Bizarre Gagging Behavior

[Planets99]

Hi, I have a question about some strange behavior that my boyfriend does. When he is sitting in the shower in the morning (he sits in the shower) he coughs until he makes himself gag. He has to cough maybe 3 times until he gags, and he gags probably 3 or 4 times per morning. He started doing this about a year ago, and had no similar behavior previously (we've lived together for four years).

At first I was concerned that it was something physically wrong, but he has absolutely not other health problems, and no problems with his digestive track in particular. He says he brings up clear liquid--mucous? Saliva? that is not acidic. He does not do it because his stomach is upset. He is definitely not bulemic.

I have tried everything to get him to stop--sympathetically trying to figure out why he does it, angrily telling him to knock it of (and it IS annoying having to listen to it every morning), I've tried scaring him that any acid coming up could damage his esophogous and teeth--the only thing that works is actually walking into the bathroom while he's doing it, in which case he stops until I leave again. He says to leave him alone about it when I nag him. He says he doesn't know why he does it, he just wants to. He is embarassed about it.

He naturally has a bit of a gloomy and pessimistic outlook, but not excessively so, and he's definitely not depressed. He is otherwise very loving. We have a happy, normal life with 'average' day-to-day stress. He likes his job, his family, his friends, etc.

However he does absolutely hate getting up early. Personally I think this is a melodramatic reaction to having to get up in the mornings, but would be interested in your professional opinion, and also would be grateful for any advice on how to get him to stop!!!

[kloedanser]

Hi, I am an RN.  Ask your boyfriend if he coughs up "cauliflower" looking bits (no its not his brain) or if he has a very sensitive gag reflex.  This could be a sign of Tonsoliths, which can be treated with six or more months worth of doxycycline safely.

[silvercomet]

Does your boyfriend smoke? When I smoked many years ago I used to always cough in the shower ... my inefficient lungs couldn't handle breathing in the steam ... and the hacking would begin. Now that I don't .. it has gone away.

[Planets99]

Hmm, an interesting thought, but I don't think that's it. He doesn't smoke--only every now and then--but the coughing is very deliberate. As I said, he'll stop if he knows I'm listening... But it's worth asking him anyway. Thanks!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

This is a tough one, but what you describe could be a somatic compulsion, which is a way of binding and dealing with anxiety. I would suspect there is something about his work that he needs to address, and that would be a stronger guess if this happens primarily on work days.  Otherwise, the best thing for you to do is to be a friend who helps him discover a hidden anxiety.