Have You Ever Coughed So Hard You Couldn't Inhale?

[Christine]

I had a scary thing happen last night.

I had a coughing fit so bad, that each time the cough died down and I tried to breath in, the air would not pass through and I was making a "sound". I do not have asthma.

A little history. About 2 weeks ago, I came down with a weird cold/virus. It started out as a normal cold, then progressed to coughing. For most of one week, I had to take off work because I was having coughing fits so badly. I was having post nasal drip, the stuff was accumulating in my trachea, I guess, and then I would have fits to cough it up. During this, I did see a doctor (for other reasons). He said my lungs sound fine. I even had a chest x-ray (for other reasons) and my lungs are clear. So I know there is no lung problem. At any rate, I start to improve last weekend and had very little coughing most of the week. Just a few bursts of it at night, but nothing serious.

Then on Thursday, I started feeling like I had some more sinus drainage but it was very loose. Also on Thursday night. My eyes were itching. Our pollen count here is very high and I do suffer from a very mild reaction to that. Yesterday, I felt like I was clearing my throat a lot more.

When I got home, I had my usual cup of tea and a handful of walnuts. I then felt like I had more mucous. About an hour later, I had to take my dog to the vet. I coughed a bit on the way over (had the windows down). When I got in the vet after awhile I felt a little more irritated. I figured it was probably due to increased animal dander (I am allergic to cats). Got out of there, came home. I then received a phone call from some survey company about fast food dining . As I was talking, I felt like I was getting choked up and I started coughing hard. Finally, the interviewer says "are you okay?" I tell him that I had to hang up. I then went into a HUGE coughing fit. When each cough would subside, I would go to take my deep breath in and I couldn't get any air and I was making a gasping sound (very audible) trying to get it in. I tried to breathe through my nose and that seemed a bit better but my nose started getting all full of mucous from the coughing and that wasn't helping. As the "fit" subsided, I was able to get air in and am breathing fine.

But now I feel like I am back to where I was a week ago. My upper respiratory area seems inflamed, I have a lot of mucous again, and unfortunately have pulled a muscle in my back from the coughing.

I have NEVER coughed so hard and had that breathing thing happen and honestly it scared the crap out of me.

I personally feel that I have "whooping cough". I thought that last week, although I was not making the "whoop" sound. I think, last night, I made the "whoop" sound!

What perplexes me is that I had a relatively good week and seemed to be getting better. Having this setback last night has confused me.

Of course, it is Saturday and my doctor is closed. But I don't know what a doctor could do for me unless it is not whooping cough and there is something else going on.

My son has asthma and his symptoms have never been like this so I tend not to think that I've been hit with asthma, but anything is possible.

I'm just wondering if the pollen, excess animal dander, etc irritated by already susceptible breathing apparatus.

Any thoughts?

 

[ducklite]

Don't rule out asthma! Asthmatics have many different symptoms. Yours sound very much like mine!

I don't "wheeze", I cough. And I can't inhale, because my lungs are not allowing me to exhale.

I recently went through an acute asthmatic episode that lasted for almost a week that was triggered by airborne allergens. (Pollens)

You really should see a doctor and be checked for asthma.

In the meantime it probably wouldn't hurt to take a pull of your sons Albuterol inhaler next time you fell this coming on.

Anne

 

[Christine]

Don't rule out asthma! Asthmatics have many different symptoms. Yours sound very much like mine!

I don't "wheeze", I cough. And I can't inhale, because my lungs are not allowing me to exhale.

I recently went through an acute asthmatic episode that lasted for almost a week that was triggered by airborne allergens. (Pollens)

You really should see a doctor and be checked for asthma.

In the meantime it probably wouldn't hurt to take a pull of your sons Albuterol inhaler next time you fell this coming on.

Anne

Thanks.

Anne, do you put much stock in the peak flow meters? Because I can always "blow" about 500 on that. Of course, I couldn't while choking.

 

[ducklite]

Thanks.

Anne, do you put much stock in the peak flow meters? Because I can always "blow" about 500 on that. Of course, I couldn't while choking.

