What Causes Persistent Cough, Cold And Wheezing?

Question: Good morning,
I have had a cough since August. It came on after a slight cold and I though it would go away. I have been to see 3 Gps as I am aware, although not paranoid, that a persistant cough should be investigated by the doctor. we went through a scare with my husband 5 yrs when nodules were found in his lungs , however it turned out to be nothing. the cough is productive , not dry. It is not constant but I feel the need to clear my throat often and if I laugh a lot I will cough a lot and sometimes gag. I am healthy, I run 10 miles a week. I am not short of breath or wheezing. One of the doctors said it could be a virus and another said it could be post-nasal drip. I read that pain in the knee could also be an early sign of some lung cancers and I do have pain in my knee from time to time, but have thought it could be due to running. I do not have pain anywhere else but sometimes if I bed down , I feel like I am pulling a muscle in my chest or in my abdomen, as soon as I still up straight and breathe, it disappears. Should I go back to the GP and insist on a scan? I don't want to appear as a hypochondriac but due to all the warnings there are today and also the worry we went through with my husband , should I be concerned?

thank you, I gave up smoking in XXXXXXX but I was an occasional smoker, maybe 5 per week. I do nt have allergies but have suffered with hayfever in the past. I always have a runny nose in the morning and my nose is often red. I sneeze in the mornings but it settles by lunchtime

i had a chest xray years ago about 8 when I went to live in Dubai as part of the medical screening.

Had a PFT couple years ago when I first went to give up smoking and it was a very good reading ( I have always been a social smoker, never smoked during the day)

I am very fit, I run am very active, walk a lot and do yoga. I am within the weight for my height and have always ate a healthy diet.

I never get out of breath.

My nose runs every day, Don't know if that could be related, somebody suggested it could be rhinitis that makes me cough, it appeared quite suddenly.

Never undergone allergy testing.

I have not had nose related problem since child, but have had problem with runny nose and sneezing for about 6 years

I have tried antihistamine but not for this, maybe a good idea to try, have never tried nasal spray although Dr that suggested post nasal drip did say to try an over the counter spray.

Maybe I should try all this before worrying unnessecarily.

Thanks so much, I will see if I can get this and start. I will let you know if we can get over counter in UK
Many thanks for your expert advice