[50F] Experiencing cough, nausea, and upper respiratory symptoms

Patient Description

A 50-year-old female presents with a moderate cough that has progressed into her chest with an accompanying tickle in her throat over the past two days. She also reports nausea that is persistent throughout the day, rating it as moderate in severity, with vomiting occurring mostly in the morning and consisting mainly of bile. The patient is unable to tolerate much solid food. Additionally, she experiences nasal congestion, sneezing, and chills but no fever. The patient has been taking Wellbutrin 300 mg daily and Lisinopril 20 mg daily, with occasional use of Ibuprofen at 600 mg twice a week. She denies any history of smoking, atopy, or known drug allergies. No recent changes in medications or new prescriptions were reported.

Arora's Assessment

What might be happening

Based on the information you've provided, here are a few possibilities:

Common Cold: This is a viral infection that primarily affects your nose and throat. It's usually harmless and symptoms improve within a week or two. The symptoms you've described, such as a stuffy nose, post-nasal drip, sneezing, and cough, are common with a cold. Nausea and vomiting are less common symptoms but can occur, especially if post-nasal drip is severe.
- Treatment usually involves rest, hydration, and over-the-counter remedies to manage symptoms.
Gastroenteritis: Also known as the stomach flu, this condition can cause nausea, vomiting, and sometimes diarrhea. It's possible that you have a mild form of gastroenteritis in addition to a cold, or that post-nasal drip from a cold is contributing to your nausea.
- Treatment usually involves rest, hydration, and eating bland foods as tolerated.
Acid Reflux: This condition occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). This backwash (acid reflux) can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause symptoms like nausea and a cough. Your symptoms of nausea in the morning and a cough could be related to acid reflux.
- Treatment usually involves lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications.

Please note that these are only possibilities based on the symptoms you've described. You should consult with a healthcare provider for a formal diagnosis.

What you can do

Here are some things you can do to manage your symptoms:

Rest and hydrate: These are important for recovery from any illness. Try to get plenty of sleep and drink lots of fluids.
Over-the-counter remedies: Over-the-counter cold remedies can help manage your symptoms. For your nausea, you can try an over-the-counter medication like bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) or an antihistamine that's also used for motion sickness, like meclizine (Bonine, Antivert) or dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).
Eat bland foods: If you're able to tolerate food, try eating bland foods like rice, bananas, or toast.
Elevate your head while sleeping: If your symptoms are due to acid reflux, elevating your head while sleeping can help.

What you should look out for

Please seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

Severe or worsening nausea and vomiting
Blood in your vomit
Severe or worsening abdominal pain
Shortness of breath or chest pain
High fever or severe chills
Symptoms that last longer than a week or get worse instead of better

Remember, I'm an AI and this advice is based on the information you've provided. It's always best to consult with a healthcare provider for a formal diagnosis and treatment.

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10 mo ago

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