Coughing?

[ljp103]

There is a gene for ataxia in my family so my dad me and my 2 brothers have it also. My dad suffers very much from incessant coughing. He coughs a lot, particularly in the evening. And it isn't just after food, although it mainly is. Does any one know of any ways to help/prevent his coughing?? Thanks x

[Pec2884]

Hi Ljp103. I am very interested in your post. I have been through every investigation by a Pulmonologist this past year to find a reason for coughing spells which at times leads to gagging and chocking. All clear given but still have incessant cough. I don't have a problem swallowing. One wonders if this is an early swallowing problem associated with ataxia. Hope someone can tell us. Cheers.

[Sqd-2415_hoc]

Me again - My SCA is idiopathic with "slow progression" so haven't got much worse over last three years (since diagnosis).

I do cough including quite violently at some meal times. Language therapy does work, with exercises, although self help I guess helps, waited a long time for appointment.

having an eating regime dividing mouthfuls 50% 30% 20% and have a glass of water,

wurthers originals sugar free.

Different subject I am persevering with prism inserts but haven't done the trick another wait for consultant ophthalmologist Specsavers were really good.

All the best

Rodders

[Caz1961]

Hi, yes. My mum had this.

Its thought to be a type of SCA20, but now has its own title of "SCA with cough" (funnily enough). I had a reference to this but I am at work now and cant find it! I shall post the link when I get home.

Have a google (other search engines are available!) at 'SCA with cough Portugal' and you will come up with the only research paper on it .

My mum started with a cough 20 years before she became wobbly and went through every kind of investigation, but nothing was found, until she had an MRI, which showed the cerebellar degeneration.

The neurologist in Birmingham said what she had was very rare, but then, in 2001, nothing else was known/done.

Mum used to find a sip of room temperature water would help. Too cold and it would start her off again. She didnt talk while she ate, as that would do it too. Sometimes she felt that she needed to push gently with her fingers on her throat, or support her throat, to stop the sensation of wanting to cough.

I am waiting to find out if I have the same thing, but I dont have a cough. I have some symptoms with balance though. Do you cough? This would be most interesting to see if the parent has the cough, but the children still get the ataxia but without the cough.

[Ant1]

Hello LJP,

I'm 73, recently started Premature Senile Decay of the Cerebellum, with hindsight my cough has been slowly growing and getting worse since just after I left school! My wife of 46 years hasn't caught it and I tell people I do it for the sympathy.

It was associated with dreadful throat cramps quite often, there is no one specific cause though. Many many, mainly repeated, tests haven't helped with it. People probably think my wife is very unfeeling if we're out, I get plied with coughsweets and glasses of water. The thing that really hurts is a back-slap, they're never timed right and they _hurt!_

I've just discovered Ricola cough sweets from the local chemist, they do seem to help...

Regards Ant