Undiagnosed cough

Cough has now lasted about 14 months. My throat hurts from the strain, I can’t keep food down as when I cough I throw up.

When a coughing fit starts I struggle to breath in between and my bladder open every cough. It doesn’t leak a little with every cough even though I just been for a wee bladder opens and it’s like I wee myself every cough. I got no clean clothes and running out of pads, not that they catch all of it anyway.

I don’t have a stuffy nose but when I cough stuff that I think might be from stomach as it smells acidy but still quite mucusy fills my nostrils so have to blow my nose after every cough. After some coughs liquids like shot out of my mouth like a baby’s spit up or reflux, not a full on vomit just acidy liquid usually end up in front of me or on me.

ive slept on the sofa for last 4 weeks. I’m propped up to almost sitting position. It got better for about 5-6 days I almost didn’t cough at all in day and a few times during night. I didn’t really change anything but it got worse again and after a few days it was as bad as ever. I always sleep badly during night and on a good night I was up around 2 to 3 times a night. Now I snooze about 10-30 min at a time before having to get up again.

I’m exhausted agitated and just sick of the whole thing. I just want to not have damp or wet clothes being able to sleep in the night and function during the day. I can’t even finish an episode or film on TV or play any of my favourite games as I fall asleep mid through anything.

My anxiety about leaving the house has worsened even more as a 5-10 min walk can end up with me throwing up on the street and/or ending up with urine soaked clothes in public. My tummy hurts from bringing stuff up. There is a wheezy sound in my throat when I breath and I have coughed up blood without anything else a few times as well. I think the blood is due to strain but worried I might be causing long term damage.

Hot drinks does not help, food makes it worse and makes me vomit. Very fizzy drinks helps ease the cough for a short time but ran out of money for those as well. Water doesn’t particularly help but soothe a tiny bit in very large amounts, but it does also make the bladder leakage worse.

Had a chest X ray in April or may last year. It was clear and not been taken seriously since then. Was referred for another one in end of November. Waited two weeks for appointment call or letter then found out I was a walk in but not been notified. In December work was so busy and had no funds to get to hospital for X ray. I’m at my Witt’s end and starting to really feel I can’t take it anymore. 

I work full time from home and luckily have managed to keep performance acceptable. However I do have episodes over the day where I fall asleep mid tasks sitting by my desk, I’m usually stuck like that for 20-40 minutes drifting in and out of sleep. As my performance is acceptable and appreciated I have not told my employer about actually falling asleep during work as I think that would have negative impact. They do know about my cough minus the bladder issues as it’s quite personal. Recently got promoted which means I don’t need to take customer phone calls anymore which helps massively as it was quite straining holding cough back during a call and getting it worse after hanging up.

I apologise for the long rant, I'm just fed up and got no one for support. I live alone in a different country to where I grew up. I have young children but they live with their dad and they come visit when I'm not working, but no adult support or friend network.

I realise you are not doctors but any suggestions on self help things or tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.