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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?
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.
I wish I knew. The same thing happens to me. Spicy food, and some kinds of candy bars are the worst. And things that are really dry like crackers set it off too. It scares everyone around me. Sometimes it scares me too when I can't stop. Most of all it's humiliating. Water doesn't help. It's like I just have to keep coughing till I'm all coughed out. I get very hot from the intense coughing, and I get so exhaused from it that I feel like I'm might pass out by the time it slows down. If you figure it out please post.
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!
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
I too have the tickle in the throat. I am on the phone a lot with my job and the coughing will start when I have been talking a lot. Thank goodness for my mute button. It is driving me nuts. For a while I thought it was my vitamins, then maybe the advair inhaler. It does happen a lot when I eat something too. I do have asthma and just had sinus surgery for pansinusitis. I was hoping the surgery would stop the cough, but it didn't. If anyone knows more about what the cause might be, I sure would like to hear it.
Do you make sure to rinse your mouth after you use Advair? It can really dry you out, especially if you don't rinse your mouth and have a drink afterward.
I'm just at the tail end of acute bronchitis. I'm still coughing and still have the tickle in my throat, but everything is running much clearer now and I feel much better (after 3 weeks!) However, for the past 3 days, sometimes when I cough, I end up choking and gasping for air. It feels like the violence of all the coughing I've done has somehow damaged or inflamed my trachea and when I cough up anything thick, it tends to completely block my windpipe. This happened in the middle of the night 2 nights ago and seemed to go on for about 20 seconds. Very frightening! I can't find a doctor who will see my right away, so I'm really frustrated too. I will try to supress the cough and relax as was suggested. Anything else?
Breathing slowly and pursing my lips did not help at all. When this 'tickle' hits my throat nothing helps but coughing until some phlegm comes up. Sometimes it takes up to a minute. It can hit any time. It gets quite embarrassing in a restaurant.
This is exactly what I am experiencing right now. I have a deep tickle in my throat as a result of a sinus infection. It has been with me for three days. My eyes are bloodshot....I have not slept at all. It is 3:19 am now and I am up because of my coughing. I am "sleeping' on the couch because my coughing prevents my wife from sleeping.
I have tried everything....tea with honey/lemon, cough drops, cough syrup, gargling with salt water...nothing helps. The coughing becomes so violent that I see stars and come close to passing out. My hope is that the symptoms will end once the post nasal drip (from the sinus infection) stops.
I have tried everything....tea with honey/lemon, cough drops, cough syrup, gargling with salt water...nothing helps. The coughing becomes so violent that I see stars and come close to passing out. My hope is that the symptoms will end once the post nasal drip (from the sinus infection) stops.
I've had laryngitis since Monday. Early this a.m.,I awakened to a closed throat & inability to take in sufficient air. Usually when this happens a drink will relieve it, but not this time. With a loud groaning/wheezing sound, which wakened my husband, I ran outside, trying to get air. It took so long to open my airway this time that I am frightened and wanting/needing help/advice re:what to do in these cases. This type of thing has happened previously when I've had a bad cold or when eating and talking, but this was the worst episode & seemed life threatening. (Thanks for anyone's help.)
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 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.
This happens to me every now and then, when I'm sick or my allergies are bothering me. I ended up buying an over-the-counter Primatene Mist inhaler (you can buy them at CVS or Walgreen's) and that's the only thing that helps these attacks for me. If there are any docs or nurses reading this, what's your advice?
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.
Hi guys,
So I was diagnosed with Bronchitis about a month back. The antibiotics got rid of most of the ****, except for...surprise, surprise, this crazy coughing spell. Completely fine in between the coughs, but when they hit (maybe 5-10 times a day) we're talking choking, slight vomitting, not being able to breathe and A LOT of phlegm. I've been to the doctor's about 5 times regarding the whole thing and I'm going to be seeing a Ear Nose and Throat specialist in the next few weeks.
Nothing works very well. We all seem to know that. But has anyone considered Whooping Cough? It's identical to what I have. There isn't a cure, but antibiotics definitely quicken the recovery. If you're experiencing the same symptoms as me, I'd really consider getting swabbed/blood test for it. I'm hoping to do that this Saurday. It can result in quarentine which I'm sure isn't very appealing, but given the amount of people online who have the same symptoms, it looks like it's a growing thing. Here's a link with info from Whooping Cough.
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00445.html
In terms of what's helped me deal with all of this, I was prescribed a night time cough syrup. It's considered a narcotic and is incredibly potent. I don't have the name right now, but it was off while in color and about $40 canadian for a tiny bottle. Regardless of the price is knocked me right out and better still, dried the phlegm that caused me to choke. I also used a mist humidifier that allowed me some moisture for my lungs every night.
The beauty of free health care in canada is that I can see as many doctor's as needed, so I'll definitely keep updating to see if I've found more information.
Matt
So I was diagnosed with Bronchitis about a month back. The antibiotics got rid of most of the ****, except for...surprise, surprise, this crazy coughing spell. Completely fine in between the coughs, but when they hit (maybe 5-10 times a day) we're talking choking, slight vomitting, not being able to breathe and A LOT of phlegm. I've been to the doctor's about 5 times regarding the whole thing and I'm going to be seeing a Ear Nose and Throat specialist in the next few weeks.
