Coughing trigger (revisited)

[TW517]

I posted about this last October ( Coughing trigger?), and was hoping I’d seen the last of it.  I had coughing and wheezing for the first 5 months of my quit, that progressively lessened in frequency.  According to my “Smoke Free” app, this is normal.  Also according to that app, after 5 months (or October 2017 for me) my coughing and wheezing should have improved 100%.  And that also was true until December 29.  I had an episode then that lasted more than half a day, and had another yesterday, January 9, that began in the middle of the night and lasted until about noon. 

I’m not ill.  If you were sitting next to me, you probably wouldn’t even notice.  It’s not a cough like when you have a cold or flu.  It’s more of a productive chest/throat clearing cough that many smokers have, and occurs maybe every 30-60 minutes. It's like a "harrrummph" 2 or 3 times and done.  The craving begins immediately after that first cough and continues for several hours, getting worse with each chest/throat clearing.  I’m not sure if this is a “mental” crave.  I get a strong physical sensation of a void or vacuum in my left chest, just above my heart.  I also get an involuntary reflex to swallow several times trying to somehow fill that void.  When it is happening, I can’t stand to have even the slightest pressure on that spot on my chest.  If it happens when I’m in bed, I have to take my t-shirt or night shirt off, and make sort of a tent with the sheets/blankets so they are not touching my chest.  If I’m wearing anything slightly close fitting, like a sweater, during the day, I have to take it off.  The only thing that is mental about it is that for over 40 years, smoking a cigarette would (ironically) make my coughing stop and make that empty/void sensation go away immediately because it felt like I filled that void.

I can't "will the crave away" like I've learned to with other mental craves.  At least, I can't "will away" the coughing and void it produces.  Hopefully, over time, I can lose the memory of a cigarette filling that void.  Some of my old tricks like vigorous chewing or walking help only a little bit.  But nothing makes it go away completely until the coughing stops.

Anyone else experience anything like this?  Especially this late in your quit?

[YoungAtHeart]

For the length of time you have been quit, this seems extreme to me. It COULD still be your body healing itself - but at this point, I think a visit to your doctor might be in order.  The crave could be the  result of the coughing (if you used to cough a lot when you smoked). 

I am sorry you are experiencing this.  It sounds dreadful!

Nancy

[TW517]

Thanks Nancy.  It's not really dreadful.  Just kind of "Really?!?!, I have to go through this again?!?!"  And then after it's gone, I'm perfectly fine again.  My annual physical is in a couple weeks.  I'll ask my doc about it.  It feels just like you described, as my body healing itself.  Just like it did in the early weeks of my quit.  But I agree with you, by this point I should have all that gunk cleared out by now.

[Laurarutledge]

I was thinking the same thing as YoungAtHeart - time to talk to a doctor - it seems too late in your quit to be your lungs clearing out the gunk.

[Thomas3.20.2010]

I don't want to alarm you but these symptoms may be caused by lung disorders. When you speak to your Doctor ask for a Spirometry Test that is something like a breathalyzer - noninvasive and you get immediate results. Most Doctors have the Spirometer right there in their office and it's very affordable. Based on the results you may be tested with a full PFT (Pulmonary Function Test.) 

We have the ability to  associate one thing - the cough and sensitivity in your chest - with smoking cessation. There is something to be said about that. You see, Sickerette Manufacturers figured out a long time ago that if you quit smoking and start coughing you'll start smoking again - more money for them! So they literally add cough suppressant into their 7000 deadly cocktail of chemicals. They're soooo thoughtful!

Knowing one way or the other will allow you to sleep well at night!

TW517‌ but also for every single person who has smoked more than 100 Sickerettes in their lifetime!

[TW517]

Thanks Thomas.  I will definitely ask her.

[elvan]

I agree with Thomas3.20.2010‌ absolutely 100%.  I really don't like the thing where you can't even have any pressure on it...that's odd but it is something I am familiar with when I have tendinitis or shingles...I can't stand anything touching me or even a fan blowing on it.  The cough suppressant in the cigarettes would likely have stopped you from coughing...as disgusting as that is.  I am glad you have a physical coming up.  There are times when I get this kind of gurgly thing in my throat (makes it very hard to talk, I sound like I am underwater)...I take a shot of straight lemon juice and it usually resolves.  This could be your body healing as YoungAtHeart‌ suggested but I think you need to rule out anything else. 

Ellen

[Deb-EX]

Really, cough suppressant in the cigarettes??!! this is the first I've ever heard of that, and I thought I was informed. Thanks for enlightening me on that Thomas.

[Deb-EX]

It's interesting tw.. but lucky for you, you're aware of what's going on so that you can control it. I do agree with Thomas and Ellen, check with your doctor on that pressure sensitivy though.. Keep us posted!