Coughing Attack??

[Eden]

Could be a combination of many things. A decrease in performace along with the higher heart rate even sounds like possible over training. You may need a rest to let your body sort itself out and repair.

Trust me - allergies can cause violent coughing - I've been there, bent over double coughing until I think I'm going to puke or my eyeballs are going to fall out and I have absolutely no asthma - doc said I have the best lung function he's seen in a long time - the coughing was all from the post nasal drip.

[ChickWithBrains]

I meant to ask this in your earlier threads... have you been tested for TB?

[spokewench]

Don't know what it could be given your recent health problems, but what you describe can happen to me - I have exercise induced asthma. There can be several triggers: exercise, pollutants, allergies, nasal drip, cold symptoms, etc.

spoke

[NorCalGal]

Sounds like good advice from everyone and you have the ongoing medical tests and such, and I'm not sure if what I has to share will be helpful or not, but I had no idea I had allergies and asthma/EIA until I was tested earlier this year. I never had those things when I lived in Southern California, but after 14 years in NorCal, I guess I got 'em.

I'm allergic to just about everything in the air and home environment around me, and am on an allergy immunology program now. But the biggest difference in my life has been using an inhaler before I exercise. I used to get so out of breath and go into such coughing spasms that I would wet myself (sorry ...TMI...or is there such a thing as TMI on this site??? ) Four years ago when I was training for a marathon, I kept wondering when the breathing was going to get easier. It never did! Now I can ride and run without those sorts of breathing problems.

The other good thing for me was Allegra every morning, which has stopped the post nasal drip, and an asthma medication that helps the ongoing irritation in my lungs. I don't like the thought of having to take/use meds every day, but boy, what a wonderful difference it has made in my life!!

Good luck. I hope all turns out well for you.

[li10up]

About 4 weeks ago I had a cold. Three weeks ago I had a sinus infection and took antibiotics for it. It cleared up and for the last two weeks I've been clearer than I"ve been in a very long time. No stuffiness, no runny nose (except when exercising). But for the last two weeks I keep feeling like I have to clear my throat all the time and I've never had to do that before. It was kind of scary how "cut-off" my throat felt from the mucous build up. I hadn't really thought much about it until the coughing spell last night. Thanks for the input everyone. I'm starting to think that my allergies, the heartburn, exercise and the colder air all contributed to the "attack". Asthma or something else? That will be a question for my dr. too...but I don't get to see him for another month.

Edited to add: No, I've never been tested for TB.

And: Eden, I was off the bike for two weeks...wouldn't that be enough rest if I was overtraining?

[emily_in_nc]

About 4 weeks ago I had a cold. Three weeks ago I had a sinus infection and took antibiotics for it. It cleared up and for the last two weeks I've been clearer than I"ve been in a very long time. No stuffiness, no runny nose (except when exercising). But for the last two weeks I keep feeling like I have to clear my throat all the time and I've never had to do that before. It was kind of scary how "cut-off" my throat felt from the mucous build up. I hadn't really thought much about it until the coughing spell last night. Thanks for the input everyone. I'm starting to think that my allergies, the heartburn, exercise and the colder air all contributed to the "attack". Asthma or something else? That will be a question for my dr. too...but I don't get to see him for another month.

I wonder if you have bronchitis? That can cause coughing up mucus. Perhaps the antibiotics for the sinus infection didn't quite kill all the buggies, and they went into your lungs and multiplied into bronchitis.

Good luck getting to the bottom of it!

Emily

[kelownagirl]

EIA here too. I only have to use my puffer if the temps are below 10 celcius. If not, I hack up a lung... I am glad to hear you're seeing a doctor. They'll help you figure it out.

I also thought about "Pursuitor's (sp?) Cough" but it doesn't sound like you were working that hard. (I get the awful hacking cough if I ride very hard and it's cooler out whether I've used my ventolin or not.)

[onimity]

Wait...you don't get to see your Dr. for another month?!?

I haven't followed your whole story, but personally, I would insist on being seen sooner than that or find someone that can see you sooner. Yea, Doctors can be busy, but this sounds like it could be serious.

I've learned the hard way that letting things go at the schedule of the Dr. can result in a lot of unnecessary complications. You need to be your own advocate, and pushy sometimes, to get things taken care of.

I'm glad your most recent ride went better & hope things clear up quickly!

Anne