Problems with cough and choking feeling in throat

[Sue4983]

Hi everyone

Has anyone experienced a sore neck with a choking feeling and cough before related to your RA.

I’ve had RA for 27 years on Methotrexate for most of them but every now and then I get these strange bouts . Normally they only last a few days but this one’s worse than usual and hasn’t subsided yet .

All along I’ve thought it was linked to the nodules on my thyroid but my GP doesn’t think the small nodules I have would cause that problem although he is sending me to an ENT consultant anyway .

I’ve now been doing my own research on this and found that it could be linked to my RA .

Thanks for reading and if anyone has any suggestions please let me know .

Sue

[Deeb1764]

I get a lot of choking and coughing and I was told this is an RA thing and also linked to my fibro as well. I do have days when it happens a lot then get periods of it being quieter BUT then I noted it was linked when flaring more too.

[Sue4983 in reply to Deeb1764]

Thank you for your reply . That’s what I’m wondering whether it’s when my inflammation is particularly bad .My other joints don’t feel any more painful than normal though although I do feel like I’ve got a bit of a temperature. I’m wondering whether to get a depo medrone injection just to see if it makes any difference. I haven’t had one for a while but they always seem to do the trick when my joints were flaring . So hard to know what to do for the best !

[Mmrr]

I get similar, often with continually needing to clear my throat some days. My voice is not so loud as it used to be either. I did read somewhere that most RA patients will have some disruption to their voice over time, and that voice issues are very under diagnosed. I don't have the link to the research, apologies.

[Sue4983]

Thank you Mmrr . The cough is annoying but it’s the choking feeling that’s the worst especially at night ! I had so little sleep last night I couldn’t even go to work today which is very unlike me .

[whitedog]

Hi

I've noticed my voice seems quite husky lately. And a couple of times when I've been speaking to people, I've found myself coughing as my throat's felt irritated.

I wasn't sure if it was because I live alone and don't talk a whole lot - or the RA, or the medication or my eye meds. My last blood test threw up a few abnormalities but the repeat was back to normal.

[J1707-]

I’m the same as Deeb. Ra and fibro high activity causes this .

[AgedCrone]

Strangely enough I saw my ENT surgeon yesterday as I have suddenly started choking fits. I eat a few mouthfuls, then all of a sudden food is stuck at one side of my throat and I can’t breathe.9 times out of 10….chicken is the culprit.

Afterwards, I have a sore throat and earache, (?) so ENT was the specialty my Rheumy thought appropriate …not gastroenterology.

ENT is sending me for a barium swallow, because the camera up my nose to look at my throat didn’t go down far enough, and I didn’t really want a full blown endoscopy.

Will see what turns up! I do have Sjrögrens…so it could be associated with that?

[Brikel]

I had a similar experience some time ago. It was a pharyngeal pouch . I was choking most times I ate.

Transpired I was aspirating food and drink into my lungs causing me to have a bout of pneumonia. I ended up in hospital for 5 weeks with an IV antibiotics and an NG tube inserted as I was “ nil by mouth. Once they had the pneumonia under control, they repaired the Pharangeal pouch.

Now back to normal

Hope this helps.

[Runrig01]

Yes I’ve had similar before biologics, although I have AS not RA. When in a bad flare I used to get the sensation of something being stuck, and constantly needing to cough. I would also lose my voice for like 9-10 weeks at a time. Was referred to ENT who passed a scope, and said all the issues were caused by the inflammation from my AS filtering out from my jaw to nearby structures. It s also causes chronic inflammation of the sinuses. Thankfully rarely happens since being on biologics, although I do need a long term steroid nasal spray.

[Sue4983 in reply to Runrig01]

Thanks for your reply . Yeah I’m beginning to think it’s connected to when my RA is flaring .

[Stills]

yes I’ve had constant throat issues, neck pain and oddly ear pain since my diagnosis of Adult Onset Stills Disease which for me manifests as rheumatoid Disease. I have been medication free apart from pain relief for many years. I have had a camera look at my throat which found nothing yet it’s stingy, sore, swollen, red, inflamed, yellow patches, white patches, inside of cheeks and roof of mouth also affected. I cough excessively after eating and think it could be caused by acid reflux.

I also have heartburn and recently had a gastroscopy looking for something else and it was very painful in my throat and hurt for several days afterwards.

Interestingly I had a lump cut off my gum that started out looking like a bit of cherry stuck between the teeth. It got uncomfortably large hence the removal 17 years ago but is growing back. Dentist says I have good teeth and this is an overgrowth of soft tissue and nothing to worry about. I’m sure my throat is connected to RD as it’s worse when I flare. I’m resigned to living with it as it’s so hard to get help these days.

[Sue4983 in reply to Stills]

Thank you Stills Sorry you’ve had all those problems . Having thyroid nodules it’s so difficult to know what’s causing it but as it comes and goes it makes sense that it’s connected to when my RA is flaring . I’m having a depo medrone injection today so I’ll have to see if that helps.

[Stills in reply to Sue4983]

hope it helps you 😀

[Sue4983]

Thank you just had it .Fingers crossed 🤞 x x

[BonnieG123]

When you go ENT ask about vocal cord dysfunction. I have similar symptoms. I keep asking doctors and they say “maybe” but they don’t do anything about it. It’s something handled by a speech therapist and I can’t find one who handles it. It involves a manipulative exercise you do with your fingers as if you’re massaging your throat. I get choking attacks that seem to be getting more frequent.

Good luck. I hope you find out what is causing your symptoms and that they can help you straight away. God bless.

[Sue4983]

Thanks for your reply . I will when I eventually see them .Hope you get somewhere too .It’s getting harder and harder on the NHS now !

[Jackiecnunez]

Sorry that you're going through that. I was also experiencing the cough and choking feeling. I was always clearing my throat. I suffered four quite a long time . My Primary Care physician referred me to an ENT specialist and diagnosed me with GERD. I was prescribed Omeprazole 20 mg. twice a day and also Pepcid at night. I am doing a lot better now. Hopefully at my next visit to the ENT I will be tapered off the meds. I have SLE so I guess that has a lot to do with it. It might help to get a wedge pillow to sleep on to elevate your upper body. Wish you all the best.

[Sue4983]

Thanks for your reply .Never thought of that .The trouble is there’s quite a few things it could be .Will have to wait for the ENT I suppose .