Long Term Throat Issues

Other conditions
1

(Quick demographic info: 17 and female)

Over the past couple of years (I do not know exact amount of time), I’ve been noticing myself struggling with my throat. I have the constant urge to cough, clear my throat, or swallow air. This usually happens when there is a odd feeling right behind my tongue, as if saliva or mucus is sitting there. Swallowing air doesn’t really help, but it is my body’s automatic reaction to it. Clearing my throat and coughing can help, but the feeling comes back after a while. If I try to suppress any of these, it feels like I will choke or get liquid into my windpipe. I have had multiple nights over the past few months where I am up all night doing nothing by manually swallowing, as if my body suddenly started mass producing saliva (If it can help: I wear a retainer, but my teeth with move by the time it is night again). Those nights, I have the “I’m choking” sensation.

I also have issues with swallowing food and drink. I have to chew the food until it is in super small pieces and I will still find myself having small panic attacks that I will choke. Drinking water will give me the same issue, but I have noticed I will cough and panic a lot because I feel as if there is something wrong with my swallowing. Recently, I’ve found myself obsessing over how I’m swallowing.

I do not know if this will help, but when I was 13, I went in multiple labs to get my blood drawn for high testosterone. I think the numbers on the sheet were like 600 and so for testosterone (we have since stopped testing because one dude injected me with testosterone and declared I was okay). During one of my lab visits, they put me in a room with a general health lady. She explained the concern with testosterone and general health. At one point, she requested to feel my throat, which she concluded felt a little swollen.

As for advice I am looking for, I’m hoping to find a solution I can pursue later or a home therapy/remedy practice. Unfortunately, while health insurance is decently okay for us, I do not go into doctors unless I have a physical condition anyone can see and judge (my testosterone was a result of trying to figure out my acne). I would love any suggestions to get this figured out and handled to the best of our ability until I can move out and get a stable enough job to schedule doctor visits.

Thank you so much for your time and/or help! If you need more basic information, I will try to provide them!

2

Your symptoms sound like a post nasal drip,which will cause an annoying tickly cough as the drip touches the trachea/windpipe. It also can set up a habit of constantly trying to swallow the mucus which is travelling down the back of your throat,especially at night. It also can mean a sudden cough while eating or talking, which can be quite alarming to others. The retainer will make your mouth create more saliva as your body will interpret it as a foreign body.

You could try a bland/basic nasal spray or just cupping your hands with warm water and sniffing the water up your nose to help wash the mucus down your throat.

Lots of people experience this and its not serious.

3

Thank you so much, Marina! I definitely have stories where I scare everyone with this. I will try out the sprays and see if they work.