I've been there, too, Beekissed! I had whooping cough this past summer. The way to tell, according to my doctor, is that with bronchitis, etc. you feel cruddy and mucus-y, etc. With whooping cough, after the first few days, you feel totally fine, except that a spasm of coughing hits and you pull muscles, crack ribs, puke, and so on...and then you feel fine! Mine lasted for about 2 months, and even now my lungs feel week. Codeine was a great help, the only thing that did help.