Nothing works very well. We all seem to know that. But has anyone considered Whooping Cough? It's identical to what I have. There isn't a cure, but antibiotics definitely quicken the recovery. If you're experiencing the same symptoms as me, I'd really consider getting swabbed/blood test for it. I'm hoping to do that this Saurday. It can result in quarentine which I'm sure isn't very appealing, but given the amount of people online who have the same symptoms, it looks like it's a growing thing. Here's a link with info from Whooping Cough.
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00445.html
In terms of what's helped me deal with all of this, I was prescribed a night time cough syrup. It's considered a narcotic and is incredibly potent. I don't have the name right now, but it was off while in color and about $40 canadian for a tiny bottle. Regardless of the price is knocked me right out and better still, dried the phlegm that caused me to choke. I also used a mist humidifier that allowed me some moisture for my lungs every night.
The beauty of free health care in canada is that I can see as many doctor's as needed, so I'll definitely keep updating to see if I've found more information.
Matt
Hi, I saw this while researching my problem, and I registered because I just HAD to post!
I'll say to everyone, I feel your pain, and how! About two weeks ago, I got sick, and it's the first time I had these coughing fits. It feels like you are choking, and sometimes even coughing violently doesn't help. It happens maybe 4-5 times a day, and when I saw some of the other posts people post here, I knew I wasn't alone with this problem.
My doctor gave me this nasal spray, and you can get it by prescription only. Its is called "Nasonex" and the ingredients on the spray are "Mometasone Furoate Monohydrate" with something that says "Corticosteroid" at the bottom. This spray helped a bit, but it affected my sinuses in really wierd ways so I stopped taking it. From what I understand, my sinuses are swollen and drip water and/or mucus into my throat. This collects over time until I have one of these attacks. The nasal spray from what I feel, works as a congestant, and delays this dripping. Unfortunately, it also made me nausious, to the point I felt like vomiting.
However, here is the good part so listen up!!! Because I think I have found a solution for this problem!
Firstly, because the nasal cavity is dripping moisture into your throat, I prevent this by lying down, upside down. What I do is take some pillows and stack maybe two of them and then lie down on them with my chest on them and my head hanging down the front. As long as the part of the chest is higher than where the sinuses are. I find this drains the fluid out of the chest area, and I can feel warm fluid go back into my mouth. Ideally I would like to find a way to make a bed that slants downward, then I would just lie in it with the head at the bottom, but if not, the two pillow solution is a good fix too. Lately, I've been using a phone book. When I feel an attack coming on, I just quickly lie down like that, and after coughing a little and beating on the chest, the problem goes away.
Anyways, hope this helps someone, because it has helped me a lot. The only problem is you can't always do this in public or at work,so I'm still trying to find a solution for that, but at least it is helping me sleep a lot better nowadays.
I'll say to everyone, I feel your pain, and how! About two weeks ago, I got sick, and it's the first time I had these coughing fits. It feels like you are choking, and sometimes even coughing violently doesn't help. It happens maybe 4-5 times a day, and when I saw some of the other posts people post here, I knew I wasn't alone with this problem.
My doctor gave me this nasal spray, and you can get it by prescription only. Its is called "Nasonex" and the ingredients on the spray are "Mometasone Furoate Monohydrate" with something that says "Corticosteroid" at the bottom. This spray helped a bit, but it affected my sinuses in really wierd ways so I stopped taking it. From what I understand, my sinuses are swollen and drip water and/or mucus into my throat. This collects over time until I have one of these attacks. The nasal spray from what I feel, works as a congestant, and delays this dripping. Unfortunately, it also made me nausious, to the point I felt like vomiting.
However, here is the good part so listen up!!! Because I think I have found a solution for this problem!
Firstly, because the nasal cavity is dripping moisture into your throat, I prevent this by lying down, upside down. What I do is take some pillows and stack maybe two of them and then lie down on them with my chest on them and my head hanging down the front. As long as the part of the chest is higher than where the sinuses are. I find this drains the fluid out of the chest area, and I can feel warm fluid go back into my mouth. Ideally I would like to find a way to make a bed that slants downward, then I would just lie in it with the head at the bottom, but if not, the two pillow solution is a good fix too. Lately, I've been using a phone book. When I feel an attack coming on, I just quickly lie down like that, and after coughing a little and beating on the chest, the problem goes away.
Anyways, hope this helps someone, because it has helped me a lot. The only problem is you can't always do this in public or at work,so I'm still trying to find a solution for that, but at least it is helping me sleep a lot better nowadays.
Thank you for letting me in.May the Lord help us all!The type of cough and throat tickle that has been described here by all of you is the same problem I am having now.I have had it for about two years! The doctors have given me All kinds of tests and they dont know what to say.Sometimes I have been given Tussionex,those "pearls",which do absolutely nothing!Was given allergy pills,decongestant pills,cortisone(which helps) but I cant take it for long.I wish someone could find something natural to help stop this. Please,if anyone has found a remedy,post it! Thank you and God bless.
