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Clearing of Throat/occasional Cough

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k04808
k04808

In the last 12 months I’ve been dealing with what seems like a vortex of apprehensive. I’ve never publicized my symptoms before and hope that this may double as a coping mechanism, if it is my anxiety. I find myself clearing my throat quite a lot, I’ve been referred to a heart surgeon, ENT, Vascular Surgeon, Pulmonologist (who dismissed my asthma after a PFT was done UofM for ya), and Allergist (part of my ENT clinic).

I did have septoplasty done in 2017 September but can’t imagine it really being the cause. I’m scheduled for an upper GI and had a laryngoscopy done... twice. It’s really hard to pinpoint whether my clearing my throat occurs when I get really anxious. Tbh I kind of don’t want to experiment with my anxiety 😂 and I’ve been off and on anxiety medication. I’ve noticed some improvement with anxiety medication; however, I still get it! 

I use Flonase and sinus rinse for allergies and am on allergy shots. I’m at a loss and at about a year into living in Michigan it seems this symptom specifically has ranked itself #1 in My Symptoms World Cup ??. 

**I try to have some comic relief to this depressingly, aspects of life stealing, antisocial creating symptom.**

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • kara61577
    kara61577 k04808

    Posted

    Hi, I just came across your post. I too have to constantly clear my throat. My doctor said this silent GERD or basically acid reflux. She put me on medication for this about two weeks ago... So far, not much improvement. sad
    • k04808
      k04808 kara61577

      Posted

      Hi Kara ?? Thanks for your reply

      I really thought I was the only one with this problem. Like a double-edged sword it’s good to know I’m not alone but unfortunate to find the answers we’re looking for. I go in for an upper endoscopy in August. Who knew these gastroenterologists were so busy! 😪. 

      For acid reflux I found using baking soda calms any indigestion or activity I may be cause rather than a ppi as I don’t get so friendly results (I’ll spare you the details). As well as, from reading on certain medications such as that, prolonged use may provide some risks. The other reason I didn’t get much results from PPI like omeprazole (nexium) or Zantac is even after a couple of months I noticed no difference. 

      Did you have a barium swallow test done or any testing done before your pcp decided to stick you on this medication? I never liked and will never like the idea of trial and error methods with medication.

    • kara61577
      kara61577 k04808

      Posted

      No, she didn't do any tests. Which does bother me. I had a lot of pain in my upper right abdominal area off and on for months. I had some other symptoms as well, all of which led her to believe I had a gullbladder issue. She ordered an ultrasound of my gullbladder as well as a HIDA scam of my gullbladder, both came back showing my full was working perfect. So, she decided I "probably" have some ulcers, causing the stomach pain and indigestion. I have TERRIBLE health anxiety and I opted not to read the long term effects of the medication, because I knew I wouldn't take it. She knew this as well, because she's prescribed me other medications for other things and I couldn't bring myself to take the medicine. sad Now I'm scared of what issues the acid reflux may cause because this medicine doesn't seem to be helping tremendously.

  • Guest
    Guest k04808

    Posted

    Both my wife and I have noticed the last few years that our lungs are more full of phlegm than in the past, necessitating lung/throat clearing much more often. We're both in our 60's now, maybe it's just an age thing? I don't have any allergies I am aware of and the issue seems like a year-round problem anyway.

    I just seem to have a lot of sinus drainage lately and phlegm in the back of my throat. Was thinking of going to a pulmonologist to see if he could provide any guidance. We live in Michigan like you, not sure if that has anything to do with it. I used to work in a lab that had some asbestos in it, so I was worried about that-but it doesn't seem to have progressed.

    Dunno, maybe it's just as you get older the fluid transmission from your pleural cavity into your lungs starts to increase? I'll let you know if I hear anything from the Pulmonologist, but it's probably nothing of concern.

    • k04808
      k04808 Guest

      Posted

      Hey Phil! Thanks for your reply. I am 25 and otherwise healthy male. Every specialist I’ve seen and even research I’ve done all have one thing in common, Michigan is a person with allergies worse nightmare. What I don’t understand is why it took a year into living here for me to even notice or develops such a strange symptom . I’ve never cleared my throat this much and I lived in Pennsylvania for most my life! 😔 

      I kmow that allergies can play an important role in the development of asthma. I would read on Dr. Hahn’s book ‘A Curr on Asthma?’ simple google or amazon search. A great read for Asthmatics. Strangely enough I was dismissed on having asthma by a pulmonologist at the UofM and am considering a second opinion. Perhaps I’ll revisit the one in Lapeer. 

      I always hear bad things when it comes to asbestos but I’m no doctor. I’d also look into visiting an Allergist/ENT . Not sure where you are but mine is in Metamora; however, I’m thinking of going to the Port Huron ENT I hear they’re VERY good. 

  • Guest
    Guest k04808

    Posted

    Hi K,

    I need to start with a pulmonologist to see if my lungs are OK. Asbestos didn't used to be watched as closely as it is today, I once bought a hair dryer at K-mart that made me cough when I used it. It was probably made in China (this was 35 years ago) and the internals probably had asbestos on them.

    I've lived in Michigan since I was 16 and I never had the phlegm/nasal drip problem until the last 5 years or so, so who knows? It's probably just an age thing for me and it doesn't seem to get dramatically worse over time so probably not a concern. But I do hate clearing my throat 50 times before I get comfortable enough to go to sleep at night! That is irritating! lol

    • k04808
      k04808 Guest

      Posted

      I know that feeling alllllll to well before sleep. Haha I’m doing it right now. You could try the U of M pulmonary clinic. Or review pulmonologists near you that you think you’d be comfortable with. I do think that no matter your age clearing your throat just doesn’t seem natural everyday occurrence. Pulmonologist and also seeing an ENT sound like a safe bet
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