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Tickle in throat makes me cough and choke
At least once or twice a week the smallest thing, like drinking water, or soda, or even taking in a breath, will trigger a tickle in my throat which sends me into a coughing fit until my eyes water and usually end with sneezing. It's very embarrasing at a restaurant and out in public. What's causing it?
I have had the same problem all my life. I was finally diagnosed with vocal cord dysfunction. Basically I have a "twitchy" larynx. Drinking, eating, and post nasal drainage are things that most commonly trigger my attacks. Often it starts as a tickle in the throat and progresses to the point where I can't breathe or speak at all. Very scary. Anything that causes irritation to the larynx (allergies, respiratory infections, GERD) can make the larynx even more twitchy and prone to attacks. Fortunately I have a relative who is a speech
pathologist. She taught me techniques to help me through these episodes. If I feel one of these episodes coming on, I try very hard not to cough at all or clear my throat because it just makes it worse. Steady slow breathing and concentrating on relaxing the throat can sometimes abort an episode. Also it helps to purse your lips and exhale like you are trying to blow out a candle. Of course this is of little use once you are in a full blown coughing fit! I can relate to the humiliating part - I had one of these episodes at dinner while meeting my future in-laws for the first time. I coughed, choked and was barely breathing after swallowing a bit of water the wrong way! Made quite an impression - they were ready to call 911 and do the Heimlich Maneuver on me!
pathologist. She taught me techniques to help me through these episodes. If I feel one of these episodes coming on, I try very hard not to cough at all or clear my throat because it just makes it worse. Steady slow breathing and concentrating on relaxing the throat can sometimes abort an episode. Also it helps to purse your lips and exhale like you are trying to blow out a candle. Of course this is of little use once you are in a full blown coughing fit! I can relate to the humiliating part - I had one of these episodes at dinner while meeting my future in-laws for the first time. I coughed, choked and was barely breathing after swallowing a bit of water the wrong way! Made quite an impression - they were ready to call 911 and do the Heimlich Maneuver on me!
A related discussion, Is everyone still having these sympthoms was started.
I went to the pulmonologists yesterday, she says that she noticed clear fluid in the back of my throat that was dripping. She showed me a chart of the mouth, larnyx and chest. She said that I have a sinus infection that does not present like other infections, meaning there's no fever or headachs. She says that there's a drip and it drips on my larnyx and causes a spasm which is the cough and then causes my larnyx to freeze up, which leads to the choking, crying and lost of voice. She says that there is an irritant in my throat that causes the spasm and coughing. She says that the irritant may be due to acid reflux also the vomitting doesn't help b/c the acid comes back up from my stomach. She's putting me on a nasal spray, chlotremetine and nexium. She still wants me to do a blood test to rule out Whooping cough. I have to get a CT scan to see the severity of the sinus infection. If it's severe she's going to put me on antibiotics for 6weeks. She said that I will not have total relief until a month from now. She wanted to warn me that this will not get better over night. She said that if I don't respond to this treatment, she's going to relook at asthma and refer me to a speech therapist to help me learn how to relax my vocal cords. The one thing that she adivse me to do is relax when I cough so that I do not tense up and my cords spasm and shut off my breathing.
It's amazing to hear that others have my symptoms. I have been suffering for 3 months. I was diagnosed with bronchitis and prescribed hydrocodone and levaquin. Then I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler and Tussinex. Finally, I had to go to urgent care after severe episodes of the tickle in the throat, followed by a hacking cough that left me gasping for air and choking, sometimes vomitting if had food on my stomach. After these episodes I have to belch several times to release the pressure from my chest. Believe me this is very embarrassing in public. First people think your dying and I can't respond because I lose my voice as I'm gasping for air. Then I belch uncontrollably. Anyhow, urgent care prescribed me another round of antibiotics, allegra, and prednisone. I followed up with my pcp who added singulair. I still have the tickle and hacking cough episode along with deprivation of oxygen. I'm scheduled to see a pulmonologist this Friday. The only diagnosis that relates to these symptoms is whooping cough. According to my research it's resurfacing. They say that the vaccination can wear off around age elven. It's possible b/c the mumps have made a comeback. It sure would be interesting to see if this is the problem that so many of us have since it's highly contagious and is beginning to spread. One more thing my chest X-ray was normal.
I have having the exact same issue. I have a tickle and some times like a dry patch in the back of my throat several times daily and at night. Nothing relieves it but a good cough. Most of the time the cough is dry, but then sometime I will cough up mucous. I cant stand it. When I cough my eye tears up, turns red and I look like im having some sort of bronchial attack. Last night I had several episodes I woke up repeatedly coughing My throat was dry then I took sips of water, which didnt seem to relieve it. The problem with this is that some time it makes my stomach hurt, I feel achy and nausea sometimes happens.
