The Cough That Wouldn't Quit: Time to See the Doctor

For the last couple of months, an annoying little visitor has refused to leave.

No, it's not another Nextdoor controversy. It's a cough.

A dry cough.

The kind that shows up uninvited, hangs around for a while, disappears just long enough to make you think everything is fine, and then comes back as if it forgot something.

This has been going on for about two months, on and off. I actually had a doctor's appointment scheduled earlier, but I started feeling better, so I canceled it.

Because, naturally, when you start feeling better, you assume the problem has decided to move out.

Apparently, my cough didn't get the memo.

Enough Is Enough

Yesterday, I'd finally had enough. It was time to stop playing the waiting game and get this thing checked out.

Today, I went to my primary care doctor.

First up was the temperature check. My temperature was 99.7°F. That's not a particularly high fever, but it was enough to get my attention, especially considering everything else going on.

The doctor listened to my lungs, and I mentioned that my chest felt tight.

After the examination, I walked away with a prescription for antibiotics, a prescription for Flonase, and instructions to pick up Claritin.

Apparently, my nose and respiratory system have formed a committee, and now we're treating multiple potential troublemakers.

Claritin, but Not the D!

There's one important detail about the medication instructions.

I was told to get regular Claritin, not Claritin-D, and to avoid products containing pseudoephedrine because they can raise blood pressure.

With diabetes and kidney failure requiring dialysis already on my medical résumé, the last thing I need is to add an unnecessary blood pressure problem to the list.

My medication cabinet is complicated enough without introducing new characters.

I'll pick everything up tomorrow and follow the doctor's instructions.

But Wait, What About COVID and the Flu?

Here's the question that's been on my mind since the appointment.

Why wasn't I tested for COVID or the flu?

We've all heard about COVID continuing to circulate, and flu season is another consideration. With this cough hanging around for weeks, a temperature of 99.7°F, and chest tightness, I started wondering whether you considered either infection.

I realize a doctor can't test for every possible illness during every appointment. There may be reasons for the treatment plan, and I don't know what factors went into the decision.

Still, I would have liked to understand whether testing made sense.

Was the examination enough to suggest another cause? Were my symptoms inconsistent with flu or COVID? Would a test have changed the treatment plan?

Those are reasonable questions, and I intend to ask them.

After all, antibiotics treat certain bacterial infections, not viruses such as influenza or COVID-19. And while I'm hoping the prescribed treatment gets me feeling better, I'd rather understand what we're treating than simply wait and see.

Living With a Complicated Medical Résumé

When you're dealing with multiple health issues, you learn that symptoms you might once have brushed off deserve a little more attention.

Between diabetes, dialysis, and the other medical adventures I've experienced, I can't always assume that something will resolve itself just because it did last time.

I'm not trying to diagnose myself online, and I'm certainly not suggesting my doctor did anything wrong. I went to the appointment because I needed medical advice, and that's exactly where I should be.

But I also believe it's reasonable to ask questions and understand the plan.

Two months is a long time to have a cough that keeps coming back. I'm ready for this one to pack its bags and leave.

Preferably without leaving a forwarding address.

For now, I'll pick up my medications tomorrow, follow the treatment plan, and contact my doctor's office to ask whether COVID or flu testing—or any further evaluation—is appropriate.

Have you ever had a cough that lingered for weeks? Did you eventually find out what was causing it?

I'd love to hear about your experience.

If you're dealing with a persistent cough yourself, especially with fever, chest tightness, or underlying health conditions, don't assume it'll disappear. Get medical advice.

Because sometimes the best health decision isn't another internet search. It's making the appointment you canceled the first time.

Trust me. I learned that one the hard way.