To cough was difficult!

[Ramasubramanian]

Sorry about posting a long question in my very first mail.

Yesterday night I got up from bed when I suddenly realized that I was not able to cough when I needed to clear my throat. Thereafter, even with much effort, I was not able to complete a single cough. The mouth was open and I was involuntarily producing only a peculiar sound,  as the system wanted me to cough but I could not.  I was trying to inhale through the mouth and it was like I was gasping for breath.  I was unable to close the mouth either. It was very painful and there seemed to be no respite for the ‘pull’ from inside the throat and the inability to cough. I felt I was dying as I thought the heart would abruptly stop with such a heavy fight going on in the body continuously.
It was like an acute attack of asthmatic wheeze where one would  gasp for even a single breath. Here the case seemed different; something seemed like obstructing the throat which eventually had an impact on the breathing as well.  I kept on making that noise until some saliva-like fluid came out from the mouth which I spat out.

While the inability to cough continued, with great difficulty, I could force more fluid to come out. With more and more fluid coming out, I sort of belched and this time there was some relief. With some more forced belching, even more fluid came out. This time it was from the bottom of the abdomen.  I also sneezed once or twice and some fluid came out of the nostrils too.  I coughed a few times, the throat cleared a bit and my heart heaved again, signaling the end of the nightmare. I had thrown up some yellow sticky fluid and also pieces of vegetables (in undigested condition).  Though three or four minutes would only have passed in that fashion, it seemed like eternity to me at that stage. I was not sure whether it was the end of the episode or there was much more to it.  I was awake for another 2 hours or so.

I am currently taking anti-allergy medicines for maxillary sinusitis and and I take Pan - 40 (Pantaprazol) along with tablets. I had been coughing for the past 1 month and the problem has come down now.

May I request you to please tell me what this problem is and the remedy. I am 45 years old. I weigh 67 Kgs and I am 5 ft 9 inches.

Thanks

Ram

[Dalubaba]

Google -inability of coughing properly.this is related to lungs and its muscles. This thread is a part of the google website.This is a serious situation and many doctors do not know about this problem. Neurologist has to deal with this problem.

[Sunny602]

Have they checked her muscle function? That could be why she can't cough forcefully. It might be worth seeing a neuro if that is what is suspected. It sounds like she has become a ping pong ball in respects to going to several doctors. I wish I could help more...maybe your sister's problem isn't related to the lungs but to the nervous system. Sunny

[Gemela]

Ram,

My name is Cheryl -- and my twin sister (Sherry) is having some of the same problems that you are having.  About 4 weeks ago, Sherry lost the ability to cough normally.  She now attempts to cough, but it is very labored and forced.  The sound of her coughing is now very similar to the sound one makes while vomiting.  Her 'coughs' bring up a thick, stringy, mucus-like substance that is white in color.  We have gone to several doctors, but no one can tell us what the problem is.  She currently is not taking any medication for this problem.

Can anyone tell me what might be causing this problem, and what can we do to remedy it?

Thank you,
Cheryl