I believe it is allergy related because I talk daily to people on both coast of the US and they are relating that they or someone they know is having the same issue. I have a DRs appt and will keep you posted on what I am told.
I believe it is allergy related because I talk daily to people on both coast of the US and they are relating that they or someone they know is having the same issue. I have a DRs appt and will keep you posted on what I am told.
I have had similar experiences, excpet mine isn't a tickle. Mine just hits me when I don't expect it, all of a sudden its like something gets caught and I start to feel like i am choking on nothing. It scares me to death, and I wish i knew what it was. I am even afraid of a doctor not knowing. When I caugh it does go away, but it seems to get more intense each time it happens. It feels like it is way to the side of my throat, and caughing doesn't help much.
I've been dealing with this now for a couple of years and finally decided to look online for help. I haven't been able to find anything, and I'm surprised I haven't found a single mention of one technique that works well for me.
When I feel the tickle coming on, I quickly take a sip or two of salt water. I find that these choking episodes come up fast, though, so I make sure I always have salt nearby. (When I've not had water, I've just put a pinch of salt in my mouth and let my saliva carry it down the back of my throat.) If I go out, I make sure to have my small bottle of salt water with me. I don't drink a lot of it, thank God--because I know too much can't be good for the kidneys or blood pressure, but just a few sips seems to stop that tickle that brings on the choking. I hope this helps others. I still wish I knew exactly what this condition is and how to make it go away forever . . .
When I feel the tickle coming on, I quickly take a sip or two of salt water. I find that these choking episodes come up fast, though, so I make sure I always have salt nearby. (When I've not had water, I've just put a pinch of salt in my mouth and let my saliva carry it down the back of my throat.) If I go out, I make sure to have my small bottle of salt water with me. I don't drink a lot of it, thank God--because I know too much can't be good for the kidneys or blood pressure, but just a few sips seems to stop that tickle that brings on the choking. I hope this helps others. I still wish I knew exactly what this condition is and how to make it go away forever . . .
i just had to write when i read this post!!! i too have the same exact problem for years now and it comes and goes when it feels like! i have no idea what triggers it except that when i'm sick i notice it tends to happen a lot, sometimes even up to 5 times a day! i am so relieved to know i am not the only who suffers from this unusual "event". it is very embarassing b/c no one has any idea what you are going through! i will try the suggestions offered here: to breath slowly and purse your lips...hopefully it helps b/c nothing else seems to!
jodi
jodi
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is difficult to say what is causing this hypersensitivity in your throat. Since this is not present all of the time, making the diagnosis becomes even more difficult. It is possible that you have irritated the lining of the throat, but this does not usually come and go, as you have described. I would suggest speaking with an ENT specialist about this problem.
Every body tall about symtoms but. What is the solution
Every body tall about symtoms but. What is the solution
Every body tall about symtoms but. What is the solution
A related discussion, Tickle in my throat and a chronic cough was started.
Cough is a natural process of a normal person but i knw it is bad to cough all the time.If we analyze it logically it is not a severe problem but it is a natural process to through out phlegm from ur lungs, becuz it is a natural process u have to deal with natural medicines to recover urself 4rm this problem:
1- have a spoon of honey everyday.
2- take direct water steams from ur nose atleast 3 times in a day and remember always cover ur head with some cloth or towel to get full benefit.
3- make urself confident when u eat something to avoid choking, becuz without confidence u can't do anything in this world.
4-focus on food that u r having everyday to avoid coughing.
5- always make urself happy when u have some food to eat.
6- daily brush ur teeth and the center of ur tongue.
Inshallah u will feel a great cure and recovery in ur body...
AAQIB ARSHID
RESEARCHER.
1- have a spoon of honey everyday.
2- take direct water steams from ur nose atleast 3 times in a day and remember always cover ur head with some cloth or towel to get full benefit.
3- make urself confident when u eat something to avoid choking, becuz without confidence u can't do anything in this world.
4-focus on food that u r having everyday to avoid coughing.
5- always make urself happy when u have some food to eat.
6- daily brush ur teeth and the center of ur tongue.
Inshallah u will feel a great cure and recovery in ur body...
AAQIB ARSHID
RESEARCHER.
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Last night it haapened just after I ate my first beath assure white mint. Strange enough the last episode was when I ate wint o green mints which are white too. Maybe there is something in them.
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