Irritation making me cough

[bourne62]

Despite cxr, ecgs,bloods etc which are all clear i am still coughing but not spontaneous cough but seems to come from below sternum. I have a sense of irritation there. Also feels hard to get a good breath. I am a lifelong asthmatic but this is not the same. Anyone else get the need to cough so low down.

[Hidden]

Could be way off, but has anyone looked into GERD as a possible cause? Chronic acid reflux can cause coughing and airway irritation in the way you describe. It can also be silent - you don’t need to have symptoms of acid indigestion (heartburn) to be suffering from reflux. I have a mix of both in that I do get acid indigestion symptoms at times, but I also get the silent type. My daughter has also had silent reflux since birth.

[bourne62 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much. What I dont understand is why the irritation which makes me cough comes from below sternum. Do you cough.

[Hidden in reply to bourne62]

If it was reflux, this would potentially make sense because the acid is originating from the stomach. When my reflux was bad and untreated it would make me cough and generally irritate my airway. I would occasionally wake during the night ‘choking’ and coughing, and often feel a need to swallow or clear my throat. Very occasionally I’d have a sudden surge up my throat and end up with acid literally coming out of my nose. Pretty grim, particularly as acid irritates tissues. Some people with severe GERD find it can cause shortness of breath, particularly if there’s a little bit of aspiration into the lungs - coughing and SOB associated with GERD tends to happen as a result of swelling where the acid comes into contact with airway tissues and irritates them. The cure for the irritation is to prevent acid coming into contact in the first place.The easiest way to diagnose reflux in adults, and appears to be the most popular method these days, is to give someone a PPI medication like omeprazole or lansoprazole. If it’s reflux, the symptoms should improve if not settle completely and do so quite quickly for the vast majority of people. Might be worth an ask to the GP at least, particularly if they’re satisfied the cough isn’t originating from your asthma/chest.

[Oshgosh]

Can. I Ask if it is a productive cough ?Do you have access to an asthma/respiratory. Nurse eit. Ould be woth contacting them when it’s possible.

[bourne62 in reply to Oshgosh]

Thanks a lot . Mostly productive. I think it could be reflux but so hard to get advice due to covid. Cant even get Drs reception to answer.

[Oshgosh in reply to bourne62]

H,if it’s productive,it’s good you’re coughing,it’s not settling on your chest.perhaps you need to keep trying the GPS phone at different times.I just put eh phone on speakerphone and have a brew whilst. I’m waiting..it will be worth persisting.

I had asthma for years.

The thing is I must always thought chest were asthma,I now have another lungs disease.its always worth better g checked.