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Replies to "I have had a problem for years that I always have something caught in my throat...."
Wow, 48 hours ago I would not have had anything to add to Jennifer's comments. You could be describing my husband - for all of the many years we have been together!
He has tried everything - sometimes in combination - and nothing completely resolved it. His was not post nasal drip or GERD either.
Last week his pain management doc, of all people, recommended Azelastine nasal spray. We just learned it is available over the counter in the same strength as the prescription version. Just a few days, and his throat clearing has almost disappeared! And he has been able to stop 2 of his 3 allergy meds.
Sue
Has anyone suggested that it may be a tic? Tics are autonomic (you don't have control) movements or speech that are part of a disorder known as Tourette's syndrome. I have a friend that has a tic of clearing her throat. Tic can sometimes be managed by medications but you should perhaps consult a psychiatrist or neurologist if this hasn't already been ruled out.
I have appointment with neurologist coming up in a month.
He specializes in tics so hopefully he can help
Do you have any difficulty with swallowing? Have you had any swallow studies. I assume you’ve tried simple things like sucking on lozenges, cough drops, drinking water etc. Any trouble with your ears?
Have you had any xrays of your neck? Sometimes people develop osteophytes, bony protrusions that stick out into your pharynx. That can trigger a cough reflex. Is your GERD under control?
I found an allergy to wheat and dairy. Cut out and got better. Also Mulleine tea helped
My husband is constantly clearing his throat and also coughing. He underwent throat cancer surgery 2 months ago. We assumed it was because of that because no one seems to know. He has tried just about everything. He cannot swallow so that limits what he can try.
I can relate as have had it for years with no relief in sight. I, too, have tried 'all of the above' without success. It is not a tic, lol, as there is mucous. Still, post nasal drip, acid reflux, and sinus problems have all been ruled out. It is annoying, embarrassing and extremely frustrating. I try to avoid talking on the phone just for that reason. I also have tried a few suggestions made by others on this site, most recently, Lanolin in the nose, but it did not help me.
Thanks to all who have been willing to share!
Could it be silent reflux, which can affect the throat, sinuses, and ears through the action of Pepsin, a digestive enzyme? You can learn more and decide for yourself at https://jamiekoufman.com. She is an ENT who specializes in silent reflux (LPR). Another one is Jonathan Aviv, who advocates not only a low-acid diet but a whole food diet too. My GI doctor and ENT have no idea what LPR is, and were of no help whatsoever. I am now on the low acid, whole food diet, using Gaviscon Advance, aloe vera juice, sleeping with head inclined, and am seeing progress in dealing with the symptoms. Maybe worth a try as you pursue further investigation with doctors. BTW, some of the ENTs specializing in silent reflux say that PPIs don't work on that condition. Let us know when you finally have found relief. Good luck!
@vinman789 Hello, and welcome to Connect. I clear my throat a lot, but it is because of allergies and asthma. When I am exposed to something that triggers me, my lungs produce phlegm as a protection and this phlegm must move upward to be cleared out. That also depends on lung movement and breathing properly to effectively move the phlegm or it can get stuck and cause infections. I have some physical tightness on one side of my body and have had one side of my ribs not expand enough and that has lead to chest infections starting on that side.
If you have never been tested for allergies, that may be something to consider. You can also try over the counter antihistamines or something like Mucinex which thins the phlegm and makes it easier to clear. I don't know if you smoke, but smoking paralyzes the cilia which are the hair like projections of the cells lining the airways. These are beating to move the phlegm upward. That creates some difficulty clearing the airways if the cilia stop working.