I have been coughing persistantly since thyroid surgery

Searching for help and saw these posts.  I had half my thyroid removed in 2003.  Had a cough for six years, and food would get stuck in my throat so that my husband had to do the Heimlich on me numerous times the first years.  But the cough and sticking were definitely going away.  Then in '09 I got the worst cold I've ever had.  It must have irritated the surgerical throat scar because the coughing got much worse and has only gotten worse ever since.  At first I thought food was irritating it, causing me to cough, and sometimes it was, since the coughing would get worse after eating things like potato chips or after getting food stuck in my throat which would irritate the throat.  So I cut out tons of foods to keep from irritating it.  But the cough can come anytime, just from breathing air or drinking water, or turning my neck to the side, or bending over to do stretches.  It's so bad now that I can't catch my breath and usually end up vomiting a bit, if I have any food on my stomach.  I am at the point of wondering if I must puree all my food from now on to try and avoid irritating it.  I eat healthy, take cod liver oil and other supplements, use probiotics, nothing seems to heal it.

Is there anything I can do to heal my throat?  Anyone have any thoughts?  Thanks so much.

Zelly I hope you are feeling much better and got your answer too. I need some help and just found this feed. Your symptoms are a bit similar to my mom's. She had her total thyroidectomy in early 2012. December 2012 she had a choking episode that landed her in the hospital for 12 days. She had to be intubated and then no ENT Dr's were available until 4 days later...it was a nightmare. Since the surgery she constantly has a cough or is always having to clear her throat. Well a week ago she woke up at 4 am and couldn't catch her breath. We called 911 but thankfully she started to catch her breath as I hung up with the dispatcher. Paramedics came and still checked her over. Has anyone else had the same problem and if so what was causing it? Scar tissue? Can anything help that cough? Another pillow, no fans, honey, etc? My mom has her ENT appt next month but that Dr is always so fast. We might be changing docs soon. Sorry for the very long post but me and my Dad are always on edge when she gets her bad coughs. It's eating me up as her daughter and I can't do anything. I'm looking for as much info I can get.

Sorry I don't have any answers for you Zelly or Shystar05.  My mom is the same way.  She had 1/2 of her throid removed about 20 years ago and the rest was removed last year.  Since her first surgery, she coughs all the time but it's gotten so much worse.  Every time she eats, she coughs.  The cough is so strong that she can't breathe and her face gets really red.  When we're in public people always come over and ask if she's okay or if she's choking.  They must wonder why we are all sitting so peacefully while she works through it.  We've gotten so used to it that we don't do anything but wait for her to stop.  I feel so bad for her and I just don't know where to turn to get help.  She lives in the middle of no where and there aren't any good doctors in her area.  I think she needs to take the 3 hour trip to a doctor to get some answers but I also don't want her chasing in circles without knowing where to go first.  I'm guessing an ENT doctor?

Hi I have had partial removal of my thyroid almost 5 years ago. In the initial days i had trouble with movement of my neck, and for couple of months my voice was very low, but with exercise of my neck i was able to move my neck from side to side. Also with practice my voice note also increased. Further, i was also experiencing lot of coughin due to drying of my throat, which eventualy decreased too. However,, now i am experiecing lot of throat dryness and itchiness in throat hence i carrry water bottle always and i try to contain my cough.

Omg, did it stop? I just had my thyroid removed 4 days ago and I can't stop coughing

Coughing is normal for several weeks after surgery, don't worry. I'm still searching for answers for my cough after a year, but I think I've got some "silent reflux" going on, not just Gerd. I'm making an appointment with dr to address this issue. Could just be I need a different medicine or approach to this problem. Good luck with your recovery.

Thank you makes me feel better!

I had a partial throidectomy 7 weeks ago. Hospitalised 4 days later for severe infection but swelling just going down! Now they tell me I had a walnut size cancer in the massive goitre and advise having other side removed in a few months. This has all been a shock as I had colon cancer removed last June. 2 separate isolated cases. Been to docs today as still coughing and he said it's probably due to my sore throat from the instruments . Looking on the positives, at least it's been removed.

Okay, hate to rain on the parade here, but I had a partial thyroidectomy in 1983 and I *still* cough. Fortunately (or unfortunately), there is the internet. I fear that my vagus nerve may have been "involved" during surgery, since I also have had symptoms (now) of: heart murmur, epileptic seizures, some fainting (unusual), and "the cough". For the most part, I've gotten used to it. At times, however, all I want to do is rip my lungs out (along with the sore throat, too). Not sure what to do, other than live with it. :-(

I had my thyroid removed last Friday. I have to take my pill on empty stomach. When does everybody take it night or morning? I feel if I take at night 4-5 hours after dinner I can go about my day when I get up.

I had half my thyroid removed in 07. Not sure when coughing started but I cough every day. It's so frustrating. I was told its acid reflux which I was tested for so I take ranitidine 2x day. Sometimes the cough is so bad that I throw up whatever is in my stomach. Have to clear my throat wire a bit, too. I don't know what to do about this cough

Hi, I understand this post has been put up a year ago and I hope someone is still responding. My mum had a total thyroidectomy a few years back and her coughing has not stopped after the surgery. It's only lately it came to light that it could be caused by the surgery as my mum has been going to numerous doctors, using western medication, coughing syrup, lozenges, Chinese herbal medications, acupuncture etc. Nothing helps. My mum is getting very depressed because of the cough, she will have a coughing fit for 30 mins and streaming with tears and even lose control of her bladder! Please can someone shed some light on this and if there's a cure for this? She is too embarrassed to go out and creating a lot of health issues because of this persistent cough. I really hope someone can help her, any advice? Thanks for responding in advance! Any tips and advice will be deeply appreciated.

I am glad to hear I am not alone. I had a total thyroidectomy a little over a year ago and still cough. I am going to see a specialist at USC.

Did you ever get any answers? I had my thyroid removed and week ago and I am coughing my head off!

I had my TT in 2015 and continued to cough constantly. This year, 2017 had recurring Thyroid cancer. The initial surgery they left a couple nodules on the Phrenic nerve (this controls your diaphram) because it was too risky to remove. this surgery I just had in August, a large tumor developed and invaded several nerves in my neck. They had to remove all that tissue along with my left Phrenic nerve. I have not coughed since the surgery. So apparently the pressure on that nerve was causing it. Good luck!