[lizardlady]

I have a chronic cough. Depending on which doctor you listen to it's either due to my asthma or my allergies. It's a deep chesty cough. There are times I think I might cough up a lung. At the same time there are times I don't even realize I'm coughing until someone says something to me.

Last week a co-worker told another co-worker - IN FRONT OF ME! "Yeah, there are times I don't think she's ever going to stop" The words themselves are not so bad. It was the annoyed, cranky tone of voice she used. It's not like I'm coughing in her face. I'm down the hall in my office. It's not like I do it just to annoy her. And it's sure not like I enjoy the coughing.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Well now you know I suppose - not very nice to hear what people think of you at the best of times I find.

You cannot help coughing, and they probably cannot help getting irritated. Impasse. Hard to know what to do.

The only time I can imagine a cough being annoying is in a theater. Maybe she's watching a movie in there

[UnderRugSwept]

Lizardlady,

I know exactly the cough you mean (well, I think I do)...my best friend has the same thing due to his allergies. People can be so totally rude, especially in the workplace. I think if she has time to complain about you coughing down the hall in your office then clearly she doesn't have enough work to do!!

[-jimi-]

I don't have much of cilia left, they were killed off by my autoimmune illness. Cilia bring up phlegm from your airways and in a nice way so you don't even notice. Not having this means I have to mostly actively cough up phlegm. I usually step aside to do it. But sometimes I just have to cough or the phlegm will go further down causing a sense of choking.

Sometimes people comment that I should stay home if I have a cold. I say it's not infectious but no one believes me. Also some got annoyed and demanded I be on cough suppressants so I'd kill my cough reflex and let mucus go straight into my lungs to cause pneumonia.

People are nice like that.

[Fresia]

I don't know why people have to be this way. (?) I am sorry to hear this LL.

A coworker told me yesterday that I needed to stop breathing strange, so heavy, irregular and wheezing; just stop it! And did I know I was still coughing?!

Really? As if I am doing it on purpose?! What am I supposed to say to this? I am really struggling to breath right now. I have asthma anyway, and still trying to get over pneumonia that there is some fluid left in my lungs. The antibiotics and steroids are doing/have done their thing that am getting better (definitely feel a bit better and chest xray shows it is much better that he let me come back to work) but the doc said it is going to take much more time to get rid of all the fluid for as bad as it was. I am SO very aware. I did not realize though I was being so offensive but cannot just "stop it" as she suggests; I so really wish I could and be done with this and back to normal, whatever that is at this point.

[-jimi-]

Sometimes I really wonder about people. I sat on the train listening to two friends talking to each other. One talked about her last train ride. She said another train had derailed and there was a lot of damage and some people got hurt and all trains including hers had to halt for like an hour. So I sort of expected her next sentence would be something about how scary that was or something. But instead she said how ANNOYING it was that they HAD to derail (like it was on purpose) because got train was delayed.

[ECHOES]

Have you been checked for Reflux? Chronic cough is a classic symptom.

I have a co-worker who recently had the misfortune of catching the upper respiratory bug or flu that was going around. She's had the worse cough of all of us who were sick. She's coughed a lot and sure it can annoy me, but when I begin to feel annoyed, I just remind myself that it's far more annoying for her!

I'm sorry your co-worker said something so thoughtless.

[lizardlady]

I have reflux. I have a lengthy laundry list of health problems. My doctor told me the cough is in part due to allergies and part due to my asthma. I take allergy medication. I use a decongestant. I take so many meds I rattle when I walk.

I understand my coughing can be annoying to other folks. Trust me it's annoying to me!

[-jimi-]

Any history of dry eyes? Just curious because this is closely tied to my type of cough.

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

Any history of dry eyes? Just curious because this is closely tied to my type of cough.

Nope, no dry eyes.

[~Christina]

Liz, I'm just sorry that people are just so ignorant.

[growlycat]

I have asthma and can get into a coughing fit too.

I am tired of coworker comments like "don't die"

it just isn't funny the 60th time around

[jasmine30]

Just ignore it, things like this happened all the times.
Life is not fair, not everything is fair in this world. Even at the job force, they try to be fair as much as they can, but I can tell you it will NEVER be 100% FAIR.

If it simple as say rude commments, just ignore it. Unless co-worker start to harrass you or threatening you, then bring it to the attention of Human Resource.

[likewater]

Originally Posted by George H.

The only time I can imagine a cough being annoying is in a theater. Maybe she's watching a movie in there

hahaha. I like the way you think.