Yes it is I've given it to many others not even knowing it.
My 8 year old daughter has started clearing her throat constantly during her awake hours. This started about 3 months ago when she got bronchitis. Once her bronchitis was gone we have noticed that she never stops clearing her throat. We have been to an allergist to discover she is allergic to nothing. The allergist suggested we go to an ENT doctor to have some sort of scope put down her nose to look at her throat. Has anyone had this done? Her friends and teachers have commented on her constant clearing and it has become rather annoying to her and the rest of us (although we know she can't help it). What is causing this? She has been on Nasonex for 3 weeks now and I don't see much improvement (if any). I am scared to death after reading posts from people who have been dealing with this for years! HELP!
Was she given antibiotics for bronchitis? If so, she probably has Candida - a yeast overgrowth. You can get rid of this by going on a strict yeast diet and taking various supplements.
Was she given antibiotics for bronchitis? If so she probably has Candida - a yeast overgrowth. You can get rid of this by going on a strict no sugar diet and taking various supplements.
I found this web site where they did a study, still no conclusion tot he problem though
http://www.lakesidepress.com/pulmonary/Cough/throatclearing.htm
http://www.lakesidepress.com/pulmonary/Cough/throatclearing.htm
I have had these symptoms for a couple years - mucus that I can't clear or swallow. I've been through many docs, eliminated glutton, dairy, wheat, everything else I've seen suggested, though not very succesful stopping caffiene, so I can't rule that out. I read a post in the previous thread that mentioned preservatives (many chemicals ending in ate and ite) and MSG. I agree MSG is bad on many accounts. as far as preservatives are concerned - While it makes sense to eliminate all of them, it's not very practical. I have found cutting down has certainly helped, it takes a day or so for the effects to become apparent, so it's tricky. I'm attempting to narrow down the ones that have the most negative effects. so far:
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium Caseinate
Dipotassium Posphate
Potassium Sorbate
I've seen Sodium Benzoate in many foods, but I haven't narrowed it down yet. please let me know if anyone else has had results with preservatives
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium Caseinate
Dipotassium Posphate
Potassium Sorbate
I've seen Sodium Benzoate in many foods, but I haven't narrowed it down yet. please let me know if anyone else has had results with preservatives
As ALL who have found this site, I have the same problem. Thought below was very interesting, and may apply to many of us. Came from this site:
===============================================
It is the belief of many ENT (ear, nose and throat) professionals that chronic throat clearing is a 'learned habit'. The theory is that at some point -- possibly during an upper respiratory infection -- the patient had a lot of mucous that had to cleared, as is common in this situation. However, at that point the patient became highly sensitized to the 'feeling of mucous in the back of the throat', and after the infection went away continued to 'clear' the mucous. Then -- and what follows is essential to this theory -- the very act of throat clearing creates more mucous, placing the patient in a viscious cycle. THROAT CLEARING PERPETUATES THE THROAT CLEARING. In this theory THE PATIENT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. Without the constant throat clearing, which ought to be controlled by the patient, the problem would eventually go away. Speech therapists are trained to help people overcome this 'bad habit' of throat clearing, and learn how to control the problem.
What do speech therapists recommend?
At this point (all medical tests negative or inconclusive, and problem is deemed a self-perpetuating bad habit) the goal is to get the patient to decrease his/her urge to throat clear. While there is no scientific basis for these recommendations, speech therapists may attest to success based on selected clinical experience. Many of these methods are in the realm of folk or natural medicine, and include:
* sharply sniff and then swallow whenever you get the urge to throat clear
* drink warm water with lemon juice and honey whenever you get the urge to throat clear
* suck on hard candy
* if you must clear, try to do so without making any sound
* gargle with sugar-free soda
* gargle with carbonated water that has been chilled to the freezing point
===============================================
It is the belief of many ENT (ear, nose and throat) professionals that chronic throat clearing is a 'learned habit'. The theory is that at some point -- possibly during an upper respiratory infection -- the patient had a lot of mucous that had to cleared, as is common in this situation. However, at that point the patient became highly sensitized to the 'feeling of mucous in the back of the throat', and after the infection went away continued to 'clear' the mucous. Then -- and what follows is essential to this theory -- the very act of throat clearing creates more mucous, placing the patient in a viscious cycle. THROAT CLEARING PERPETUATES THE THROAT CLEARING. In this theory THE PATIENT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. Without the constant throat clearing, which ought to be controlled by the patient, the problem would eventually go away. Speech therapists are trained to help people overcome this 'bad habit' of throat clearing, and learn how to control the problem.
