Constant cough reflex

[peppa37]

I just want to find out if anyone else suffers from the same as me, and if so what to do about it as it’s driving me crazy.

I currently have a cough which started out as a tickly throat about a week ago causing all-consuming fits of coughing, eyes watering etc etc. But it’s evolved now into a seemingly constant squeezing high up in my chest or possibly my throat (windpipe?), causing an overwhelming urge to cough.

In the mornings it’s worst, there’s a very small amount of yellow/green thick mucous but the rest of the day it’s a very pale colour and not all the time. I still have the odd tickly coughing fit too especially if I’m talking for any length of time. I take 2 puffs of ventolin which I think helps sometimes but it’s very short-lived. I’ve also tried steam which does help loosen mucous but doesn’t help the reflex.

I feel well otherwise, no wheeze, no breathlessness, no temp or other viral symptoms

I’m not even sure it’s asthma-related as I don’t normally have this so bad, it’s usually a tight wheezy cough if I’ve got a bad cold or if I’ve been exercising in the cold air, but my asthma is controlled otherwise with 200 of fostair twice a day.

If anyone has had similar I would appreciate any advice as I’m going nuts with it!! I’m sure my family and colleagues hate me 🙈

[Oldandgray]

sounds just like my cold. Coughing until sick etc. lots of thick mucus. Interestingly enough it doesn’t seem to have affected my CV asthma. If I had an exacerbation of asthma resulting in as much coughing as I am doing my ribs and rib muscles would be very painful but they are ok.

[TheWelshWriter]

I wonder if it's post nasal drip as that is worse in the night and could be what you are coughing up in the morning. This will bother your asthma too. Do you have allergies? Do you feel the sensation of something running, slowly down the back of your throat? You could try taking an antihistamine for a few days to see if that helps (if you are OK to that it). Good luck!

[peppa37 in reply to TheWelshWriter]

I don’t have that at all. It’s actually ok when I’m settled at night. Only allergy I have is nuts, although my lungs tend to get twitchy with pets and bleach fumes. It doesn’t feel like an allergic thing, that type of thing usually makes me wheeze but this thing doesn’t involve wheezing, just feels like a horrible fist-like band wrapping around my windpipe making me cough. I don’t think it even sounds like asthma although I did my peak flow last night and only managed 350, quite a bit lower than usual. Also doing the peak flow caused the same symptoms!

[Mariachristina76]

I have a cough 8 years yes it is vey annoying

[bv68dench]

Postnatal drip causes my exact symptoms, also do you suffer from acid reflux at all? Those two combined make my life at times miserable.

[peppa37 in reply to bv68dench]

I don’t have acid reflux no. Sounds rubbish though! The only way I can describe how I feel is like my chest is suddenly very hyper reactive.

[bv68dench]

Careful with your peak flow, doing one in hospital a few years ago put je in icu for three days

[peppa37 in reply to bv68dench]

Oh dear that sounds awful!

[JackLina]

It took me years to realise I was actually having a negative reaction to the inhalers. I don't get what you describe any more. Dob't do anything drastic though without consulting your GP or consultant.

I now use a Aerobika, prescribed by my GP. She had not heard of this before but following my research she agreed to consider prescribing and came back with agreement. No more asthma drugs just my Aerobika now. Used proper;y and regularly it is brilliant.