Chronic cough, could it be because of my thyroid or something else? Please help. :(

[Meoww]

Hi! So I apologize that this is really long..

So I've had this cough for a reallly long time. It started when I was around 7. Right now I am 18, so it's been over 10 years since I had it And it really affects my life cause I constantly cough everyday and it just takes away so much energy and makes people around me annoyed or concerned.

I've been to a few different doctors through the years, but none of them actually helped (only maybe a little).

One doctor said it was a tic (I highly doubt it), he also said that my throat was too dry, so he suggested some prescriptions and suggested that I eat a lot of candy to soothe my throat haha.

Another doctor said it was allergies and poor diet, they gave me few medications, acupuncture, and a strict diet. This didn't really seem to help me.

My recent doctor told me that it might be allergies and gave me a test to see what I was allergic to. She gave me a paper to my results that showed what I was allergic to, but that was it and she didn't explain exactly what my cough was caused by. The results showed that I was allergic to cats and dogs which I do have, but I had my cough long before I even had them.

What caught my attention during my check up was that she said my thyroid was really inflamed. I was wondering if thyroid problems can cause coughing.

Throughout the years there were periods where my cough would not be as aggressive and other periods where my cough would be really severe to the point that i lose my voice by the end of the day. My cough is not exactly involuntary but when I do try not to cough it either gets really itchy or pleghm would get caught in my thoat when I talk and I choke. It always feels like something is in there. I don't cough when I sleep though..

What could be my case?? Please help.

[greygoose]

Well, it certainly could be thyroid. I have the same. I've coughed all my life. Doctors just listen to my chest and say, 'well, nothing wrong there'. And I say 'but it isn't coming from my chest, it's coming from my throat'. And they just get that glazed, here's-another-looney look on their faces, and change the subject. If they don't know about something, it just doesn't exist! And they know nothing about thyroid symptoms.

So, the best thing you can do is ask your doctor to test your thyroid. But, it could also be a manifestation of asthma - but then, asthma can be a symptom of low thyroid...

[Trixie64]

For nearly 3 years before I was eventually diagnosed with Hashimoto's I had post nasal drip which caused a cough, a real nuisance. I was told repeatedly by GPs and endos that it was an allergy. I was tested for allergies and was only positive for grass pollen, which I already knew, having previously had hay fever until I was in my 50s. The allergy nurse said that the PND and cough could be due to my thyroid problem. When I told this to the endo he was really indignant and said 'What absolute nonsense'. In a letter to my GP he called that nurse 'perfidious'!!

Since being properly treated the PND has practically disappeared along with the cough, although I still have to frequently clear my throat. So I would say that your cough could be due to a thyroid problem.

[Meoww in reply to Trixie64]

Yeah imma ask my doctor about that thanks!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I have read on here a post some time ago that persistent cough can sometimes be low b12......and on HU gluten free gorillas a post saying gluten caused persistent cough....went away when she went gluten free

[Meoww in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks i should try that

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you get blood checked for B12, Vit D, folate and ferritin.

Hashimoto's often has gluten connection - many of us have found going gluten free helps reduce symptoms

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.

Usual advice on this test, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) don't take Levo in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible.

[Joyia]

All of the above many be correct but even though I take levo and supplement with lots of vitamins, my cough was persistent. I suspected asthma but for years avoided this diagnosis as I did not want to use inhalers. It all got too much and reluctantly went to see our asthma nurse earlier this year, I buckled into using inhalers and have to say the improvement was immediate, my coughing stopped and many of my allergy symptoms i.e. runny nose and eyes cleared up too. I would rather have gotten to the real cause of my coughing and allergies instead of masking the symptoms, but after years of trying this and that diet without making any difference I am pleased to feel much better. I am aware of side-effects with medication but having been up the creek without a paddle I have to accept the situation but at least I am free from coughing and other horrible symptoms.

[Bluemaxx]

Hi - I guess everyone is different but I also have had a chronic cough on and off my whole life. Matters came to a head last year when it was constant for over six months. I actually lost my voice in the end.

After many false turns I eventually discovered it was acid reflux caused by LOW stomach acid (usually it's high). This is a very typical hypo complaint. I solved it by making sure my meds were right, taking vitamin & mineral supplements as recommended by other members on this site and, importantly, taking Betain & Pepsin tablets when I eat meat and apple cider vinegar with its mother (add to water and sip through a straw).

I don't know if this will help you as it did me but wishing you the best of luck.

[Kitten1978]

Hi,

I had a bad cough as a result of Hashimoto, which has now disappeared although I'm still very poorly.