Throat clearing

[lindtbunnynut]

I haven't posted on here for a long time as I've been doing pretty well but I do keep up with other peoples posts. I have gone down from 15mg pred to 5mg in a year and haven't really had any problems doing so until fairly recently. I have this continual urge to clear my throat all the time particularly in the morning. It does tend to get better as the day goes on but starts again next day. Also some times when I take a deep breath it feels like I want to cough. Not really a pain or a tight feeling - more of an irritation. Can't really explain it very well. Has anyone else had anything simiar or is this completely unrelated to the PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

At the start of my PMR I had a constant slight cough and felt as if my throat needed clearing but when I asked the GP they insisted there was nothing to be seen. Mind you - he couldn't work out I had PMR either!!! It is something sometimes seen in GCA and LVV (large vessel vasculitis) so it could be related to where the PMR causes inflammation. Does a bit more pred improve it?

[lindtbunnynut in reply to PMRpro]

I haven't tried upping the pred as I've been doing quite well on 5mg so don't know if it would help. The irritation in the chest seems only to have started fairly recently so could be linked to me reducing I suppose. I was wondering if it could be Acid reflux but have no experience with that at all

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lindtbunnynut]

That is a possibility I suppose. One way to check that would be to take omeprazole for a week and see if it improves it - sold OTC as Losec in the UK

nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole....

[lindtbunnynut in reply to PMRpro]

I do take Omeprazole - have been from the start. Actualy been wondering if that could be the cause.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lindtbunnynut]

The omeprazole you mean?

[lindtbunnynut in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I did read it could have side affects but I have been taking it for a year so I wouldn't have thought so really

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lindtbunnynut]

Sometimes it can be a time before its side effects appear

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Do you actually have a cough? Might be worth considering a Covid-19 Test if an extra Pred doesn’t resolve it.

[lindtbunnynut in reply to DorsetLady]

No I don't have a cough but I have just had a Covid test to be certain. Awaiting the results but pretty sure it's not that.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to lindtbunnynut]

Let’s hope it clear.

[lindtbunnynut in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks. I did mention it to my GP over the phone but she seemed as clueless as me !!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to lindtbunnynut]

Sounds about right! 😳

[Suffererc in reply to lindtbunnynut]

How unusual 😂

[Mary63]

I agree with what the others have said, but throat clearing can be connected to food intolerance. If you would like some more info please send me a private message.

[Maisie1958]

Like PMR pro before diagnosis of PMR I had a funny throaty thing going on, never mentioned it to GP as was feeling so awful with shoulder pain and fatigue etc but in retrospect think I possibly did have some symptoms of LVV that adequate prednisolone did help. All good wishes.

[alvertta]

I feel like I have constant post nasal drip. So you. Clear throat. Sore throat at times.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to alvertta]

Yes - that's what I felt like. GP wouldn't have it though!

[alvertta in reply to PMRpro]

I never say anything. So many other issues.

[Suffererc in reply to alvertta]

I have the same but just thought it hay fever bit my GP said I couldn’t have hay fever while on Pred. Eyes itch and run too

[whitefishbay]

Deep breathe thing is what I have on nights when it is quite close and the air is heavy but I use my inhaler (Salbutamol) and it goes.

[keeptalking]

Hi. I have had a need to clear my throat for most of this year. As soon as I move I have to cough twice to clear my throat. Then I’m fine. Seems to be constant phlegm there.

I am reducing Pred. On a slow taper from 5mgs to 3.5mgs. Have no idea if there is any connection but thought I’d let you know that you’re not alone.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to keeptalking]

Even if it is a slow taper - why is your reduction step so large? You do mean 5 to 3.5 and not 5 to 4.5g?

[keeptalking in reply to PMRpro]

No I mean 5mgs reducing by 0.5mgs. Now at 3.5mgs. Thanks for picking that up though.

Can you tell me how to post an enquiry on here. So far have only managed to respond to others.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to keeptalking]

Scroll to the top of the page and at the top right corner is a blue box with a pen icon and Write - click on that and it brings up a page to write a post of your own. Give it a noticeable title that includes the problem if possible - not "update" or "PMR" or anything so generic! And write your question in the other box

[keeptalking in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that so simple when you know how.

[Snnib]

I have exactly the same as you described. Had it for a while also lowering pred. Only have it in the morning need too clear my throat 2 or 3 times, then seem ok rest of day. Its a another mystery of PMR.

[Jan_Noack]

I suspect it is very early gord symptoms myself. try gaviscon liquid after you eat in the morning ..does the coughing start then or after your pred? the pred irritates mine for sure..worse as time goes on, gaviscin liquid works withiN 15-30 MINUTES(BY 30MINS TO ONE HR ANY THRAOT COUGH URGE SHOULD BE LOWERED). TEH OTHER THING THAT MAY WORK IF YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON THEM ARE OCRAS,..SORRY VERY TIRES ND CAPS CAME ON. iCRAS-STEAM FOR 6 MINUTES , BUY NOT TOO FIRM BUT MUST GAVE "GIVE" . WORK LIKE GAVISCON i THINK.

