Chronic coughing from partner

[catfeeder]

When I had a cough like this in the fall, it wouldn't go away even after I was treated with an antibiotic for a cold. The cold had been bad enough for me to accept the antibiotics, which I haven't done since I was a child. So the doc sent me to an ears, nose throat specialist, who said the quickest way to learn whether it's from an an allergy is to take two over-the-counter antihistamines. One, a nasal spray, Flonase or a generic, and the other, Allegra tablets or a generic. Neither should contain a decongestant, because the nasal passages should be lubricated, not dried out. Saline spray can be used to clear the nasal passaged before the antihistamine spray dose.

 

In my case, the coughing stopped immediately. I'd had had allergies when younger, but it was all about sneezing, not coughing. But allergies can present in different ways over time, and if BF wants to try ruling out--or ruling in--an allergy, OTC could be one of the most inexpensive ways to do that.

[ThatwasThen]

It sounds like a habit or a tic to be honest. Its telling by the way he seems to be indifferent with you when you bring it up. If he didn't always do it, he would listen to you and go to a doctor about it considering he is in the health field.

 

What to say? How about just asking him if he's aware of what he just did (say when he does it on the phone) and see how he responds. If he says yes, then ask him to try and not do it while on the phone because it goes right through your head. Then change the subject.

 

If it is a tic, he won't stop it. I think If it's just a habit and he's been made to acknowledge that he's done or doing it, he will make the effort to stop it.

[katrina1980]

I just did some research on tic cough and here's what I found:

 

A habit cough (also known inappropriately as psychogenic cough, tic cough, and somatic cough disorder) is a cough that may develop in children or adolescents after a cold or other airway irritant. Similar symptoms have been less frequently reported in adults but may not be the same disorder as is seen in children or adolescents.

 

First described in 1966 in a small series treated by "the art of suggestion, further publications identified patients with the same symptoms treated effectively with suggestion therapy. The average age has been reported as 10 years at clinics in Iowa, Minnesota, and London England. Eighty-five percent of 120 children diagnosed with habit cough over 20 years in Iowa were between ages 8 and 14 with a range from 5 to 18.[5] Based on experience in Iowa and London, major referral centers for children may be expected to encounter at least 7-9 per year.

 

Habit [tic] cough is characterized by a harsh barking cough, and becomes persistent for weeks to months. The cough's hallmarks are severe frequency, often a cough every 2–3 seconds, and the lack of other symptoms such as fever. The child can have trouble falling asleep but once asleep will not cough. Absence once asleep is considered a essential.

 

So while nothing should be ruled out, the fact that it mostly afflicts children and the harsh barking cough (versus the build up and clearing of phlegm like what your boyfriend suffers from) would suggest it's not a tic cough but something else.

 

And that he needs to see a doctor asap.

[ThatwasThen]

I just did some research on tic cough and here's what I found:

 

A habit cough (also known inappropriately as psychogenic cough, tic cough, and somatic cough disorder) is a cough that may develop in children or adolescents after a cold or other airway irritant. Similar symptoms have been less frequently reported in adults but may not be the same disorder as is seen in children or adolescents.

 

First described in 1966 in a small series treated by "the art of suggestion, further publications identified patients with the same symptoms treated effectively with suggestion therapy. The average age has been reported as 10 years at clinics in Iowa, Minnesota, and London England. Eighty-five percent of 120 children diagnosed with habit cough over 20 years in Iowa were between ages 8 and 14 with a range from 5 to 18.[5] Based on experience in Iowa and London, major referral centers for children may be expected to encounter at least 7-9 per year.

 

Habit [tic] cough is characterized by a harsh barking cough, and becomes persistent for weeks to months. The cough's hallmarks are severe frequency, often a cough every 2–3 seconds, and the lack of other symptoms such as fever. The child can have trouble falling asleep but once asleep will not cough. Absence once asleep is considered a essential.

 

So while nothing should be ruled out, the fact that it mostly afflicts children and the harsh barking cough (versus the build up and clearing of phlegm like what your boyfriend suffers from) would suggest it's not a tic cough but something else.

 

And that he needs to see a doctor asap.

Thanks for the info, Kat but there is always an exception to the rule. My neighbour's daughter who is 40 years old has had the same type of cough as described by the Op and has been diagnosed as it being a habit/tic. There has been nothing physiological found to attribute her "bark" followed by clearing of the throat of mucus. She does it more when she is under any kind of stress.

 

My daughter had the same thing as described in your quote (annoying as ....) thank goodness she outgrew that. She sounded like a agitated beagle when she had tests or exams coming up at school. lol

[katrina1980]

Hey T, oh I agree there are exceptions which is why I said nothing (including a tic) should be ruled out.

 

And that the research I found only "suggests" it's something else, not that it definitely is something else.

 

Hope that clarifies. :)

 

I still wanted to stress how important it is to be checked out by a doctor though, I mean although it sounds like it could be a tic, it's always better to be safe than sorry, Imo anyway.

[ThatwasThen]

Yes, defo better safe than sorry.

[Npgirl09]

Wow thank you all so much for your comments. You have provided me with so much information that I did not know. It was also interesting to read that some of you have dealt with this yourselves and have gone out to figure out what was the cause. Thank you guys for sharing your stories.

So I did end up mentioning to him that it “bothered me.” I took the plunge when he asked me how I had slept the night before and I said not that great because of his coughing in the early morning. I mentioned the reasons why it bothered me and how long I had noticed it had been going , while also mentioning my concerns for it and him.

He responded with “ there’s nothing wrong with me.”

I repeated some of the facts you guys had provided in this post to him, but he kept mentioning he had gone to the doctor before and nothing came back. I kept pushing that he get it looked into because I didn’t think it was normal, but I didn’t see much of a reaction to that.

I can’t force him to go get it checked out of course.

He kind of made a joke about the whole thing, and then even said he was NOT going to stop coughing like that. Later he said he was trying to not do it though. I was kind of annoyed of course.

I have yet to see if he makes an effort to not to do it as I haven’t spent time with him since that convo though.

I always thought it was a tic, but This could be a serious thing though as some of you have mentioned. If he keeps doing this cough, I honestly don’t know what else I could say.

[Wiseman2]

Ok, since he's digging his heels him ask him to go home after a date so you can get some sleep and he can cough because he's fine with it. To be honest he sounds quite stubborn and inconsiderate. There is no need to host him as an overnight guest. If he can't do something as simple as ask a pharmacist and dismisses your concerns in a cocky manner maybe it's time to rethink him, not his cough.

He responded with “ there’s nothing wrong with me.”

 

He kind of made a joke about the whole thing, and then even said he was NOT going to stop coughing like that.

[SherrySher]

I agree with Wiseman.

 

You've told him, he's dismissing you. All you can do now is not have him sleep over and ask yourself if you want to stay with someone who doesn't care what you think and is refusing to get help for an obvious, ongoing problem.