10 year cough and throat problem

[xlqiu]

I have 10 year throat problem: in the first couple years, I just intermittently felt something/tickle in the area just below the throat (upper trachea), I didn't pay much attention; then in the last couple years, the feeling/tickle just below the throat was getting strong (but sometimes tickle/feeling still gone), and sometimes I had cough caused by saliva at night times. Recently, the tickle/feeling-something-inside below the throat is always there, never gone, and also the cough is getting stronger at night, daytime rarely cough however)

I saw my family doctor several times, and they told me that it's allergy/heartburn. I used Omnaris nostril spray and Nexium esomeprazole magnesium pill, the symptom didn't dissapear.

I really worry about my problem, right now I cannot sleep very well, feel tired. Please give good advice. Thank you.

[National Jewish Health]

Your doctor’s suggestion that allergy/heartburn is the cause of your symptom is probably correct.   It is important to remember that if the problem is heartburn secondary to acid reflux,  you may not experience relief for 3-6 weeks after the start of Nexium.

Given that this “tickle/feeling something” has gone on for years, it is almost certainly not serious. but it does sound like a real nuisance.  For that reason, you should have a direct examination of your throat, by an ENT specialist, using a fiberoptic laryngoscope.  Your doctors may also want to test the suggestion that the problem is allergic, by prescribing one of the non-sedating anti-histamines.

Good luck

[xlqiu]

Thank you very much for your response, doctor. I just want to emphasize one point: the tickle/feeling-something-inside area is not located in the throat, instead, it is located below but close to the throat (upper trachea). And sometimes I also need to raise up my hands over the head to keep my sleep comfortable at night. Sometimes, I also feel uncomfortable in my chest.