I test my breathing every morning. They are a pretty good indicator.

I also blow about a 500 when things are going well. I can usually tell when it's a "bad day" but sometimes it sneaks up on me. A lower than normal reading on my peak flow indicator allows me to take proactive steps, like using my nebulizer, before I have an actual asthma attack.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Whoa. I just reread your original post, and saw something. WALNUTS! You might have been having a fairly serious allergic reaction. You CAN develop allergies later in life (I'm a classic case of adult onset food allergies!)

DO NOT eat nuts, nut products, or peanut butter and its byproducts until you see a doctor and tell them exactly what you just put in your OP. And stress the NUTS.

If it was the walnuts, the next time around you could go into full blown anaphylaxis which untreated will lead to death. It's that serious. Please be careful!

Anne

 

[Christine]

Whoa. I just reread your original post, and saw something. WALNUTS! You might have been having a fairly serious allergic reaction. You CAN develop allergies later in life (I'm a classic case of adult onset food allergies!)

DO NOT eat nuts, nut products, or peanut butter and its byproducts until you see a doctor and tell them exactly what you just put in your OP. And stress the NUTS.

If it was the walnuts, the next time around you could go into full blown anaphylaxis which untreated will lead to death. It's that serious. Please be careful!

Anne

I was wondering if anyone would catch that.

Okay, I'll admit it (as I have before), I'm a pretty serious worrier. And, yep, I was concerned about the walnuts. My son has a very severe peanut allergy so I always feel that I'm a little TOO aware of food allergies. I get nervous eating things that have never bothered me (I'm working on this with my therapist ). Anyway, I did feel a bit more mucousy after the walnut. I've eaten them for 3 nights this past week. Yesterday, as I my mucous increased I was thinking "OMG, is it the walnuts? Am I having a reaction?" The reactions I'm used to with my son are immediate and involve hives. I had none of this. And the choking fit occurred about 4 hours after the walnuts.

At any rate, I'm not eating any more walnuts.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I get this sort of cough every time I get cold. Stopped asking doctors about it because they tell me its smokers cough and I why do I keep saying I can't give up smoking, probably because I don't smoke!!!!!!!!!

 

[ducklite]

I was wondering if anyone would catch that.

Okay, I'll admit it (as I have before), I'm a pretty serious worrier. And, yep, I was concerned about the walnuts. My son has a very severe peanut allergy so I always feel that I'm a little TOO aware of food allergies. I get nervous eating things that have never bothered me (I'm working on this with my therapist ). Anyway, I did feel a bit more mucousy after the walnut. I've eaten them for 3 nights this past week. Yesterday, as I my mucous increased I was thinking "OMG, is it the walnuts? Am I having a reaction?" The reactions I'm used to with my son are immediate and involve hives. I had none of this. And the choking fit occurred about 4 hours after the walnuts.

At any rate, I'm not eating any more walnuts.

Good idea. Allergic reactions aren't always instantaneous and aren't always hives. Keep in mind that if youa re allergic to one type of nuts you are probably allergic to many if not all, and they generally suggest you not eat peanuts either.

I would still investigate a possible asthma connection as well.

Anne

 

[dmslush]

I would also be concerned about the walnuts! I cannot eat Doritos Cool Ranch chips because about 10 minutes after eating them, I do the same exact thing that you described. Heavy, thick, loud cough.. hard to inhale, etc.. I was eating a small bag of these each day while at school and thought that I had a flu or cold. I then started noticing that I only had these spells AFTER eating the chips. I stopped eating the chips and haven't had a problem since. I don't know what is in them, but I avoid them at all costs.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Could it be Protusis (Whooping Cough)?

I had a terrible, terrible bout with it over Christmas about 3 years ago. I was home alone and started coughing so hard and so long that I couldn't bring the mucous up, but couldn't catch a breath either. I called my Mom (physician) at work and went into a fit on the phone. She said, "I'll be home in 15 minutes." She was afraid I was going to choke at home alone and not now what to do.

