Post viral cough?

Inhaling the fumes of coal tar - a bi-product of coal has to be my nomination for the remedy most likely to do harm. Can you imagine getting kids to inhale such an unpleasant pollutant? Very relieved it is no longer sold. (Yes I know it was also used in skin preparations.... but breathing it IN?! Amazing what people were allowed to flog as medicines in the past. )

I think i had whooping cough a couple of years ago. Picked up a persistent cough in Australia, passed it to my son who had terrible whooping cough while I came home and coughed for weeks.

Mine started after flu, now it's sinuses and mucousy coughs. Delightful. It is getting better, but slowly.

galen yes, I know, I always said it was rubbish. I've just had another dollop of greek yoghourt, purely on a medical trial basis of course. Nothing at all to do with missing it while on my diet. I shall be interested though, because DBH has always strongly contested that conclusion, as a singer. He said he can't sing as well, if he has eaten cheese or had a milky drink.

People on some beta-blockers also tend to have coughs which are endless.

Inhalations with Olbas oil really help- but I would never put it on pillow, as Anno says it really does burn.

OH has had a bad cold for near on 4 weeks now- and am sending him to the doctor in handcuffs if I have to on Monday. I was so pleased I'd escaped- but I cam down with it 2 days ago, just in time for my BD yesterday- grrrr. More sinuses than cough though. I really do hate it.

PS I haven't put Olbas Oil on my pillow since it got rubbed into my eye which was not pleasant! Beware!

I had that cough following the dose of flu. It just went on and on and at times I couldn't catch my breath, which was alarming. Finally I gave up and reluctantly saw the GP who diagnosed a chest infection and provided a week's supply of antibiotics which worked. If it does go on too long, for goodness' sake see your doctor!

I've got it too and an everlasting sore throat - it will go in time- I think the best you can do is relieve the symptoms with whatever comforts you- I shall give it some wine this afternoon. I hope you all feel better son

You may have whooping cough. I had a virus then a respiratory problem with coughing that didn't respond to treatment and then turned extreme. I would have coughing fits that lasted minutes and left me dizzy and needing to sit down and recover.

I didn't whoop and I wasn't sick, although I came very close to both. GPs often do not think of whooping cough as a possible cause for a bad cough, especially in adults.

Olbas oil is brilliant, OH puts a couple of drops on his pillow most nights which seems to do the trick for a blocked nose. For a cough, for me, there is nothing better than a mixture of honey and lemon as prescribed by my long dead Grandma! Two teaspoonfuls as often as you feel is necessary. The honey is so soothing and the lemon full of (probably) much needed vitamin C.

If cough persists get it checked out, SIL had cough for a month or two and he has been diagnosed with Asthma. Once he got the right inhaler he felt better.

Manuka honey 12+ at least. Two teaspoons at bed time and a teaspoon as and when required during the day. Better than any medicine.

Same here!
The cough I mean
The dairy theory is rubbish not proven!

I could have sworn this was this year's thread, it's all still happening around here, but for even longer. the hundred day cough, as it's now known. I have had mine since 26th December. It's driving me mad. Night Nurse and Pirinase nasal spray and Boot's mucous cough relief are my current poisons of choice. I've tried all the non-medicinal cures and they don't work for long enough, they just give temporary relief. I would say to lay off dairy, which thickens mucous. One day last week I really fancied greek yoghourt and really suffered for it afterwards.

Try this if your cough just doesn't go away:

Pure (100%) French Lavender oil
Applied on your chest, or back, or on either side of the throat or the back of your neck.

Pure chamomile tea
Take two tea bags, cut through and empty the chamomile into a cup. Add boiling water and steep for 3 minutes. Strain through a fine strainer into another cup. Do this twice a day, or have one cup after the other.

Other things to do if possible:
Eat a mainly alkaline diet (please google)
No sugar, no honey, no grains, no wheat
Drink freshly squeezed lemon juice with warm water.
Have fresh wheatgrass shots if you can get them or use a powdered mix.

Other things which get rid of cough, sore throat and mucous
Fresh pineapple
Kelp (usually used in Japanese stocks for miso soup but you can add pieces into other soups and stews)

Hope this helps someone xx

Well, I'm now into my fifth week of coughing and spluttering!! Just when I think things are improving, it starts up again. I've tried every remedy going but nothing seems to work.
Help! I'm getting desperate for a good nights sleep. Any ideas? there might be something I haven't tried (short of TNT!).

I sympathise Helena. I have had these dreadful coughs - don't want to make you feel worse, but my record was nine weeks. I still get them, but not nearly as badly since I retired and don't have to use my voice all the time. I find using an extra pillow helps, a couple of pain killers at bedtime to soothe it (obviously you have to be careful with these), but that is about it. Mine give me catarrh for ages, night and day.
My doctor recently put me on an Ace Inhibitor for high blood pressure and sure enough I got the cough side effect, but that stopped as soon as he changed the medication.

You might find that iced water is more soothing than anything hot. Citrus drinks can be too acidic for an already inflamed throat.

Its so good to know that I'm not the only one suffering this ridiculous cough! I have had it for over a month now. Just when I think its settling it starts up again. I feel as if I've got cotton wool shoved down the back of my throat and it feels tender when swallowing. Nights are a nightmare! The tickle wakes me up and causes me to cough for ages before eventually abating. I've tried everything from Olbas and Vicks to hot toddy's and honey/lemon drinks. Nothing works
It looks as though us sufferers are just going to have to wait it out

I agree about Wrights coal tar vapourisers. They were so good at helping children with coughs and colds, especially during the night. I suppose it was elf'n'safety saying a flame was too dangerous, even though the nightlight was always in a saucer of water and covered by the container.

I wish they still did the Wrights coal tar vapouriser, my husband and son have had the wretched cough since Christmas, nothing has helped so far, apparently according to our Dr. it is viral bronchitis but can I trust a Dr. who says I have policemans heel when I have never been a policeman

Oh yes, I remember the good old Wrights Coal Tar Vapouriser. It was amazing. I too now use Olbas Oil with good effect. Also I make up a mixture of lemon and honey, and leave it by my bed at night, to sip occasionally when I wake. Manuka honey would be good. I also find just sucking on a boiled sweet in the day time helps too, but careful you don't choke when you cough with it in your mouth. They (who "they" are I'm not sure!!) also say that chocolate is good to prevent coughing. Honestly!!!

My younger son was croupy when he was little - big brother a bit chesty - and the Coal Tar Vaporiser was a godsend. Helped them - and us - to get a decent night's sleep.

My whole house has been smelling of Olbas oil for weeks - it reminds me of when the children were little and I used it on their sleeptime 'raggies'.
Anyone remember Wright's Coal Tar Vapourisers? They can't be bought now, but were wonderful for my eldest daughter when she had bronchitis.

Thanks GG I'll give it a whirl.

Chemist, it is lovely and soothing and unblocking.My daughter uses it for th DG.

I've never heard of Olbas oil. Does one get it at the chemist or health food shop? Sounds a useful thing to have in the cabinet.