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.
hi again :), I posted a few weeks ago, 2 nights ago I was at work and I was laughing and out of no where i felt like I just started to choke on nothing, and every time it happens I get so scared I can't think straight for the rest of the night, and sometimes I just want to cry. I feel like it is so serious, and my throat just doesn't feel like a normal throat should. I'm glad i'm not the only one in the world with these symptons, but I get scared I'm going to die from it one day. I don't know. Sorry if it seems like I am taking it to seriously, but I just wish I didn't have this unknown thing in my throat. I am going to go to the doctor about it soon, but I feel like they won't know what it is. argh, i just want it to be gone, I always feel like I have to be carefull how I breath or swallow so I don't choke on nothing. :( Its terrifying. Does anyone feel this way about it?
I've posted in another thread. But there is definitely something going around. For I too have had this horrible itchy cough accompanied (sometimes) by an inflamed throat that comes and goes. The itchy coughing is especially present at night or when it's getting be evening around 5 pm.
The docs keep prescribing medication that won't really help. But I hope someone figures out what the hell is going on becuase I'm heading into my second month of misery.
To top it off, I've caught a second cold and have a recurrence of my second cold sore this year. It's big and ugly.
I cough up clear and colored phlegm. The left side of my diaphram hurts and sometimes I cough so hard that it's uncontrollable. As embarassing as it may be, the coughing gets so bad that it would trigger me to pee ( a squirt each time a hard cough occurs). ugh!!
I'm only in my early 30's and it seems like my problems are just getting worse by the day.
I will definitely come back to post if I have any helpful hints because I feel your pain. It's feels better to know others have the same condition and maybe one of us will find something to help the rest of us get rid of this coughing epidemic.
Good luck all.
The docs keep prescribing medication that won't really help. But I hope someone figures out what the hell is going on becuase I'm heading into my second month of misery.
To top it off, I've caught a second cold and have a recurrence of my second cold sore this year. It's big and ugly.
I cough up clear and colored phlegm. The left side of my diaphram hurts and sometimes I cough so hard that it's uncontrollable. As embarassing as it may be, the coughing gets so bad that it would trigger me to pee ( a squirt each time a hard cough occurs). ugh!!
I'm only in my early 30's and it seems like my problems are just getting worse by the day.
I will definitely come back to post if I have any helpful hints because I feel your pain. It's feels better to know others have the same condition and maybe one of us will find something to help the rest of us get rid of this coughing epidemic.
Good luck all.
I forgot to mention that when my throat itches really bad, it radiates out to my chin.
Does anyone get it so bad that this happens?
Does anyone get it so bad that this happens?
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.
I've been having the same problem. In early March, I was diagnosed with bronchitis. The illness went away after 7-10 days, but ever since I've had this tickle that sends me into coughing fits where I sometimes actually do pass out. This is called "cough syncope" or "tussive syncope." I understood pretty quickly that driving a car with this condition was potentially very dangerous. One night - very late - driving home in the slow lane on an empty highway at 50 mph, I started coughing. The next thing I know, I'm hearing the "flop-flop" of a flat tire, and I'm in the fast lane. Long story short, it seems I passed out, veered to the right, bounced off a guardrail, went across the highway and nicked the center divider. A few days later I went to the scene of the accident and discovered there were very few stretches of guardrail on that highway. I could just have easily hit a utility pole or .. If there had been other cars on the road ... In other words, I came within a few feet of being killed. I have since discovered that long-distance truck drivers have to be tested for cough syncope, and cannot drive if they have it. Also, there are some states where a physician is required by law to inform Motor Vehicles if their patient has been diagnosed with syncope. I was only unconscious for 2 or 3 seconds, but that is quite enough time to lose control of your car and be killed - possibly taking someone else with you. Coughing/fainting is potentially deadly. PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
I've had a tickle in my throat for three years. It's highly annoying and strikes when it feels like it. I've found that in the area where my tonsils used to be on each side of my throat there is a bump about the size of a small pea. With a flashlight I've also found a tiny bump above my uvula. Each of these bumps takes it's turn and I never know which it will be. I've seen an ENT who gave me Nexium (actually worked great for my stomach)and Nasonex. Then he said if neither worked it was probably my blood pressure medication (I had the tickle long before I was on blood pressure meds). As you probably know neither worked. My PCP put me on Clairnex which seemed to help the first week, but only during the day not at night. The second week it stopped working. Over three years I've gone through bottles and bottles of Chloraseptic trying to numb the area. Only temporary....very temporary relief. Just the other night I was ready to take a dental pick to these annoying bumps when I thought about using Anbesol. It's amazing it actually worked. I can finally get some sleep. Now if you decide to use this you have to have control over the gag reflex. Over three years of putting my finger over the bumps to try to stop air from coming in contact so I could stop coughing I've overcome that problem. You have to be able to put your finger slowly and gently onto the tickle area and apply the Anbesol. The only problem is doing that in public when the tickle strikes...I haven't gotten the nerve yet but with the possiblity of Jury Duty coming soon I just might have to. I hope this helps someone here. At least I know I'm not alone with this problem.
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