What do speech therapists recommend?
At this point (all medical tests negative or inconclusive, and problem is deemed a self-perpetuating bad habit) the goal is to get the patient to decrease his/her urge to throat clear. While there is no scientific basis for these recommendations, speech therapists may attest to success based on selected clinical experience. Many of these methods are in the realm of folk or natural medicine, and include:
* sharply sniff and then swallow whenever you get the urge to throat clear
* drink warm water with lemon juice and honey whenever you get the urge to throat clear
* suck on hard candy
* if you must clear, try to do so without making any sound
* gargle with sugar-free soda
* gargle with carbonated water that has been chilled to the freezing point
I am so relieved to find this site. I HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS FOR FIVE YEARS. At first I just thought it was a nervous tic. Then I started doing a combination of snorting and then clearing my throat hundreds of times a day. It's exactly as other people have said, I never get the feeling that my throat is clear. I even bought a nasal irrigator because I thought that would help. Now, five years later, the problem is as bad as ever. I can't see a doctor because I don't have health insurance. I have read about GERD and wonder if that is it and it will eventually develop into cancer. Please if anyone knows what we can do to treat this ourselves, please post. I can't afford to see an ENT and pay $695 for a five minute appointment. Just like others have said, this 'habit' or 'condition' or whatever has made others angry at me. By now, I'm totally unconscious of clearing my throat THOUSANDS of times a day. But I have actually had total strangers yell at me in public to stop it.
Hi, I suffer from constant throat clearing too, Im 40 and Female. I cant remember having it all my life, I think it all just started about a year ago. I chalked it up to panic/stress, since I suffer from panic attacks. But im really not sure. I get other symtoms that are all new in the past year, such as alot of gas, itchiness, very tight chest with shortness of breath and unexplained low grade fevers. ALL these symptoms are all NEW within the last year. Ive been chalking them up to anxiety, since I have suffered panic attacks for more than ten years. however, When I had panic before i never had throat clearing, or unexplained low fevers or alot of gas or itchiness. SOOO, I noticed a few times when my Throat clearing, shortness of breath and low grade fever EPISODES were really bad, that I had eaten alot of dairy. ONce we had Ordered pizza and I was HUngry,and once I pigged out on chocolate cheescake and candy bars. SO, i am going to cut out dairy for a couple of weeks and see what happens. According to some of you guys, you have tried this and it didnt really work, but I will try and I will report back to you. ALso I noticed someone commented on preservatives. I will try that as well, since sodium caseinate is from MILK anyhow, and I will be reading alot of labels as it is... soooo, i will check back and let you know what happens... AND PLEASE PPL CHECK BACK IN AND LET US KNOW IF ANYTHING IS WORKING.!!!!!!!!! This throat clearing isnt all in our minds....
It's certainly interesting that so many seem to have this cough.
I've been bothered with it since I was about 30. I'm 69 now.
Whenever I mentioned it to any of the doctors I've had over the years they just ask if it's a productive cough. When I answer, yes, that seems to satisfy them and they do no more.
When I need to clear my throat, I usually manage to get up some phlegm which I can either swallow or spit out and it is OK for a while, (20 minutes or a little longer) then I need to clear it again. Over the years I've become quite adept at clearing it without making a scene but it's aggravating.
I was hoping it was caused by smoking and would go away after I quit smoking 28 years ago, but it didn't. When I used to go out drinking regularly, the alcohol seemed to make it stop. I drank whiskey and water and I figured the alcohol disolved whatever it was and washed it down so I didn't need to cough it up. I also quit drinking 28 years ago.
After having heart bypass surgery 13 years ago I had to go to the VA to get the expensive prescriptions they put me on because my insurance wouldn't pay for them and I couldn't afford them. Until then I never had enough medical expenses to bother signing up at the VA. I never went beyond the deductible on any insurance I had. I did have acid reflux but it was controlled OK with Tums. Since then I have switched to Prilosec for the acid reflux and that takes care of that fine, but not the coughing.
After I began going to the VA to get my prescriptions, the RNP I was seeing seemed so genuinely interested in my health that I mentioned the nagging cough to her. She gave me something that she had in her office. I took it until it was used up. It was the first relief I ever had from what she said was post nasal drip. I thought that was a term the drug companies made up for TV sales ads. The doctors I had didn't seem to consider it a real medical term.
