Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Wheezing in my upper throat

I am 34 years old and have quit smoking for about three weeks now.  I have cheated a few times, but that is not my concern today.  I have wheezing in my throat and not in my lungs.  I have been coughing up white and yellow mucus.  It takes a lot of effort to get that out though.  I am wondering if this has anything to do with me quitting smoking or is it a combination of that and spring allergies?  When I get allergies they are usually not that big of a deal and I usually don't have to take any medicine for it.  I do know that in the past I have never had wheezing before.  My doctor gave me Abuteral, but it really doesn't make much of a difference for the wheezing.  I am a bit worried that I have some lung problem, but that doesn't explain the wheezing in the throat.  I am hoping its just a sinus infection.
10 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
A related discussion, wheezing cough was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
AH...I'm so happy that others know what I'm going thru too...it's been madness trying to explain how I've been feeling for the past month.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, I'm finally normal again. Apparently, I had allergies bad enough to make my throat constantly itch, coughing up clear and sometimes a little colored phlegm, wheezing in the throat due to inflammation. I had been coughing for over two months and was convinced I'd cracked a rib from it. Every cough, sneeze, hiccup would cause such a horrible pain, as if being punched in the rib or something. Then I had gotten congested and could not breath at all at night
The end results is I'm taking anti-inflammatory for the lungs; albuteral in-haler for when throat starts to wheeze and close up, causing the cough to come on; ADVAIR inhalation powder; Nasonex to stop post nasal drips to rid of the phlegm; about 800 mg of Ibuprofen for the pains- very bruised muscles and no cracked ribs; and Allegra D (stronger than regular Allegra and once a day versus twice).
If you have symptoms like mine, see your doctor about the above. I hope it will help some one. I felt so horrible that none of my problems were going away. But after a combo of these things for two days, I stopped coughing, the pain subsided, I can breathe and I'm feeling almost normal.
I'm still on these meds but hoping that it's temporary. I just can't stand to think that this will be long term. I think I may even have become asthmatic from the prolonged untreated allergies.
Good luck all. I'll post again if things change.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there,
my problem is the same, wheezing coming from the throat, at first it was only when I exhaled but now it sometimes appears while inhaling too, which concerns me even more.
It is also persistant, I have had it for nearly a year now tho at first I didnt pay it too much attention. I also tried every standard medication with no or very little help.
I feel there is something in my throat that obstructs the airways and it is really frustrating, impairing my sleep and also normal life.
I am also worried whether it can be something else more serious.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was searching to see if anyone's got the same problems as I and sure enough, here you are.

I've had coughing for the past near two months. I went to see the doctor and as some of you posted, had all sorts of medicine. I've used cough syrup, antihistamine, inhaler, and now nasal spray (just started).

I too have wheezing coming out of my throat. It happens on and off and can get worse and make more coughing occur.

When all this began though, my throat itched and burned. The itching is incredibly bad. I almost coughed up my gut. I mean to the point of throwing up!

My condition got a little better, but I think only because it's starting to slowly, but super slowly, wear-off.

But then again, who knows. I've been tricked before. It would seem like I'm getting better, then it starts up all over again.

I also had pains,though on the left side of my diaphram. The x-ray didn't show anything. The doc says it's from the cough, that I pulled the muscles in the rib.

I'm sick of this coughing. I hate taking all the medication. I'm trying Walgreen version of Sudafed now in addition to the other stuff because I've now got a cold that's causing congestion at night. I can't breathe and haven't gotten a good night's sleep in days. The medication doesn't even work.

All the other stuff, antihistamine, inhaler, and cough medicine seems to be not as effective as when I first started using them. I think my body is building an immunity.

The doc says if things don't get better, she may have me see an allergist.

I don't know what to think. I was real worried at first, but I think maybe I just have to wait this out. This year, it seems a lot of people are suffering from some kind of cough that is lasting longer than any in previous times. Like it's very noticeable.

