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Coughing up mucus from lungs after eating

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Posted 6/15/2014 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
I am 4 weeks post fundo. My main reason for getting the surgery was because it was suspected I was aspirating at night. My airways were very swollen and inflamed and had all the lpr symptoms. I'm still plagued with heartburn, constant burping, constant feeling of stomach contents coming up. Is suspect that it hasn't been as effective as is hoped.

The one thing that is bugging me the most is that everytime I eat, within 5 minutes I have the most awful phlegm on my lungs and it takes me about 15 mins to clear it and then it's gone. Has anyone else had this? I don't think it's allergy related as I had an ige and total ige test prior to surgery when they were trying to get to the bottom of my chronic cough. I've been on beconase for my post nasal drop in the past which did nothing.

If anybody else has this, I'd love to hear from you.
Posted 6/16/2014 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
I also have chronic cough, but usually very dry. Months ago, everytime I drink cold liquids, I start to cough, not the attacking cough thing but some like throat clearing cough. I cant remember how long I had it but I think it's been years. It was not that annoying before, until This april where I started to worry because there were other symptoms. I began to have shortness of breath and back pain. Burping, bloating and upset stomach with feeling of lump in my throat. But then one by one the symptoms disappear. But the coughing and shortness of breath stayed. Not that severe though, but annoys me a lot.
As of now, I cough everytime I feel full, or if I'm hungry! I cough when I'm thinking but I dont if I'm busy. I also sleep perfectly fine, my cough DOESNT interrupt my sleep. How about you? If you dont eat , it means you wont cough? What if you drink?
Posted 6/16/2014 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I've had chronic cough for 7 months now, it's very annoying. Mine started as a very dry cough and wouldn't cough anything up. My airways have felt very inflamed and irritated for the last 7 months since and a and e doc suggested I have silent reflux and at one point even the smell of washing up liquid would set me off coughing. I truly believe aspirating small amounts of acid over a long period of time has made my airways very sensitive. I paid to see a private respiratory consultant who did a whole bunch of tests spirometery which was apparently normal but diagnosed me as having gerd related bronchospasm and mild asthma despite never having any problems with my airways prior to this. I've been on inhaled steroids which did ease the coughing slightly but my athma nurse doesn't believe I have true asthma as my peak flow is roughly always the same. She believes gerd is the causes. Like I say the only way I can describe it is my lungs feel congested and fill up with mucus following eating a normal size meal. Drinks seem fine but when my lungs were hyper hyper sensitive before the inhalers and ppi drinking a cold drink would spark off a coughing fit. I really hoped the fundo I've had would ease my symptoms but as yet nothing, it it seems to be getting worse plus my surgeon has told me NOT to take ppi as this will not help and that all of my issues can't be reflux and more ear nose and throat! Despite me having allergy tests which were negative, treated with beconase and inhlaers neither have eased my symptoms. I have no clue what to do now!
I feel for you suffering from anxiety too. I do too and have a few times been told this is all in my head! Despite being told that I had COPD in my lungs by an and e doc when I was really poorly. (Respiratory doc said could have been a touch if pneumonia) I've argued my case that I've been anxious because I've felt really Ill and nobody would put the pieces of the jigsaw together to see that most of my issues are connected to gerd. (I have irregular heartbeat which I've been reffered for too, which I'm
Hoping is just because of the gerd ) who would have thought that acid reflux could cause so many problems!
Posted 6/17/2014 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
I also had irregular heartbeat, it starts when I first had my anxiety.
I also thought of taking supplements, as I have found out that vit deficiency could cause anxiety, shortness of breath, muscle pain and cough which are my main problem as of now. I think my issue with GERD is quite small. I also had chest xray and sputum which are all clear. I have been taking antihistamine and montelukast which was prescribed by my Pulmonologist, it will take a month to finish before I will go back to her for another check up.

How is your breathing?
I've tried to jog and jump intensively, just to check my breathing and heartbeat. Never noticed difficulty in breathing or gasping of air. My heartbeat was also normal, from fast to rest.. That's why I'm pretty sure it's not about my lungs or heart..

Post Edited (angelcat) : 6/16/2014 6:28:33 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/17/2014 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Have you heard of sensory neuropathy cough? I have watched a video about it. Something like this: it may start from an infection (flu, virus, etc.) which made you cough that time. But eventually, it damaged your nerves that made the cough stayed for a long time. It is commonly misdiagnosed as asthma, allergy, post nasal drip or reflux because of same symptoms. But the thing is, it does not respond to medications.
The doctor on the video prescribes Elavil (which is known to be an antidepressant) because it calms and heals the nerves.
What do you think?
Im afraid to take antidepressant.. I will first wait and see the result of supplements that I am currently taking..

