Question: July 16th 2018

For 3 months, I have had a choking cough that defies diagnosis, I wake up choking on my own saliva I spit out slimy loose wads of a phlegm that is "bubbly", clear and and stringy. I have seen my primary, a pulmonologist, and ENT specialist and ER and Urgent Care doctors. I have taken cough medicine with codeine and over the counter cold and cough preparations including guaiatussin AC 100-10. i have had throat cultures that came back negative, and Chest and sinus x-rays were also negative.

The cough is loose and rumbles in my upper chest but does not show color or blood. Very little of the sputum comes into my mouth, and if I clear my throat before I spit into a sink, I get a discharge that is salty and stringy – almost as if it wants to be cut with a knife to be ejected from my throat.

I am 79 year old female in general good health, but have lately been diagnosed with hydrocephalia and there is mri evidence of a stroke in my brain that first surfaced about 6 months ago. I fall often if I let my guard down. I have been battling balance issues and feel “pulls mw ro the right as I walk. I am on n blood pressure and cholesterol meds for many years, My primary recently changed my BP med from Losartin to Amlodopine with no improvement, I am active and my weight is average weight for my height.. I also take generic Zoloftt, and have taken it for the past 20 years for mild anxiety.


Do you have any idea of the source of these problems and what type of medical help I should be seeking.?