[Guest]

I am 66 years old. For about 12 years I have had a chronic cough. I was on Procardia for some time, but was changed to Norvasc, but that did not help my cough.

I have been quite thoroughly worked up:
i) Chest x-ray, negative
ii) Barium swallow showed some esophageal reflux, but no treatment was proscribed.
iii) ENT workup. Negative. I was given Prilosac (spelling?) but no help.
iv) Allergy workup. Tried inhaler; no help. Given allergy medications. These help only when cough is exacerbated by a cold. No help when cough is at chronic level.
v) Pulmonary function test. Negative.

I sometimes cough until I vomit a bit. Incontinence is becoming more and more of a problem. Sometimes the cough becomes completely out of control -- I just can't stop coughing. It often wakens me.

What can I do?

[Guest]

There are many causes of chronic cough and it appears that you have had a thorough evaluation. However, without seeing the test results myself I cannot comment on whether these are all normal. Sometimes patients require a ct scan or tests on the heart and heart function to help determine the cause. irritation of the diaphram or the nerve of the diaphragm can be a cause as well. Basically someone( your pulmonologist or internist) needs to sit down with you and all your tests and evaluate what else could be the cause and what else should be done to evaluate it.
[quote] I am 66 years old. For about 12 years I have had a chronic cough... [/quote]