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Persistent cough from Gardening, is it possible?

LearningslowlyLearningslowly Posts: 51
in The potting shed
Just wondering whether anyone else finds that they develop a cough after spending a day in the garden.
For some time I have had a cough that just won't go away: and it's not the Chinese Curse, I had a test for that! I seem to spend all my waking hours clearing my throat and wake up most mornings with a bunged up conk.  The Quacks have tested me to within an inch etc, to no avail.
Yesterday, whilst in close proximity to the (lidded) compost dalek, I started coughing more than usual and have read today on the RHS website about a version of Legionaires disease (Legionella longbeachae) which can occur in soil and compost.

Anyone else have this problem and how do you deal with it?
Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think...
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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I have!  I can’t get near the compost bin, I never used to have any effects from anything in the garden. One of the worst is cutting down the buddlias. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    My first thought is that it might be something to do with acid reflux.  Do you start coughing when you lie in bed at night as well ?
    It may just be a coincidence that it was worse yesterday,  if the composter lid was tightly closed. Do you find it occurs if you start digging and disturbing the soil, or does it only start when you come indoors? 
  • LearningslowlyLearningslowly Posts: 51
    AnniD said:
    My first thought is that it might be something to do with acid reflux.  Do you start coughing when you lie in bed at night as well ?
    It may just be a coincidence that it was worse yesterday,  if the composter lid was tightly closed. Do you find it occurs if you start digging and disturbing the soil, or does it only start when you come indoors? 
    I have had reflux in the past but not recently.  Funnily enough it seems to lessen in bed, and when I'm away from home.
    Like most of us, I have spent a lot of time in the garden this year and some days it has been worse than others.  It is probably some kind of allergy, just can't figure out what!

    And Lyn, my Buddleia died but trimming the Pyracantha certainly brings it on.
    Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Same here,  nothing in particular sets it off,  shrubs mostly but just general cutting back, I wouldn’t go googling if it were me, you’ll and up suffering from everything nobody dies of. 😉
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LearningslowlyLearningslowly Posts: 51
    Lyn said:
    Same here,  nothing in particular sets it off,  shrubs mostly but just general cutting back, I wouldn’t go googling if it were me, you’ll and up suffering from everything nobody dies of. 😉
    Good point, well made!
    Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @Lyn I'm beginning to find that buddleja affects me like that too ... after having had no reaction at all for the whole of my life.  We have a buddleja near our sitting room window and I've noticed that on warm evenings when I'm sitting in here with that window open I start to cough ...  :/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    There is a risk of aspergillus mould/fungus and compost heaps, especially if dry when you turn them.    This is normally present , but there are drug resistant strains in gardens, and if you are turning a dry compost heap and there is a lot of dust, it is good to wear a mask.
     Look up farmers lung and pigeon fanciers lung.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    I've been cutting back overgrown shrubs and trees.  Even after the amount of rain we've had there is a lot of dust disturbed by that work.  I end up coughing for a while when I finish.
  • LearningslowlyLearningslowly Posts: 51
    Thanks All, it was a snippet in the latest GW mag that set me off thinking about the link with gardening and compost and thinking about it, the cough I have had on and off for a few years has got worse since I retired and spend more time rootling around outside.
    Probably doesn't help either living close to the M4 and Heathrow!
    Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think...
  • SydRoySydRoy Posts: 167
    Possibly non allergic rhinitis. But I'm no doctor! 
    I get the same symptoms. The cough could be post nasal drip. Try Beconase. I use it for allergic rhinitis (as opposed to non allergic) 
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