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Anyone have Laryngeal Sensory Neuropathy?
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) | Last Active: Feb 17 4:40pm | Replies (186)Comment receiving replies
I have had a constant chronic cough for over 20 years. I have been to numerous specialists, had numerous tests, but every cause has been ruled out. Why do you think you have Laryngeal Sensory Neuropathy? Is it just a diagnosis of exclusion?
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My allergist is the one who gave me the diagnosis of laryngeal sensory neuropathy with vocal chord dysfunction (also laryngeal spasm with vocal chord dysfunction). He had been looking into it because he was seeing mostly women my age with long term undiagnosed cough. He has been very supportive of me going other places to try and solve this cough. I went to Mayo when I was being treated for asthma. That’s where I heard the term “diagnosis of exclusion”. Which makes sense after very thorough testing thru the ENT department and they were able to rule out asthma, reflux, etc and all the things I was have been diagnosed with before, but still could not identify the cause. Mayo was a wonderful experience.
I’ve also had three episodes in the past of bronchospasm in the middle of the night where I felt as if I could not breathe. (Almost like a child with croup). Lasted a few seconds, feels like minutes, only able to get the tiniest bit of air. Panic. Years ago I had a partial thyroidectomy due to a nodule on my thyroid. This could be the cause of my hypersensitive larynx.
I have tried amitriptyline, gabapentin, (I think lyrica) and am now trying Tramadol.
Definitely have had to do gradual increases in dosage of each. Right now I’m on tramadol (50mg). Has helped but not long term, calms my cough thru the night and morning. But by the end of the day I’m coughing like crazy.
It’s been a difficult thing to live with. You become anxious any time you have to be around a group or quiet (funeral, wedding, concert). And the anxiety makes it worse.
Maybe an anti anxiety medication would be a helpful thing to take in combination with meds for the spasm.
I don’t know. And for now it stumps the doctors, mine at least.
Mine has been working with me for years. Last time I saw him, his PT and a homeopathic. I ask “do you think I’m a hypochondriac, that I’m making this up”. Both my doctor and the PT said ABSOLUTELY NOT. What you have is very real. We just can’t figure it out. He’s hoping to be approved for new drug trials. I’m definitely a candidate if he does.