I'm not a disabled vet or an x-POW so I don't have a working relationship with the VA. Meaning I can't just call for an appointment to go see her to get some more of whatever it was she gave me. At first, 13 years ago, the VA was looking for x-GIs like me but for the past 8 or 10 years they have done all they can to cut us loose. Now I only get to see her once a year to renew my prescriptions. If she didn't have to see me in person to do that, I probably wouldn't get to see her at all. She is still just as caring but she can't give me any treatment at the VA. Now she sends me home with a note for my mother --- err---- doctor, telling him what she thinks he should do or check out.
I have asked her what it was she gave me, because it worked. If I need a prescription for it I probably could get my doctor to give me one. She says she has no record of that and doesn't remember it, so I guess I'll never know what it was that helped me.
I still have nothing else wrong with me. My health is fine. Being a member of the zipper club hasn't slowed me down a bit. If anything it has caused me to do more. The cardiac rehab they made me endure was a wonderful exercise in learning that I can exercise as much as I want. I feel very lucky that the only side effect from the heart attack and 6x bypass is an inverted "T" wave. I asked the heart doctor when he took out the staples a few weeks after the operation, what I could do. His answer was that as far as he was concerned I was fixed up like new and I could do anything I wanted. So the cough is really just a minor aggravation that I've learned to live with.
I've been bothered with it since I was about 30. I'm 69 now.
Whenever I mentioned it to any of the doctors I've had over the years they just ask if it's a productive cough. When I answer, yes, that seems to satisfy them and they do no more.
When I need to clear my throat, I usually manage to get up some phlegm which I can either swallow or spit out and it is OK for a while, (20 minutes or a little longer) then I need to clear it again. Over the years I've become quite adept at clearing it without making a scene but it's aggravating.
I was hoping it was caused by smoking and would go away after I quit smoking 28 years ago, but it didn't. When I used to go out drinking regularly, the alcohol seemed to make it stop. I drank whiskey and water and I figured the alcohol disolved whatever it was and washed it down so I didn't need to cough it up. I also quit drinking 28 years ago.
After having heart bypass surgery 13 years ago I had to go to the VA to get the expensive prescriptions they put me on because my insurance wouldn't pay for them and I couldn't afford them. Until then I never had enough medical expenses to bother signing up at the VA. I never went beyond the deductible on any insurance I had. I did have acid reflux but it was controlled OK with Tums. Since then I have switched to Prilosec for the acid reflux and that takes care of that fine, but not the coughing.
After I began going to the VA to get my prescriptions, the RNP I was seeing seemed so genuinely interested in my health that I mentioned the nagging cough to her. She gave me something that she had in her office. I took it until it was used up. It was the first relief I ever had from what she said was post nasal drip. I thought that was a term the drug companies made up for TV sales ads. The doctors I had didn't seem to consider it a real medical term.
I'm not a disabled vet or an x-POW so I don't have a working relationship with the VA. Meaning I can't just call for an appointment to go see her to get some more of whatever it was she gave me. At first, 13 years ago, the VA was looking for x-GIs like me but for the past 8 or 10 years they have done all they can to cut us loose. Now I only get to see her once a year to renew my prescriptions. If she didn't have to see me in person to do that, I probably wouldn't get to see her at all. She is still just as caring but she can't give me any treatment at the VA. Now she sends me home with a note for my mother --- err---- doctor, telling him what she thinks he should do or check out.
I have asked her what it was she gave me, because it worked. If I need a prescription for it I probably could get my doctor to give me one. She says she has no record of that and doesn't remember it, so I guess I'll never know what it was that helped me.
I still have nothing else wrong with me. My health is fine. Being a member of the zipper club hasn't slowed me down a bit. If anything it has caused me to do more. The cardiac rehab they made me endure was a wonderful exercise in learning that I can exercise as much as I want. I feel very lucky that the only side effect from the heart attack and 6x bypass is an inverted "T" wave. I asked the heart doctor when he took out the staples a few weeks after the operation, what I could do. His answer was that as far as he was concerned I was fixed up like new and I could do anything I wanted. So the cough is really just a minor aggravation that I've learned to live with.
I didn't read every post. There's a lot and I started from the first thread before I wound up here.
I noticed (from what I read) no one mentioned smoking. I've smoked since I was 18 (now I'm 31). I quit for 1 year cold turkey. When I quit, the throat clearing stopped, but when I started again, it returned.
So at least for me, it appears to be smoking-related. With that in mind, I wonder if there's anything I can do to suppress the throat clearing until I quit again (hopefully for good this time!)?
The last time I quit, my life was pretty calm and stress-free. I'm afraid it may be more challenging this time around (may require costly medication).
Thanks.
I noticed (from what I read) no one mentioned smoking. I've smoked since I was 18 (now I'm 31). I quit for 1 year cold turkey. When I quit, the throat clearing stopped, but when I started again, it returned.
