Hi @donjo. I read through all the messages directed to and from you. Here's my story. About 5 1/2 years ago I began having throat clearing. Months dragged on and I began having coughing. I would ask the doctors (PHP, ENT and GI) why?? They pretty much dismissed the situation with, "I don't know." If I suggested something they would say, "maybe, or could be." I finally paid out of pocket to get a Advanced Heart Check which included a CT. Because I paid out of pocket the radiologist called me direct. He said my lungs look like they have ground up glass in them. The next comment was almost funny. He said, "I'm surprised you're not coughing." I told him I had been for the last eight months. I finally got to a pulmonary doctor, had a bronchoscopy which revealed pseudomonas and Mycobacterium Avium Complex. I won't go into the lengthy story of how things went from there but I was told to avoid dairy, chocolate and peppermint. Best of luck going forward.