Post Edited (angelcat) : 6/16/2014 6:49:35 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/17/2014 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
I know this might not work for everyone, but before I had reflux diagnosed a few years ago, I had the same chronic LPR cough that you guys had for six months. I did the inhaler thing, went to the ER once etc... I coughed and coughed harder thinking I needed to clear my lungs, and I made myself extremely ill doing it. When I eventually found out it was GERD and not lung cancer or asthma or something (after many tests and much paranoia), I started consciously willing myself not to cough-- it was really, really hard to do, but after a few weeks, the not coughing thing made me need to cough less. Every time I felt the need to cough, I'd tell myself "no, it's just irritation in your throat from reflux," and eventually it got easier (along with medication). The more you cough, the more you irritate and inflame your bronchial passages.

Trotters, I've heard from others on here that LPR symptoms can take months to resolve after a Nissen, and I would encourage you (if you can) to try to will yourself to not cough as much as possible. If you can achieve that Jedi mind trick, it might help you to heal faster. I'm currently dealing with LPR again myself at the moment post-Endostim, and I'm doing that for myself: throat clearing if needed, gum chewing, and deep breathing. I'm not letting myself get into that vicious coughing circle again. Best of luck.
Posted 6/18/2014 6:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi grovercat,
I also been trying to do that. I'm practicing myself not to cough or to avoid
myself not to cough. I think I can. But there were times I can't resist it. my
cough is still dry, more of a throat clearing, not whooping. I am not interrupted
when I sleep, nor when I'm eating. You're right, it's more of a tickling
sensation. I hope This annoying this would quickly go away. So that my anxiety would also stop...
Posted 6/18/2014 6:57 AM (GMT 0)
Grovetcat,
Few more questions..
When you had your first LPR symptoms, did you change your diet? Or you just took medications by your doctor? (inhalers, antibiotics)
Do you think your LPR symptoms are "just the start" of your GERD issues? Which of the two do you consider is more severe?

I am 26 years old, hoping that I would heal whatever gerd or lpr issues I have. As of now, most of my symptoms are not severe or painful. They are more of an annoyance. And I hope it will eventually disappear and be healed. I'm currently changing my diet. From a rice, bread and meat lover, I'm now into veggies and fruits. But from time to time I still eat everything BUT very moderate. I wanted to heal my self naturally without so many medications because I want to take a rest from so much pills I had last few montha. All I am taking are supplements and antiallergies. I don't want to take Ppi's or any antibiotics!
Posted 6/18/2014 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Angelcat,

I do take Elavil for vagus nerve damage, that has given me a chronic cough for other 30 years. It was always diagnosed incorrectly. The Elavil does really work, and the only annoying side effect for me is very dry mouth. It also makes me drowsy and, but that is a great benefit for me since I am a very poor sleeper and only take it at night. I also have LPR, and the medication no longer works for me so I still cough and get mucous, but when the reflux meds were working I did not cough. That is why I am having the Nissen in July.

 

Posted 6/18/2014 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Angelcat,

LPR was the start of my ongoing condition. It's come and gone and morphed into different things over time, including dysphasia, chest pain, some regurg etc... At first I cut out caffeine and took my PPis when I was your age, 25 or 26 (low dose: 20 mg omeprazole) for three or four months and that seemed to do the trick for the cough and the post-nasal drip. It was actually a boyfriend who told me I'd been coughing at night. I had no idea. I kept caffeine out of my diet when I went on meds (and have kept it out ever since), and that helped a lot. Nothing else really seemed to be a trigger for me at that point. Symptoms hovered so that I noticed it now and again over the next two years but didn't think I needed to treat it with more than OTC until it came back with a vengeance a couple of years ago last fall. I went back on PPis for a few months. Then off again. Then the burning throat came back and turned into GERD as well a year ago this past April. At that point, none of my meds worked anymore. I eventually ended up on Dexilant 60 then 120, and I did the Endostim about a month ago. Still waiting for my symptoms to completely subside... it could take a few months. My story doesn't necessarily mean it will be the same for you as everyone is different. Do what you can to take care of yourself, and definitely make diet a part of it.
Posted 6/19/2014 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
Toritone,
I am planning to try Elavil for one week, if my symptoms won't improve. Thanks for the helpful information!
Grovercat,
Thanks! I'm really desperate get back to my normal self and be healthier! As mich as possible, I want to prevent severe Gerd and I'm really not ready to take PPI's as maintenance.
Thanks guys, hope everything will be fine soon!
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