec-2023 22:46:10 JST Alice McFlurry :bc:

     in reply to

     Thanks for all of the suggestions on what to do about this cough.

     I've compiled a list of the recommendations and I’m going to try everything at the same time!

   • Embed this notice
     Paul Cantrell (inthehands@hachyderm.io)'s status on Tuesday, 19-Dec-2023 02:35:42 JST Paul Cantrell

     in reply to

     @Alice I get a similar “gosh I have a cold oh wait” experience every time the washable HEPA filter in the room with the guinea pigs needs cleaning. Fix the filter, symptoms gone! Indoor air quality is such an overlooked concern.

     Glad you figured it out!

   • Embed this notice
     Alice McFlurry :bc: (alice@beige.party)'s status on Tuesday, 19-Dec-2023 02:35:43 JST Alice McFlurry :bc:

     in reply to

     Cough update!

     Several people mentioned environmental factors and allergies and a couple mentioned aerosols and essential oils which reminded me that I bought one of those plug-in air fresheners from Bath and Body Works right around when this cough started.

     I unplugged it on Friday and my cough is essentially gone!

     Thanks to all who took the time to offer suggestions. Sometimes crowdsourcing really does work!