Irritating Cough

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Ask your medical question here. : Two years ago I had a bad cold that turned into a chronic cough.  Eventually, I was diagnosed with asthma by an urgent care clinic doctor.  I took my meds faithfully, but they never really helped.  A year later, I got very sick with chest pain and breathing problems.  The same clinic diagnosed me with pneumonia; however, after their review of my x-rays, they said I did not have pneumonia.
Later, my GP said I did not have asthma, so I stopped taking my meds.

I now take Allegra only, and only occasionally (I forget to take them).  I have constant phlegm in my throat, but the cough only occurs after I eat or drink, even water.  It occurs every single time I swallow something, and lasts about an hour. I do not have (or don't notice) mucus in my sinuses.  I would like to know if it is possible to have tests show what is causing this symptom, and how it can be controlled.
Gender: Female
How tall are you (feet and inches)?: 5' 5"
What is your weight in pounds?: 128
How old are you?: 51
How long has this been going on?: More than a year
Check all symptoms you are currently experiencing: Ear/ Nose / Throat
What have you done so far to remedy this condition? Please include tests and relevant studies here.
: x-ray of lungs
Please list any chronic medical problems and also list any prior surgery (lacerations don't count!): whole body peripheral neuropathy - idopathic
Check all conditions present in your immediate family... :
Cancer
Hypertension
Stroke
Please list any medication allergies that you have : : penicillin, sulfonamide, tetracycline
Please list any medications you are currently taking (and dosage if known) :: Allegra - 4 or 5 a week
When was your last menstrual cycle?: I no longer have a menstrual cycle
Are you currently using or do you have a history of tobacco use?: No
Are you currently using or do you have a history of illegal drug use?: No
Please describe your alcohol consumption :: Weekly
I would like to know if this could be caused by a new allergy to food, and if I should get food allergy studies, or if it is possible that my neuropathy is causing my esophagus problems.
May we send you a satisfaction survey after your question is answered? It takes a minut to fill out.: Yes

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Sorry for your problem. It strikes me that you probably need to see an Ear Nose and Throat specialist. This problem could well be related to chronic sinus inflammation. Allergies are often associated with this. The sinuses drain to the back of the throat so this problem often causes a chronic cough which can be mistaken for asthma, though I must say that diagnosing you with Asthma without proper testing seems a bit off to me. Also consider the possiblity that you could have GERD (reflux) which can also cause a chronic cough and is also sometimes mistaken for asthma. My money would be on the first based on your symptoms.

I hope this helps. Please click on the links above for more information. Ask any follow up questions you may have in the comment section.

Be well.

Mononucleosis, Abdominal Pain, and Chocolate

I AGREE TO USE MD STAT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, THAT NO DOCTOR PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS FORMED BY MY PARTICIPATION IN THIS EXCHANGE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT MY QUESTION AND ANSWER(S) WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND WILL BE VIEWABLE BY VISITORS TO THE SITE.: Yes, I agree.

For the past 5 months or so ive hard sharp pains in the solar plexus area. Occassionally this pain has traveled to my lower back. This pain always shows up while im asleep keeping me awake from 30 mins to an hour or two which consists of me trying to find a comfortable podition to lie in. Ive recently just gone away to college a month and a half ago and the pains have gone from once a month to once a week or once every two weeks.

5 months agoi was very physically active and did have slight back ains only when doing pushups.

Around 4 years ago i was hospitalized and diagnosed with mono. There was inflammation around my liver, my gallbladder, spleen and kidneys. I couldnt eat and had to work my way up from an all liquid diet. After getting released i was forbidden from doing exercise for at least 3 months and did not fully heal til at least 3 months after that.

The doctors said it would take 1 to 2 years for my body to fully recuperate and that i would carry the virus.

As of now my appetite is fine, the only thing bothering me being an itchy throat ive had for the past 4 months or so.
Ive been monitoring my diet and have seen that sometimes i may have worked out or eaten chocolate before sleeping.
My stomach has not reacted well with me eating chocolate since the mono sometimes causing stomach aches after eating it in the day.

And if its not too much to ask what could be causing this constant itchy throat?

My throat feels dry or itchy and it gets hard to try to cough. I try to always keep water near me to stop it. I end up coughing a couple of times. Hard enough that i end up tearing every time.
Gender: Female
How tall are you (feet and inches)?: 5'4
What is your weight in pounds?: 130
How old are you?: 20
How long has this been going on?: More than a month
Check all symptoms you are currently experiencing: Abdominal PainAbdominal Pain
Describe associated symptoms not listed above: Lower back pain
What have you done so far to remedy this condition? Watched my diet
I had thought that it was only when i ate chocolate before going to bed last two or three times but thats not the case this time. Ive also seen it may occur after working out.These are just guesses on my part.
Check all conditions present in your immediate family... :
Asthma / Lung Problems
Please list any medication allergies that you have : : None
Please list any medications you are currently taking (and dosage if known) :: None
When was your last menstrual cycle?: 3 weeks ago
Are you currently using or do you have a history of tobacco use?: No
Are you currently using or do you have a history of illegal drug use?: No
Please describe your alcohol consumption :: Never
Causes for pain
Any suggestion for treatment?

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Wow, these questions are very hard to answer without testing. My first thoughts are that you need a good pelvic exam by a qualified physician and that the most likely cause of your abdominal pain is going to be Gynecological. My money would be on ovarian cysts. These occur and reoccur.

Here is a helpful link for you.

This has, almost certainly, nothing to do with your recent bout with mononucleosis.

Getting to the bottom of female abdominal and lower back pain is complicated. I am simply giving you my best guesses. You definitely need a pelvic exam, and, based on that and other data, you might need an ultrasound or even a CT scan. An ultrasound would be optimal for finding ovarian cysts, a CT for most other problems in the abdomen. This does NOT sound like something bad lurking... It just doesn't sound that way.

You can certainly take Ibuprofen for this as long as you are not allergic. Tylenol would be my second choice until you get this properly diagnosed.

You may need to lay off chocolate for a bit if that seems to be a trigger. I would also suggest to you that your itchy throat may be due to allergies. It is the right season for them. Taking Loratadine over the counter might be a reasonable thing for you to try, but again, no substitute for having a doctor take a peek.

I hope this helps.