She brought home a course of Prednisone, a Kenalog shot, and a nebulizer. Went into see a primary care (Mom works for the VA, so she can't RX anything to family anymore) and she gave me cough syrup and some type of hyrdocodone to put me asleep through the worst of it. It took about 10 days of Neb treatments 4-5 times a day, 4 Kenalog shots (helps with inflammation), a course of Prednisone (steroid), and two refills on the cough syrup to finally get over it. I still have a "remnant" cough from it, too. Not nice and very, very scary.

Although we're vaccinated against Whooping Cough as children, it wears off around the time we head into 1st or 2nd grade...

 

[luvdzne]

Op what a scary thing not to be able to take a breath. My first thought was the walnuts too. It might not be a bad idea to take a benadryl if you are still feeling some symptoms, I would also see the doc on Monday.

It seems more and more people are allergic to nuts. That's a scary thing! Nuts are in so many things you don't know about. One of my dd's friends has a sever nut allergies (could not even be in a room that has a bowl of nuts in it, or around someone that just ate peanut butter). After much research from her mom, she found out that some toothpastes have it in it. It happened to be one that she was using at the time. Also in some laundry products.

 

[Christine]

Could it be Protusis (Whooping Cough)?

I had a terrible, terrible bout with it over Christmas about 3 years ago. I was home alone and started coughing so hard and so long that I couldn't bring the mucous up, but couldn't catch a breath either. I called my Mom (physician) at work and went into a fit on the phone. She said, "I'll be home in 15 minutes." She was afraid I was going to choke at home alone and not now what to do.

She brought home a course of Prednisone, a Kenalog shot, and a nebulizer. Went into see a primary care (Mom works for the VA, so she can't RX anything to family anymore) and she gave me cough syrup and some type of hyrdocodone to put me asleep through the worst of it. It took about 10 days of Neb treatments 4-5 times a day, 4 Kenalog shots (helps with inflammation), a course of Prednisone (steroid), and two refills on the cough syrup to finally get over it. I still have a "remnant" cough from it, too. Not nice and very, very scary.

Although we're vaccinated against Whooping Cough as children, it wears off around the time we head into 1st or 2nd grade...

Well, this is what I have *suspected* that I had when I first came down with this about 2 weeks ago. I guess what has "gotten" me is that I was getting better--didn't cough much over the past week. But I could tell that my airways were still irritated. Apparently, either the walnuts, pollen, and/or visit to the vet did me in yesterday. I am highly allergic to cats so just being in the vet's office for an hour may have triggered it. The walnuts too I suspect. I have been eating them in the evenings for the last 3 days. I was just reading some more about pertussis (whooping cough). It seems that the bacteria that causes it, totally destroys the cilia in your tracheal area so that, even when you think you are getting better, any subsequent cold/allergy/irritation will trigger a coughing fit for up to 6 months after the initial illness.

I am really hoping that this is the case. I really don't want to deal with a food allergy or asthma.

 

[YourMajesty]

I like the benadryl idea if you think it could be the nuts. The liquid would work quickly. If you really think it could whooping cough I would get some meds for that too. Try an urgent care...sometimes they are more helpful than your primary care. I sound like a pill pusher...but in my old age I don't like to suffer.

 

[Christine]

I like the benadryl idea if you think it could be the nuts. The liquid would work quickly. If you really think it could whooping cough I would get some meds for that too. Try an urgent care...sometimes they are more helpful than your primary care. I sound like a pill pusher...but in my old age I don't like to suffer.

I took some liquid Benadryl last night and then took some again about an hour ago becuase I feel very "mucousy."

I went to the doctor once while I was in the throes of the coughing. Apparently, even if it is pertussis (whooping cough), there is nothing that can be done for it. Once the coughing fits start, the damage is done and you just have to wait for your airway to heal. Cough medicines, asthma meds, etc. are sometimes given but with little relief (or so I'm told).

I just want this to go away. I feel like crap today. Just very fatigued. Coughing is minimal, thank God.

