Coughs/Colds

[gizmo]

How long would you let a productive cough (no fever, mild shortness of breath, no other symptoms really) go on before seeing a physician?

[bonquiqui]

I went a month...don't do that lol

[gizmo]

It's been close to two weeks and I am just tired of coughing, but I also don't want to go waste a doctor's time with a virus.

[megstoo]

I tend to wait if it's a cough/cold. With the changes in weather and this time of year I feel like it's only normal that they tend to last a little longer. Have you taken anything over the counter like airborne and vit c?

[gizmo]

Jan 24, 2017 14:24:48 GMT -5 megstoo said:

I tend to wait if it's a cough/cold. With the changes in weather and this time of year I feel like it's only normal that they tend to last a little longer. Have you taken anything over the counter like airborne and vit c?

I'm doing the Halls Defense daily.

[revolution]

10 days-ish. I've waited longer and been told not to do that.

[FastHands]

2 weeks is my usual, but I go in knowing full-well that it's likely viral and they can't do anything.
Are you using Delsym or Robotussin *DM*. Those are the good stuff.

[kath16]

uhhh following... I'm going on day 6 and still sound horrific, though I am feeling better than I did last week. I'm still stuffier than I should be and my cough is awful sounding. I assumed it was just a cold and not to bother, but I'm also knocked up and don't want to have something more serious and not bother.

sooo thanks for asking

[mel]

I waited just over 2 weeks and it turned out I had bronchitis. Doctors see patients for a myriad of reasons, I would just go if it's affecting your daily life (the tip of the iceburg for me was losing sleep).

[thebreakfastclub]

I waited 3 weeks and went to urgent care. The steroid really helped.

I don't have a pcp so I put it off. I should have gone sooner.

[gizmo]

Jan 24, 2017 14:46:10 GMT -5 FastHands said:

2 weeks is my usual, but I go in knowing full-well that it's likely viral and they can't do anything.
Are you using Delsym or Robotussin *DM*. Those are the good stuff.

I haven't really taken anything OTC because I am nursing and my kiddo doesn't sleep more than 3 hours at a time so being knocked out isn't an option. I feel like part of this is sleep deprivation so my body can't shake it.

[megstoo]

Jan 24, 2017 14:30:57 GMT -5 gizmo said:

Jan 24, 2017 14:24:48 GMT -5 megstoo said:

I tend to wait if it's a cough/cold. With the changes in weather and this time of year I feel like it's only normal that they tend to last a little longer. Have you taken anything over the counter like airborne and vit c?

I'm doing the Halls Defense daily.

I'd at least up your vit c.  When I start getting sick and well into a cold I usually will take a vit c chewable along with drinking more fluids.  And as dumb as this sounds wearing a knit hat to bed each night.  That was something my parents and grandparents did and I do that now and it helps since you lost most of the head through your head.  

[rooster222]

Jan 24, 2017 14:19:29 GMT -5 bonquiqui said:

I went a month...don't do that lol

Me too. Now I have a sinus infection and am on an antibiotic.

[caddywompus]

I've had coughs that last for a month before. I was told as long as it's non-productive (no green phlegm) and not interfering with other aspects of your life (ie: shortnesss of breath, pounding headache, etc) then just let it run it's course. I used cough syrup and drank lots of hot tea with honey.

[southernbelle]

Typically a cold will last 14 days.

[sonrisa]

The average cough lasts 18 days.

www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/when-should-you-start-worrying-about-that-lingering-cough-give-it-time/2013/12/20/1e615e9c-665d-11e3-ae56-22de072140a2_story.html?utm_term=.64bfb3d6b598

This year's cold lingers extra long. I'm currently almost six weeks into a never ending cough. (it's been two viruses stacked up: first one the cough lasted almost four weeks before it ramped up again into the second illness.)