Update Cough

[janeths466]

Like mentioned previously my mom has had cough attacks since her lobectomy 3 months ago. They started 2 weeks ago. She says her throat gets scratchy and she panics when she coughs and her eyes get teary. She fears this so much, it mostly happens when she is in cold places like stores. She hates going to her dyalisis because thats when the attacks happen the most.She comes home crying because she says she gets scared. She goes on with her day everyday and she is totally fine and normal. But as soon as she breathes cold air or is in her cold dyalisis center her throat begins to het scratchy and coughing begins and she tries to control it but she says its hard. She fears this since before her lobectomy and diagnosis she coughed blood so her fear and trauma is there. She was also intubated in induced coma for a week and a half before her lobectomy since it was an emergency surgery, so maybe that could contribute to that?

We will take her to primary doctor soon, but her medical is in process. Like mentioned she seems perfect, she does everything as usual, runs walks and stuff, just as soon as she breathes or eats cold things this happens. Or she chokes on saliva ocassionally. Any advice?

[Feelingblessed2013]

I suggest taking a list of questions to her PC to be sure you get the answers you need. Maybe there is still some residual swelling in her throat from being intubated? Maybe ask about the possibility of doing a swallow test to check for any issues there?

As far as the coughing goes, it sounds like at least part of the problem is the cold air. I have lost both upper lobes to LC, and I also have emphysema. There are days during the warm summer months that my breathing sucks just because the humidity goes up, and I find I am using my rescue inhaler at least once a day. But winter is bad as well, inhaling cold air irritates my throat and my lungs, which makes me cough. So I stay in as much as possible in the winter months. If I do have to go outside for any reason, I loosely cover my nose and mouth with a winter scarf, that seems to warm the air a bit before it hits my lungs, so its not as irritating.

Anything that irritates her lungs, will make her cough. If I walk past someone who is wearing a lot of perfume, or that just had a cigarette, it makes me cough. Is she on any type of rescue inhaler? If not, maybe she should be? She might want to carry some throat lozenges or cough drops to help her deal with the symptoms for now.

[JanetteR57 in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

I too have issues with cold air, smoke, cold air and also struggle in places like malls where there is forced air recirculating - especially if I have or am recovering from a chest infection. I have been told it is 'bronchial hyperreactivity'. I have had a lot of investigations and tests and told twice after extensive testing it is not asthma which is why it doesn't respond to asthma medications (salbutamol). She needs to raise this with her chest physician/consultant as at this time of year there are many potential irritants in the air/atmosphere including mould spores which as many people have an irritant response to as pollens. hope she get some relief soon. her fear and tears are likely to be that she is thinking the worst when there may well be medication that will help her. I found the book ' cancer is a word not a sentence' by Dr Rob Buckman helpful for putting into context that not every symptom we have after our diagnosis is necessarily related to the cancer. good luck.

[Feelingblessed2013 in reply to JanetteR57]

I don't think you meant this reply to be for me. The person who created the post, and asked for advice is janeths466.

[JanetteR57 in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

you are correct - hopefully it displays as a thread for her to see.

[JanetteR57]

I responded to your post's response from KatherineK so hope you are able to view it as it was meant for you. hope things are a little clearer now.