If I get better or have any better results from new medication, I'll post so those of you who have the same problem as me can try it and hopefully it will help you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
COPD is not likely. He could have Pulmonary Function Tests done to rule out lung involvement. It is more likely that he is chronically dehydrated. Many people are, and don't know it. Being dehydrated can cause your mucous to be thick, and not move out of your airways properly. He needs to drink at least 64 ounces per day. Ounce for ounce, water and juice count 100% toward your daily liquid intake. Milk counts 90%. Soda pop, Alcohol and Coffee, or anything else with caffeine does not count. In fact some count as negative because they work to dehydrate you. Have him drink 64 oz. of water every day for at least two weeks. He may experience coughing the first few days as the mucous thins, but then the problem should decrease and maybe even disappear completely.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello,
I am in desperate need of advise, thoughts, suggestions.  My husband for several years now has this chronic condition of always trying to clear his throat from excess mucus.  Also, sometimes has this these sounds coming from his throat or chest.  Sometimes his attacks are worse than others.  But this is a 24/7 problem for years now.  When he sleeps its ok and hasn't disturb his sleep. But sometimes its starting to.  Here are the things he as tried and done so far; Chest x-ray negative, a tool of some sort stuck through his nose to check throat and negative.  He has tried Nexium, sinu Cleanse wash, TUSSIONEX, Claritan D, Asthma medication.  Nothing has cured this nightmare.  I am worried about COPD.  Is it possible to have COPD and have a chest x-ray that came back fine?  HELP
Helpful - 0
251132 tn?1198078822
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Wheezing that is not in the lungs is most likely coming from your throat.  This can be from allergies causing inflammation and drainage and/or a sinus infection.  A sinus CT scan will tell if you have a sinus infection.

A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases the inflammation of the nose and sinuses.  A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms.  It may need to be used every day for several weeks to months for it to help.  To help the nasal steroid spray work better, use it regularly after doing a nasal wash to remove mucus from your nose and sinuses.  Please read our nasal wash treatment information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/treatments/alt-ther/nasal-wash.aspx to learn more about this technique.  Share this information with your doctor to see if doing nasal washes regularly would be helpful for you.

It is not likely that stopping smoking will cause this to occur.  It is much more likely that these two events are coincidental, but not causally related.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
RE: I am wondering if this has anything to do with me quitting smoking.
This is extremely common. When you smoke, you kill the villi (think little "fingers" for moving out mucous) in your respiratory tract. When you quit, or drastically cut back, they try to regrow. Their job is to push out all that crud you've been putting into yourself. You can expect it to get worse before it gets better. There is a lot of crud down there. Be patient. Drink a ton of water, and take Mucinex, or regular Robitussin - the one with no letters after it. No more cheating, you're just prolonging the problem.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there, I have a very similar problem, the wheezing in the throat (not chest) when I exhale. I sometimes cough up mucus but rarely, mostly it's just dry cough with a strange feeling of something being stuck in my throat, because it sounds and feels strange. When I exhale hard and fast, there is a disturbing noise coming out from my throat. The wheezing is slightly worse when I lie down, esp. on my back.
I was at first convinced it was due to post nasal drip which I had for nearly a year now. So I tried all sorts of treatment; antibiotics, anti-histamines, steroid sprays, inhalation, nasal/sinus irrigation, you name it, I tried it! But everything with no any apparent success, although the nasal irrigation might have relieved the coughing a tiny little bit.
Because of these unsuccessful treatments I am a bit concerned and confused, someone suggested that I may have a Tracheal Stenosis.
I will not know until I see an ENT specialist which I am on the waiting list for several months...
If you have wheezing in throat and not chest then I think you are unlikely to have asthma.
Maybe it is post nasal drip, you probably have to go through the same procedures as me, try different things and see whether any of it works for you.
Good luck,
Cristina
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Respiratory Disorders Forum

Popular Resources
Find out what causes asthma, and how to take control of your symptoms.
Healing home remedies for common ailments
Tricks to help you quit for good.
Is your area one of the dirtiest-air cities in the nation?
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.