Jennifer Mathews: Dana Nadison' s career in sales has taken her all over Asia, but a trip to Turkey planted a devastating souvenir.

Dana Nadison: I have lost my voice. I couldn't swallow. I couldn't keep down any food, and I had a hard time breathing and wheezing.

Jennifer Mathews: Dana developed diphtheria which severely affected her throat and her life.

Dana Nadison: I didn't work for two years. I was constantly going to several different doctors because nobody knew what was wrong with me.

Jennifer Mathews: Dr. Peak Woo found out, for some patients with chronic cough, the cause may be an injured nerve.

Peak Woo: We believe cough in the throat is much like pain because when the nerve is irritated, the symptom that it gives you is a sensation like you are irritated.

Jennifer Mathews: In a new study, doctors tested for the condition called Laryngeal Sensory Neuropathy. Then they gave patients the anti-seizure drug gabapentin. 68% of them improved.

Peak Woo: So it made sense to us that if you are having a throat that's irritated or firing uncontrollably, that's triggering cough, use a seizure medication to suppress the firing of this nerve."

Jennifer Mathews: Dana improved too, and she finally has relief.

Dana Nadison: It was extremely frustrating and annoying and debilitating and tiring. I feel much better. My voice definitely can't go into a high pitch. It's damaged for life but I'll talk like Kermit the Frog, but otherwise, I'm fine.

Jennifer Mathews: And now she can enjoy quiet time, cough-free. This is Jennifer Mathews reporting.