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Anyone have "cough variant" asthma? Vocal cord dysfunction?
Anyone else on the forum with cough variant asthma? How about vocal cord dysfunction or the two together?
I have struggled with cough variant asthma for many years. Recently I was also diagnosed with vocal cord dysfunction as well--specifically irritable larynx syndrome. I've had voice therapy, but I'm interested in other ways people are coping with the combination.
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@pomcrzymimi - I'm presuming you are saying your symptoms are pretty similar to what @christysjohnson described in her husband? How do you find Sjogren's plays a role in these symptoms?
@lisalucier I have Sjogrens syndrome and asthma and experience this
Hi Teresa,
Thank you for taking time to respond. He doesn't have a raspy voice or difficulty swallowing. He is undergoing additional testing with his ENT. Although that's proven to be difficult. He's supposed to stop almost all of his meds for 2 days in order to undergo new allergy testing. That's a bit easier said than done.
We did meet with a CRNA at the ER who now teaches pulmonology at our local university. He suggested that my husband's symptoms sounded like chronic laryngopharyngeal vagal neuropathy. We asked a neurologist and pulmonologist about this condition and neither had heard of it.
His current pulmonologist keeps prescribing more antibiotics and steroids. He ordered more bloodwork and additional breathing tests today to justify prescribing a biologic. We've scheduled a consult with a different pulmonologist at a nearby teaching hospital to get a second opinion.
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1 ReactionHello @christysjohnson
When you say that you are feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, I can understand why! I see that you have received some great responses from @lisalucier, @drsharon, @pht1123, and @sueinmn.
I would add only one other thought. You do not mention if your husband has any swallowing problems or a raspy voice. I now have an asthma diagnosis, but I also have a paralyzed vocal cord (unknown origin). Before my paralyzed vocal cord was treated surgically, I also had a lot of coughing, nighttime breathing problems, as well as a raspy voice (I sounded like I had an undending case of laryngitis). I was eventually referred to an otolaryngologist who examined my vocal cords. This revealed the paralyzed cord.
Has your husband been referred to an otolaryngologist yet?
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1 Reaction@sueinmn Thank you for your response, Sue! I'll make sure to follow-up on the mucus culture!
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3 Reactions@christysjohnson Wow, that's a lot - this sentence caught my eye - "In addition to the cough, his main symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath, and night sweats."
I'm wondering if the doctors did a culture on the contents of the blocked sinus to see if a nasty infection is hiding there? I would say the fatigue is normal when one coughs a lot and had disrupted sleep, but when you add night sweats, my mind jumps to a long-term infection hiding out. Also, if he produces mucus when he coughs, that could be cultured for a lurking infection as well.
Please let us know how he is doing, and feel free to ask any questions that come to mind - you have thousands of people reading your message, and someone may well have a valuable insight to add.
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3 ReactionsSorry you are going through this, but good that you are looking into how best to help your loved one. With all of the testing, please also see a cardiologist for a heart checkup as well. Sometimes cardiac issues seem like respiratory issues. Under the guidance of a pulmonary and cardio md, you should hopefully come up with a plan. Please remember that asthma is an exaggerated response in the lungs to some form of allergen. It is a reversible disease. Things to consider - stop smoking (if you smoke, and this includes vaping), proper weight, using "free and clear" items without dyes and perfumes, and possibly consider an antihistamine. Sometimes it is a chronic post-nasal drip (see ENT). It can be difficult trying to find the cause and best possible treatment. If medically allowed, drink some extra water to help thin secretions. Good luck.
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2 ReactionsHi @christysjohnson, it sounds like you are going through a lot and the doctors are working through the possibilities. It’s really tough not understanding what is going on. I clearly have no answers but it wouldn’t hurt to eliminate the chemicals in your home while all this is being tested- things like perfumes, scented creams and cleaning products. You can scroll through and see a list of things that some of us react to. You’re not alone and good luck
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3 ReactionsHi @christysjohnson - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You and your husband have been through a lot of challenges with the two different types of coughing, fatigue, shortness of breath and night sweats.
I just have the coughing issue sometimes from my asthma, and it also affects me more at night or when I'm in meetings where I talk quite a bit. The continuous cough where you can't stop till you take one of those benzonates is also familiar to me. The sudden tightening in your husband's throat that seems to briefly cut off his airway and triggers coughing seems concerning, as of course his ability to breathe is paramount. I've not been perfect and have had to do another course of prednisone lately, but in general, taking a biologic, mepolizumab (Nucala) has really helped tamp my coughing down.
You and your husband have done an admirable job of getting him to different doctors who might assess and help him. The upcoming testing and balloon sinuplasty sound wise.
Feeling pretty overwhelmed and discouraged, and desperate for answers or direction at this point is hard. Hoping members here such as @drsharon @orangetiger @hopeful33250 @clachow @debbells18 will have some insights for you from their own experiences and some thoughts on how to get some relief and help for you and your husband. I'd also like you to meet @sueinmn.
How is your husband's sleep with experiencing these symptoms? How about your sleep?
Hi everyone — I’m new here and really hoping to connect with others who may have insight or similar experiences.
My husband has been dealing with a persistent cough for a little over two months, and so far we haven’t been able to get a clear diagnosis. He actually has two distinct types of cough. One feels like a sudden tightening in his throat that seems to briefly cut off his airway and triggers coughing. The other is a more continuous cough that he can’t stop unless he takes a Tessalon Perle. The coughing is noticeably worse when he talks a lot, gets overheated, and at night.
A CT scan showed complete blockage on one side of his sinus cavity. He has seen multiple specialists so far — his internist, a pulmonologist, a neurologist, and an ENT. He was also hospitalized for a week, during which he received IV antibiotics/steroids and had a bronchoscopy. His lungs were reported as clear, and all blood work has come back normal.
In addition to the cough, his main symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath, and night sweats. We asked the neurologist about the possibility of laryngeal neuropathy (my husband also has CIPD), but he was unfamiliar with it.
He is scheduled to undergo allergy testing and will also be having a balloon sinuplasty in the near future to address the sinus blockage.
At this point we’re feeling pretty overwhelmed and discouraged, and we’re desperate for answers or direction. If anyone here has experienced something similar or has suggestions on what to explore next, I’d be incredibly grateful to hear from you.
Thank you so much for reading.
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