Coughing spasms

[COL21]

Hi had my oesphactomny last December, these last couple months ive been waking up with a strange tickle back of the throat which makes me cough usually lasts upto 1 hour very annoying for my wife keeping her awake. Wondered if anyone else as suffered from a cough after surgery.

[lb84]

My dad suffers with this too, he had total gastrectomy in feb as his tumour was right at the junction. Describes it exactly as you do, starts as a tickle and then develops into a full blown coughing fit. We are struggling to find an answer re how to stop it or avoid it in the first place. Sleeps upright etc etc. sometimes it happens during the day too. Would be really keen to know if you get any good info or advice. Sorry can't be of more help but just wanted to let you know you are not alone with this cough!

[COL21 in reply to lb84]

Thanks for your reply it is nice to know your not alone, if I get any info or remedy let you know.

[Hidden]

It sounds like you are not having a cough problem during the day? Do you have a problem if you have an afternoon nap?

I am not sure, but I am wondering whether this might possibly be reflux-related? I believe some people experiment a little bit with taking their omeprazole etc later so that they are protected a bit more at night, but I also believe that this is not how PPI medication is really designed to be taken. Best to ask the doctor before doing this.

But one thing that would be more straightforward is to take gaviscon at night and see whether that makes a difference. Gaviscon is an alginate and works separately from the other medication.

[sportsman in reply to Hidden]

During the first 3/4 years after my op I experienced fairly violent bouts of coughing, in my case mainly in the day but not exclusively. I ascribed it to acid reflux irritation. It progressively decreased and is far less frequent now. I used to claim I could "cough for England"! Hope it disappears for you over time

[COL21 in reply to sportsman]

Thanks Sportsman nice to know its not only me that coughs. Do you think I should get it looked at at the docs.

[sportsman in reply to COL21]

No harm in mentioning it. I think I did but recall it was "just one of those things". I suspect it is one of the conditions that simply requires time to settle down. I found Strepsils helped to alleviate the tickle in my throat sometimes and Gaviscon has been a very good friend.

[COL21 in reply to sportsman]

Thanks for that very good information will try Strepsils as well.

[COL21 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Alan will try the Gaviscon see if that works.

[COL21 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Alan will try the Gaviscon see if that works.

[COL21 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Alan will try Gaviscon see if that works.

[COL21 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Alan will try the Gaviscon see if that works. Do you take it before bed or when coughing starts.

[Hidden in reply to COL21]

It comes in tablets or liquid. I would have it just before you go to bed. It is an alginate, which means it creates a protective raft for a few hours. You can always have a couple of tablets in the middle of the night. I keep some by my bedside.

[COL21 in reply to Hidden]

Thks Alan will try that, another question just recently this last month I have pain in my ribs I suppose this is because the numbness as worn off and everything is healing back together but that also makes things worse due to coughing.

[Hidden in reply to COL21]

It depends on the detail of your surgery, but yes, it does hurt as you try and expand your ribs, or take a deep breath (that also sets up coughing) but this gradually wears off, and it is a matter of gently and progressively stretching and exercising. Don't overdo it. A physiotherapist may help?

[COL21 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply nice to speak and share our problems, with you

and others on this site.

[Hidden]

Hi, I'm 16 months post op and occasionally suffer with a ticklish cough during the night. I can fully endorse what Alan suggests "Gaviscon" I simply take one Gaviscon tablet and within minutes the cough has gone. Hope this not only helps but works for you

[COL21 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply will try the Gaviscon thanks

[Golf1910]

Hi

I had a total gastrectomy 2 years ago now and suffer with coughing fits at night time normally around 0100-0200 that last for 30 minutes and more associated with bile reflux, sometime I dont bring bile up but do cough up phlegm. I take Omeprazole both at night and morning plus take Gaviscon Advance 4 times a day and sleep with 3 pillows but still suffer with it. Sorry I am not being very helpful, but as you can see from the responses you are not alone.

[COL21 in reply to Golf1910]

Thanks for your reply I do sleep with three or more pillows I will try the gaviscon see if that helps.

[gutlesswonder]

There are four factors to bear in mind :-

1)During the operation your lung will have been deflated.This is quite traumatic and takes a considerable time to recover from -- obviously the time taken and indeed the percentage of return to normal ( never 100 per cent ) depends on your starting condition -- were you a smoker/was there any occupational damage/etc etc.

2)Depending on how large the surgeon made the pouch in your new, pulled up pseudo-eosophagus you can experience problems if ,when inflated with food, this "mini-balloon" rubs on the left or right or both lungs.

Oddly enough this gets worse the longer you live ! Why ? Because the pouch gradually expands with stretching. Now 23 years post op if I overdo the consumption I get paroxysmal coughing until I have cleared copious amounts of crystal clear bubbly and highly viscous mucous.

My suspicion is that this mucous is not, in fact from the lungs but is actually the carbonate rich mucous secreted by stomach tissue as protection from hydrochloric acid.

3)During the procedure the vagus nerve is divided. This can leave the cut ends of resected branches 'raw' and 'irritated' which leads to stimulation of the coughing reflex.This is analogous to the "phantom limb"

sensation experienced by amputees.

4)Lastly and possibly the most important : Reflux

As you may have read elsewhere on this site there are potentially three components of reflux; any one of which or combination of which can result in acute irritation of the throat, the vocal chords and the trachea/bronchus leading down into the lungs.

A prolonged cough ( 1 hour + ) may indicate that you are inhaling this material with potentially serious, even fatal , consequences. Aspiration pneumonia kills more post gastro-eosophagectomy patients than any other single cause.

Masking the symptoms with the likes of Gaviscon does not tackle the danger at source.The solution is generally quite simple, eat small, eat early, raise the head of the bed at least 5-6 inches.

It is not generally recognized that there are 'taste' cells in the lungs. If,during an episode you have a peculiar sensation of a foul taste; not in the mouth but sort of further down, then this likely indicates that caustic, foreign material has entered the lungs. Take heed .

[COL21 in reply to gutlesswonder]

Thanks for your reply its so nice to hear from you, thanks for all that information.

[haward]

I had a nasty cough from around August last year which I ignored because I thought it was related to my operation. It just got worse. When I eventually saw my GP he diagnosed a chest infection , put me on antibiotics and it took an age to clear up because I had delayed. So , you should go see your GP and ask him if there is something else causing the cough