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Hello, I Am At Work Where I Am At Rest.
Question: Hello, I am at work where I am at rest. I have been recovering from a bad cold I had about 3 weeks ago. The duration of the cold was about 3 days but I was not able to do much. I am in good shape, 51 years old, work out at least twice weekly including weights and cardio. I smoke cigarettes unfortunately and am trying to quit. I awoke this past Sunday at about 3am and needed to go to the bathroom #2. I suddenly began to sweat where my arms, legs and forehead became immediately wet. I knew I was going to pass out and did when I tried to get up and get to my bed. My head hit the wall in front of me and I awoke on the floor there what I think was shortly thereafter. I 'came to' and splashed water on my face and eventually went back to sleep. Monday I did not go to work and rested. Tuesday I went to work but needed to leave early due to fatigue. Wednesday I went to work same thing. I feel I still have this cold but is down in my chest at this point..coughing and expectorating mucus which is clear and not yellow or green. I am experiencing dizziness that I have felt when I may have a fever or flu. I usually drink an energy drink in the morning followed by probably 3 cups of coffee into the afternoon at work. I went to the hospital a few months back and they said I had an ocular migraine where I saw strange visions and went temporarily and partially blind in both eyes. I think it may have been the caffeine that triggered it. Also I remember reading that eating bananas also has a triggering effect. I had eaten a banana as well. If a drank too much caffeine and still have a sinus infection would I be experiencing this dizziness? I really don't want to go to the hospital because I have no insurance as I cannot afford it. I'm a bit stressed about this because it's not going away even after copious amounts of sleep and rest. Your thoughts and thanks?!
Brief Answer:
Dizziness is a potential side effect of antihistamines - detailed explanations on further steps
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service,
I read your query in details and understand your concern with symptoms after a bad cold.
Cough with a bad cold may last up to three weeks. In your case, the clear color of the sputum is quite reassuring. If you do not have fever/chills and no chest pain these are other reassuring factors.
On the other hand, I noticed in your medication list that you are using an antihistamine. It is not specified there when you started to use it but many of the symptoms you mention can be explained with possible side effects of antihistamines.
For instance, the falling episode you had when you got up at night could be due to orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure with a change of position) which is favored by some antihistamines. Also, tiredness and dizziness and even changes in vision are possible side effects of antihistamines.
Caffeine may also contribute especially if you group them together in a short interval so it is important not to exceed 1-2 coffees a day and also to spread them during the day (take one in the morning and if you feel the need for another one, take it before 3 pm). You will need to avoid energy drinks (some of them have caffeine or similar ingredients).
Smoking can make your symptoms worse as well. I would recommend you to consider gradually reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke daily or completely quit (this may be followed with some withdrawal symptoms).
Continue to drink plenty of water and eat well so you keep yourself well hydrated. Try to stand up or change positions very slowly. You may stand on stages, sit first and after a couple of minutes stand.
As for allergy, if it is allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, I would recommend you to use nasal lavage with normal saline solution (0.9%) daily to clear up the nasal passages and also you may use local nasal steroid spray to help with allergy. This is a local treatment that is very effective and does not expose you to many side effects as oral antihistamines do.
To conclude:
- cough after a respiratory infection may last for a few weeks, as long as you have no fever, chills, chest pain, no blood with the sputum and no other color changes this is reassuring
- antihistamines may cause almost all the symptoms you are explaining (even worsen the cough as it may thicken the lung secretions).
- consider other treatments for allergy, especially if you are treating nasal allergy (nasal saline lavage and steroid spray- fluticasone nasal spray).
- continue to keep yourself hydrated and eating well and resting
- be watchful with the amount of coffee you take and consider reducing smoking
- avoid fast position changes, to avoid trauma
- in some cases, when the cough is devastating and lasts more than three weeks, then a course of antibiotics can be taken and in this case, Azithromycin 250 mg, 2 tablets after lunch the first day and one tablet after lunch the next 5 following days is the preferred antibiotic (if you are not allergic to it).
- if you have or develop any of the following: fever/chills, chest pain, shortness of breath or you notice blood with secretions or they are not transparent or if you experience any worsening or you do not get better with the above measures in 3-4 days you will need to see your doctor.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Dizziness is a potential side effect of antihistamines - detailed explanations on further steps
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service,
I read your query in details and understand your concern with symptoms after a bad cold.
Cough with a bad cold may last up to three weeks. In your case, the clear color of the sputum is quite reassuring. If you do not have fever/chills and no chest pain these are other reassuring factors.
On the other hand, I noticed in your medication list that you are using an antihistamine. It is not specified there when you started to use it but many of the symptoms you mention can be explained with possible side effects of antihistamines.
For instance, the falling episode you had when you got up at night could be due to orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure with a change of position) which is favored by some antihistamines. Also, tiredness and dizziness and even changes in vision are possible side effects of antihistamines.
Caffeine may also contribute especially if you group them together in a short interval so it is important not to exceed 1-2 coffees a day and also to spread them during the day (take one in the morning and if you feel the need for another one, take it before 3 pm). You will need to avoid energy drinks (some of them have caffeine or similar ingredients).
Smoking can make your symptoms worse as well. I would recommend you to consider gradually reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke daily or completely quit (this may be followed with some withdrawal symptoms).
Continue to drink plenty of water and eat well so you keep yourself well hydrated. Try to stand up or change positions very slowly. You may stand on stages, sit first and after a couple of minutes stand.
As for allergy, if it is allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, I would recommend you to use nasal lavage with normal saline solution (0.9%) daily to clear up the nasal passages and also you may use local nasal steroid spray to help with allergy. This is a local treatment that is very effective and does not expose you to many side effects as oral antihistamines do.
To conclude:
- cough after a respiratory infection may last for a few weeks, as long as you have no fever, chills, chest pain, no blood with the sputum and no other color changes this is reassuring
- antihistamines may cause almost all the symptoms you are explaining (even worsen the cough as it may thicken the lung secretions).
- consider other treatments for allergy, especially if you are treating nasal allergy (nasal saline lavage and steroid spray- fluticasone nasal spray).
- continue to keep yourself hydrated and eating well and resting
- be watchful with the amount of coffee you take and consider reducing smoking
- avoid fast position changes, to avoid trauma
- in some cases, when the cough is devastating and lasts more than three weeks, then a course of antibiotics can be taken and in this case, Azithromycin 250 mg, 2 tablets after lunch the first day and one tablet after lunch the next 5 following days is the preferred antibiotic (if you are not allergic to it).
- if you have or develop any of the following: fever/chills, chest pain, shortness of breath or you notice blood with secretions or they are not transparent or if you experience any worsening or you do not get better with the above measures in 3-4 days you will need to see your doctor.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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