So at least for me, it appears to be smoking-related. With that in mind, I wonder if there's anything I can do to suppress the throat clearing until I quit again (hopefully for good this time!)?
The last time I quit, my life was pretty calm and stress-free. I'm afraid it may be more challenging this time around (may require costly medication).
Thanks.
Well, IM back, I did alot of research , and for me the problem seems to be yeast RELATED> I am now in the process of ridding my body of excess yeast. I have suffered almost my whole life, with constipation or diarrhea, panic, depression, yeat infect. bladder infect, allergies, getting sick easy, always tired, and I have taken alot of antibiotics over the years, and I also am prone to get cravings for sweets or cheese ALOT... If any one is interested here is a link with some GREAT info on the yeast in our bodies. its by an MD... Cuz when yeast overgrows inside us it can wreak havoc. Athletes foot, jock itch, dandruff, fatigue, shortness of breath, arthritis, the list goes on and on... so heres the link, its what Im trying and I will check back later to let you guys know if it works for me....
***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed
***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed
I've only been experiencing problems with clearing my throat since roughly February. I was fine until I came down with pluracy, or pnemonia, was never certain which it was, and since then, I've had to clear my throat throughout the day many times. I was given antibiotics to help the infections and such in my throat and chest, which helped for about a month. Both infections went away. Now, though, it seems that it has slowly been returning, more and more every day. It has been getting to the point that it affects my breathing, as I can't breathe because I'm constantly clearing my throat. I'm starting to develop pains in my chest, back, and throat now as well. A new feeling, of a constant bubble of air in my chest has arisen in the past two or three weeks. Throughout the day, I am usually fine while standing, but as soon as I sit down, my throat gets constantly clogged, and the bubble in my chest is evident. When standing, the only problems I feel is the trouble breathing. I have never had asthma, which is what was thought to be the culprit, my blood pressure is normal, I've never smoked in my life, I've never had alcohol, and I eat somewhat healthy. Since I went to the doctors, my insurance has been canceled, I was supposed to have full medical until I was 18, 10 months or so from now, but it was actually cut off two years ago. I've never had problems before this year, yet I've heard one doctor try to pass it off as anxiety, which I've heard to be quite common on others my age. I know it is not anxiety, though, as my sister has it, and I've talked to her about it. I'm not sure what it could be. At first I thought it was acid reflux, but I'm not at all sure. I know it is not allergies, I've been tested for allergies, and they could not find anything outstanding. Can anyone hint me in on what it could possibly be? I never really ask for any form of medical advice, but this is starting to get in the way of my life. I can't even do my usual eight mile bike rides anymore, which I had kept up with until recently. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
This throat clearing thing is driving me crazy. My doctor also gave me samples of two different things to take to see which one worked like Nexium. Not brave enough to try since my doctor wasn't convinced either of them work.
I do not have my tonsils. I have wondered if this is allergy related. The only thing I can think of it that certain foods seem to irritate this condition like yogurt, cheese, dairy, pasta, probably bread and rice. I am seriously thinking my diet needs to change to more vegetables. I cannot believe there has not been a study done on this.
Have not yet found a homeopathic remedy for this since I do lean toward the natural way of healing.
Hot things seems to help and cold things seem to irritate the matter. This issue drives my husband crazy and he says I don't do this at night.
I do not have my tonsils. I have wondered if this is allergy related. The only thing I can think of it that certain foods seem to irritate this condition like yogurt, cheese, dairy, pasta, probably bread and rice. I am seriously thinking my diet needs to change to more vegetables. I cannot believe there has not been a study done on this.
Have not yet found a homeopathic remedy for this since I do lean toward the natural way of healing.
Hot things seems to help and cold things seem to irritate the matter. This issue drives my husband crazy and he says I don't do this at night.
WOW! After so much aggravation and anxiety over my CONSTANT throat-clearing, I ran across this forum. It's sort of a relief just to know there are many others suffering from this affliction! It is about to drive me out of my mind! People at work kid me about it sometimes. They say they know I'm just around the corner, simply by hearing my cough or throaty growls. I thought it might be due to my General Anxiety Disorder, but I'm starting to think it's actually physical/biological instead of in my head! I've had the same reaction from various doctors. Nasal spray and allergy pills. My next step is to try and get a referral to an ENT specialist. This has got to stop! :'( People who do not suffer from throat clearing cannot possibly understand the misery it causes. We mustn't give up hope though. I'm going to insist that my doctor order some specialized tests. Anyway, thanks for listening!