Coughing

[Doggymama]

Hello all. My husband has coughed after eating for a few weeks now, but today after eating soup (no lumps) he coughed for 2 hours. He says he can eat and swallow okay if anyone asks it’s just this coughing. He has first appt with SALT on Tuesday but he will likely tell them he can eat/swallow fine. Is this coughing something we need to be concerned about? Xx

[Ellie]

Hi Alison,

Coughing during or after eating is usually a sign that all's not well with one's swallow, so it's timely that he has an upcoming SALT appointment.

The SALT should carry out a swallow assessment - perhaps have him drink some water, eat a dry biscuit and yoghurt, feeling his neck/throat as he swallows - and not just take his word that his swallow is fine... The SALT can also give 'safe swallowing' tips.

In my own experience, it doesn't take much food or liquid stuck in the throat or to go down the wrong way to cause a coughing episode or it might be a single grain of pepper causing me irritation.

I'm sure he was exhausted after his marathon coughing episode but it's a plus that he has a strong enough cough. xx

[Doggymama]

Thanks Ellie, he has just had his dinner and is in another coughing episode, he doesn’t feel anything is stuck he just can’t stop coughing. Xx

[Ellie]

... he doesn’t feel anything is stuck he just can’t stop coughing.

It's not always obvious when food is caught, it depends where it is.

If something goes down the wrong way (aspiration), irritation can last for a while.

Tuesday can't come soon enough, at least he'll get answers as to why he's coughing 🤞🤞 🤗

[Doggymama]

Thanks Ellie. You are such a help as always. It is much appreciated. Xx

[Helen T]

Doggymama hi, I hope you don’t mind me asking but have you got anywhere with finding out what’s triggering his cough, or more importantly, with finding something to help ease it / manage it? My dad is suffering similarly and even with oramorph, it’s not really easing Just looking for any and all ideas x

[Doggymama]

Hello Helen. We had our speech and language therapist who came our and advised us to watch what foods were triggering the cough and we have to avoid those. To eat slowly and I make sure his food is of soft consistency. We have found rice, bread, beef, chips all trigger his cough. Xx