 

[susan514]

I had a upper resperitory(sp) infection in December. Got very hoarse and was told I had Bronchitis. I took antibiotic and felt better right away. I was having a great deal of trouble taking a deep breathe, and that got better with the meds. After a week, the breathing got bad again, more meds, but they did not help. Long story short, 2 trips to the ER and to a pulmonoligist, I was told that I have something called Vocal Cord Dysfunction and I still continue to have episodes. This mimics Asthma and is often mistaken for that. Try looking on the internet for info and I hope you feel better.

BTW, I was given an inhaler and steroids and they did nothing. This was how they decided I did not have Asthama.

 

[YourMajesty]

I took some liquid Benadryl last night and then took some again about an hour ago becuase I feel very "mucousy."

I went to the doctor once while I was in the throes of the coughing. Apparently, even if it is pertussis (whooping cough), there is nothing that can be done for it. Once the coughing fits start, the damage is done and you just have to wait for your airway to heal. Cough medicines, asthma meds, etc. are sometimes given but with little relief (or so I'm told).

I just want this to go away. I feel like crap today. Just very fatigued. Coughing is minimal, thank God.

I hope you feel better soon too....I think you should be the one to decide if the meds help or not. If there is soemthing to make you more comfortable(ie cough medicines)...try it. Aslo, I was going to ask if you have been allergy tested for food and pollen etc? This has recently been an issue for me but I can't seem to make an appt for myself. My kids have a very good allergy Dr. I just keep thinking that food allergies are not that common in adults so it would be a waste of time to be tested. Good luck.

 

[Christine]

I hope you feel better soon too....I think you should be the one to decide if the meds help or not. If there is soemthing to make you more comfortable(ie cough medicines)...try it. Aslo, I was going to ask if you have been allergy tested for food and pollen etc? This has recently been an issue for me but I can't seem to make an appt for myself. My kids have a very good allergy Dr. I just keep thinking that food allergies are not that common in adults so it would be a waste of time to be tested. Good luck.

I have never been tested, although my son has (because he was obviously allergic to peanuts, so they tested him for everything).

I know that, as a child, I had horrible allergies in the early summer (grass pollens) and the fall (ragweed). The cat allergy started when I was about 5 years old. As I've aged, the allergies bother me less and less. In fact, by the time I was in my 20s, I stopped having noticeable symptoms (no eye swelling, itching). In fact, I think my cat allergy has even gone down to a *simmer*. But I know enough to realize that allergies can CONSTANTLY change.

Same as you, I've always pondered the idea of testing but haven't done it for myself.

 

[ducklite]

After much research from her mom, she found out that some toothpastes have it in it. It happened to be one that she was using at the time. Also in some laundry products.

REALLY??? That is so weird--I'm asthmatic AND allerigic to nuts. There have always been some toothpastes that will trigger an asthma attack in my--now I"m wondering if there's a relation?

Any idea what brands?

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I have never been tested, although my son has (because he was obviously allergic to peanuts, so they tested him for everything).

I know that, as a child, I had horrible allergies in the early summer (grass pollens) and the fall (ragweed). The cat allergy started when I was about 5 years old. As I've aged, the allergies bother me less and less. In fact, by the time I was in my 20s, I stopped having noticeable symptoms (no eye swelling, itching). In fact, I think my cat allergy has even gone down to a *simmer*. But I know enough to realize that allergies can CONSTANTLY change.

Same as you, I've always pondered the idea of testing but haven't done it for myself.

They can now do testing through blood serology instead of the old fashioned prick/scratch tests. I just had a half dozen panels done, and found I am allergic to all sorts of things I never knew.

Anne

 

[Christine]

They can now do testing through blood serology instead of the old fashioned prick/scratch tests. I just had a half dozen panels done, and found I am allergic to all sorts of things I never knew.

Anne

Isn't that the CAP RAST test? They've been doing it for awhile; however, most the allergist I've taken my son to don't care to use it. I guess you can get a lot of false positives on it. But same with the skin prick test so I guess each doctor decides which he wants to rely on.