To think this isn't a normal cough?

30 replies

Bagsintheboot · 03/12/2025 13:46

Every time after I get a cold or similar, I get a truly awful cough.

Technically I would call it a tickly cough, but what it feels like is that I'm being stabbed in my windpipe just under my jaw with a feather. Tickle doesn't really cut it. It's always the same sensation, always in that same place. I do get "normal" tickly coughs and this isn't like that. This usually happens between twice an hour - every other hour.

It happens suddenly and sends me into an uncontrollable coughing fit - my stomach / ribcage spasms, I can't control anything and end up gasping for breath, I have tears rolling down my face, and very often I end up actually retching or gagging, or being sick. I usually end up pulling muscles badly and end up in pain too. I don't get more than an hour or two of sleep for weeks. Just this lunchtime I had to spit my food back out on to my plate as I was eating. Rather ruined my appetite.

This has been going on since I was a teenager, it's nothing to do with COVID.

I've thrown up on buses, in cars, had to sprint from the office (or meetings, more embarrassingly) trying desperately to control myself until I can get to the bathrooms, it really impacts my life badly for about two weeks after I've been ill and even a mild cold seems to trigger it.

I've tried every over the counter medicine going, nothing helps. When I see the doctors, they just say it's normal (although I don't see anyone else doubled up on the street coughing their guts out with any regularity). The last doctor I saw earlier this year tried to tell me it was whooping cough - in which case I've had more episodes of whooping cough than the entire cast of a Dickens novel - and gave me antibiotics. They didn't work. I've tried the stop-cough techniques, they don't work either.

This cannot be normal right? I don't see anyone else with the same problem. Its exhausting and makes me so anxious I daren't leave the house unless I absolutely have to.

Is there anyone else who gets this or are there any doctors for whom this rings any bells? I just cannot believe this is normal and I have to live like this for 8+ weeks a year.

OP posts:

ChoccieCornflake · 03/12/2025 14:46

Asthma? My asthma attacks feel like someone is doing something very unpleasant to that exact under-the-jaw spot

aloris · 03/12/2025 14:44

Another vote for cough-variant asthma. I am not a doctor. I have cough-variant asthma. I would get horrible coughs after every cold, my coughs lasted for weeks. Eventually I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler to use when I get a cold/covid/flu etc. Helps a lot.

Seawolves · 03/12/2025 14:36

Cough variant asthma?

JDM625 · 03/12/2025 14:30

Strange that its only after having another illness. Do you have a post nasal drip going down your throat that might be irritating it? Have you tried lemon/honey? I read a research paper which showed it to be more effective than OTC cough mixtures.

I have a hiatus hernia (well I've self diagnosed on my symptoms and GP agreed, but doesn't think I warrant a scope). Day to day, omeprazole helps my symptoms. Occasionally if I eat something squashy like very fresh bread or chips, it balls up in my throat where I almost choke. I often have to vomit to get the ball of food out. I often have a tickly cough in the mornings, but no idea if its related or just me.

1 thing my GP did was a h-pyloric test via a stool sample. It was positive, so I had a triple treatment of omeprazole and 2 antibiotics. TBH- it made no difference to my symptoms, but I read that it can go unnoticed for years and cause all sorts of gastro intestinal symptoms.

I realise my symptoms aren't exactly what you get though, but possibly another avenue to look into, because my symptoms might be different to others.

YouDriveMeCrazyButICanDoThatMyself · 03/12/2025 14:12

Yep. I get this also. It started when I was a teen too.

I permanently have bronco cough pastils in my bag, desk drawer or pockets in case this happens. Sucking them does control it enormously.

Id look at why you are getting ill so frequently though. I work in a public facing roll but constantly sanitise my hands and, touch wood, have only had Covid once and two colds since 2020.

Vitamin D is good for respiratory health and can aid recovery, maybe take some OTC, most people in the U.K. are pretty low, especially during the winter months. What’s your diet and lifestyle like in general? Could improvements be made to boost you up to prevent you catching things going forward?

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