What is wrong with me? I'm getting worried here because every time I get the slightest cold, it turns into weeks of coughing. What starts as a simple scratchy throat and congestion ends in multiple major coughing spells. Are they spasms? Last time I had this, I got checked for pertussis but the test was negative. I'm immunized any way but that is how bad the coughing spells get. Has any one had this before?

Here is how it happens. I'm going about my business when I feel a sudden catch in my throat- it's like a dry, tickley spot. If I try to supress the cough then I'm done for. It turns into 5 minutes of coughing, gasping, sweating, tears running out of my red eyes down my red face, ribs feel like they are cracking.

I hate it.

I missed two days of work last week because of the endless coughing.

Conversations trigger coughing.

Singing triggers coughing.

Sleeping triggers coughing.

Supressing a cough triggers coughing.

Doing nothing triggers coughing.

I need a diagnosis and a treatment!