[Jan_Noack]

sorry for caps above. I would leave everything the same and try the gavisocn (liquid is far superior to tablets for some reason for most)..(or ocras- you need at least 3 pcras steamed..helthy option). If the gaviscon works (or the ocras) you will know pretty much straight away but definitely all cougungurge should be stopped by 30 minutes. Let me know how you go. Stay on the omapraole the same at present until you find out if gavison stops it. The gavscon should be taken immediately after you eat brekkie or take the pred..whatever is causing it. I am assuming you are taking the pres with brekkie from your description of the coughing timing?

[Telian]

I’ve had it since starting on pred 6 1/2 years ago for GCA then PMR. Rheumie always dismissed it as unrelated to pred but I think differently.

GP prescribed a spray of artificial saliva which works well - if I don’t use it it sounds as if I’ve got/getting over a bad cold - throat very ‘gravelly’. Family and friends don’t comment anymore.

It was funny that my new GP, after seeing me a few times, commented on my voice - he didn’t dismiss entirely that pred was the culprit. He said I knew my illness well and trusted my judgement. I got a jelly baby for not complaining!

[LizMitchell]

I have had the same experience, persistent throat clearing in the mornings and have had for at least a decade! On top of PMR and GCA of 5 years, it is very unwelcome. Sometimes I cough so much that it gives me a sore throat for the day! Periodically, when I have sought medical help, nothing satisfactory has ever been achieved and I feel that I will be stuck with it. I have had allergy tests and a nasal endoscopy, both with clear results, I was prescribed Lanzaprazole at the beginning of my PMR/GCA treatment, but I ceased taking it after 18 months because it made my throat really dry! The GP and ENT Consultant both suggested Post Nasal Drip, but I think this is because they haven't been able to come up with a diagnosis, but I don't believe it is that because it didn't improve when I was taking Lanzaprazole. On my last visit to ENT I was advised to try a Nasal Rinse each day, but it didn't make any difference.

I am sorry that this won't help you at all, but I thought it would be of interest to you from a fellow sufferer!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to LizMitchell]

I'm finding it interesting how many of us have the problem - more than just coincidence I suspect.

[LizMitchell in reply to PMRpro]

It could be environmental of course, knowing what toxins we all live with on our sadly polluted planet? I am certain it is this reason why so many people worldwide have auto-immune conditions! Added to which we now have a plethora of life threatening viruses to deal with, the coronavirus being the latest!

[alvertta in reply to LizMitchell]

I live in the country. Not much pollution. Started when I started prednisone.

[Harbel in reply to PMRpro]

I'm joining, me too.

[alvertta in reply to PMRpro]

Prednisone. Yup.

[Jan_Noack in reply to LizMitchell]

I have all of that. has all those tests. Mine is related to Gord . I have a hiatus hernic on an endscope...but every meal(no matter what but greasy or grains are worse) and every tablet bute specially aspirin and prednisone but also even thr=yroid meds start it off. My dad does not have pMr but he has the throat clearing. both of us have excess mucious. mine is now clear (since I had the pneumonia injection..well a few weeks after actually(, before that I was always getting it whi;le and yellow and spend a lot of my sleep time on my stoach hanging over the bed coughing up phlegm.. now I just have to lie on my stomach towards left hand side and cough.. makes me exhausted. If i mis the pred and food i only have the now resiual slight amt of phelgm and sore throat. It worsens with pred. I blame pred for making the good worse. Dad has the same but he is not as bad..more like you . Only he had dementia and throat clearing and spitting the phelgm out which is what he does if we go outside is not acceptable these days! Mine has got so bad it is quite distressing. I don't know if raised liver enzymes are related but I've had them since 2011 (about the same time as the irritation started and the cough). I didn't visit my aunt who had cancer in hospital thru 2015 as I thought I had an infection.. turns out the contact cough was this.. it just got worse with the pred in 2015. At the start large meals ..like in all one can eat buffet meals stated it and aspirin..and maybe wearng tight belts (don't know but may have caused the hiatus hernia). At the same time also my liungs and dad's) have been scarred from he acid I think also. Both of us hac-ve been diagnosed with COPD.. but its all related to this (studies show a correlatkonand the jump to , in my opinion, erroneous conclusion that the COPD causes the hiatus hernia and GOrD? I really think it's the other way around. It got the the stage before predniosne worked (took about 18 mths) where my lungs were tight and I couldn't breathe in. Pred fixed that...

[LizMitchell in reply to Jan_Noack]

So sorry to hear that you and your father have been suffering so badly. I have nothing to complain about in comparison.

I wish you well.

[lindtbunnynut]

Thank you all for your replies. I have been taking the pred and omeprazole about 6am but not eating until a bit later. Maybe I shoud try to eat something when I take the pred but I'm really not up to eating that early. I'll give some Gaviscon a try and see if that helps. My Covid test has come back negative so at least I can rule that out for now. Maybe this is going to be one of life's little mysteries !!!

[alvertta in reply to lindtbunnynut]

Eat w prednisone for sure. Even a little yogurt. Yippee. No COVID-19

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to lindtbunnynut]

Have you tried taking the omeprazole in the evening? That is advised for anyone who has night time silent reflux.

[granny-b]

Hi, I have a throat clearing cough every morning, well known taking Ramipril. Have also stopped omeprazole now that I am off the pred.