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Excessive coughing/mucus after eating

For many years I have had a problem where after every meal I immediately begin choking and coughing, which can last for a good half hour or more.  It feels like all of my air passages become blocked with mucus and I have trouble breathing.  Sometimes the coughing is so severe I end up vomiting or I often gag almost to the point of vomiting (It's very exhausting.)  It doesn't seem to matter what I eat, and it happens pretty much after every meal.  I have never been diagnosed with any kind of respiratory problem like asthma or anything like that, nor do I have any food allergies, but I was wondering if maybe I should tell my doctor about this problem and if maybe it is a fixable thing?  Does anyone else have a similar problem?
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Avatar universal
I too have this throat clearing problem occuring roughly 30 minutes after eating and around one hour after arising from bed, since June 2001 (no previous problems prior to this date). I usually have three phases of throat clearing per day, one after breakfast, lunch, then supper. The mucus does not feel as if it approaching from the back of the nose (no post nasal drip sensation - that's not to rule it out though) - I'm not sure where it is coming from. Starts with mild constriction and a tickle at the base of my throat, and gradually turns into a build up of phlegm. I rarely cough up anything substantial, usually just something very small, cloudy colour and sticky. I have red spots at the back of my throat (pharangytis from phlegm).

Here is the order of diagnosis I've had so far:
- Asthma dx by MD (2001 - non-steriod inhaler - I consider a
   false diagnosis!..based on slightly low exhilation test)
- Sinusitis diagnosis by MD ( 2002 - tried antibiotic/steriod  
   spray combo but failed)
- Rhinosinusitis by ENT ( 2002 - Nasonex steriod spray failed)
- GERD by ENT (since Feb 2004 up to present day - Lansoprazole
   30MG per day - no significant improvement yet).

ENT has put an endoscope down my nose and said there was nothing to see. CT scans showed nothing. Even had a septoplasty December 2003 which did absolutely nothing. I've had allergy tests for grasses, trees etc but I'm not allergic, nor do I have any known stomach/digestion problems. I'm a 25 yr old male in the UK.

I'm 90% sure it's either PND or GERD but how can a definateley tell ? Anyone else had any joy at fixing this problem ?

This pretty much sums it up: www.doctorhoffman.com/xglobus.htm
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
Hi,

I used to have the problem of coughing and lot's of mucus after eating. If I laid down right afterward, the mucus would come up in my throat and it would feel as though I couldn't breathe. None of the over-the-counter antiacids helped me. It wasn't until I started taking Nexium that I got any relief at all. I also have post-nasal drip, so it was a combination of things that was causing the cough, but once I got those things treated, the cough and the mucus went away.
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
It sounds like we could form a support group - Mucus Producers of America United!  I have all that everyone here as described and it has become such an embarrassing problem that I don't want to eat in public!  And my profession is very public and social oriented.  I just know that it isn't GERD.  From all that I've read it seems that it is probably chronic postnasal drip.  Thank you because you have given me some ideas that I might try, including maybe taking an antihistamine a little while before a meal.  We might all give that a try and see how it works.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
There are several possible suspects with regard to your symptoms. The most direct cause for long-term symptoms is probably an irritant affecting an existing inflamation in the lungs. The irritant can be a chemical or powder from an external source like pollution, construction, cleaning, mold spores, pollen, weather, smoking, dusty roads and people with horrendously unimaginable dandruff. Ok, I made up the last one. Or it can be from the caustic fumes from stomache acid as it flows unimpeded through a tired valve. The inflammation can be from either repeated exposure or massive exposure to the above, or it can be from some disease which affects the lungs.

After 9/11, I involuntarily put down my keyboard and took up the hammer. It's amazing how much airborne **** is involved in Home Improvement, both solid and chemical.
It didn't help that I was also a sculptor of sandstone.
What I have is a chronic bronchitis form of silicosis. One unprotected breath of paint fumes or concrete dust is paid for with a week of morning and after-meal sputum expectorating. Even without the silicosis, any foreign matter that gets through to normal lungs can cause an inflamation or wake a sleepy one.

What do you do? First, get the swelling down in the tubes or there will be permanent damage. Your doctor will have to help with that. Wear a dust mask designed for fine dust or a respirator if you are affected by chemicals. Find out if you have acid reflux desease and stay on the treatment. If you suspect it, then get the over the counter acid reducers and use them religiously. Acid reflux seems to like cycles too, so be diligent. Check your house for mold and watch the weather pollution reports to monitor any corellation with sputum production. If your doctor can't help or is disinclined to help...find one who will. It's your life.  Ask yourself where dust or chemicals might be coming from in your world. Type in the words "excessive mucus" in your Internet search engine and see what grabs you. Nobody knows you or trusts you like you do.

I'd tell you more, but I gotta spit.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&as_qdr=all&q=%22excessive+mucus%22&btnG=Google+Search
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I have quite similar symptoms like you. Do you clear your throat a lot during the day? I do and everytime I eat or drink something I experience also a lot of mucus in the throat which makes me clear my throat again. But the funny thing is, that I never have to cough.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
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Avatar universal
I have pretty much the same issue for about 3 years now. I was previously a "causal" smoker (weekends, occasioanlly during the week, peaking at maybe 2 packs a week), but have given up smoking for nearly a year now. I get this cough that feels like im trying to force something out of my throat (not the airway, i can still breath fine..). It is MUCH worse in the morning (especially in the shower...), and after eating. I also have a stuffed\runny nose that accompanies it. So when the cough acts up, my nose does aswell. It's pretty clear to me that it has something to do with the nasal fluid, but I don't have a solution. My doctor, while a very nice guy, is pretty set on just giving me antibiotics and sending me on my way (which didn't work, by the way).  I'd like to know if there is a way I can solve this myself?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
For a the last year or so immediately after eating dinner I have to clear my voice for a good half hour or so. It feels like phlem, but when I try to cough it out there isnt any. On a doctor's visit for something else I mentioned this to my doctor and he said it was common. Now it seems worse than it ever and is very irritating/fustrating to the point where I am posting this message. I now get it after lunch time and sometimes I have to clear my throat once in a while during the day. I figured that it is from myself still having my tonsils and I have a habit of sleeping with a fan on, so I figured the cold air is causing my throat/tonsils to swell or something. I am tired of this and want to find out what I have to remedy this. Thanks for any help. Thank you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
For a the last year or so immediately after eating dinner I have to clear my voice for a good half hour or so. It feels like phlem, but when I try to cough it out there isnt any. On a doctor's visit for something else I mentioned this to my doctor and he said it was common. Now it seems worse than it ever and is very irritating/fustrating to the point where I am posting this message. I now get it after lunch time and sometimes I have to clear my throat once in a while during the day. I figured that it is from myself still having my tonsils and I have a habit of sleeping with a fan on, so I figured the cold air is causing my throat/tonsils to swell or something. I am tired of this and want to find out what I have to remedy this. Thanks for any help. Thank you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
For a the last year or so immediately after eating dinner I have to clear my voice for a good half hour or so. It feels like phlem, but when I try to cough it out there isnt any. On a doctor's visit for something else I mentioned this to my doctor and he said it was common. Now it seems worse than it ever and is very irritating/fustrating to the point where I am posting this message. I now get it after lunch time and sometimes I have to clear my throat once in a while during the day. I figured that it is from myself still having my tonsils and I have a habit of sleeping with a fan on, so I figured the cold air is causing my throat/tonsils to swell or something. I am tired of this and want to find out what I have to remedy this. Thanks for any help. Thank you.
Helpful - 0
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