What could this be? I have violent cough, choking and vomiting but have been immunised against whooping cough?

Question

I had a cold a couple of weeks ago and it seemed to get better but then I started having violent coughing fits in which I feel like my airway is blocked and I can not get my breath properly. I have had a fever and a reddened throat. During a coughing bout I feel like I am choking and can only gulp air instead of inhaling properly. My intake of breath was forced and causes a heaving sound.

I have seen a doctor twice and she does not know what is causing it. During the second visit she prescribed antibiotics after hearing something on my chest in the hope this will clear my chest and treat the cause of the cough.

Now the bouts of coughing have become less frequent (I have been drinking or sucking lozenges constantly at the advice of a doctor to keep my throat lubricated) but now when it does happen, it is usually during the night, it wakes me up, it takes me much longer to get my breath properly, I gulp air and the cough is so violent that I vomit several times. I feel very shaken from the breathing difficulties for some time afterwards.

I have searched the internet and the nearest thing I can find is whooping cough but I was immunised against this as a child and the sound I am making is more of a heaving sound than a whoop.

My mother has experienced the coughing/choking bouts but these happen to her infrequently and at apparently random intervals, months apart (not when she is otherwise ill).

Does anyone know what this could be or how best to regain my breath during a bout of coughing/choking? I keep panicking during each bout when I realise it isn't going away and that makes it go on for longer. Anything that would help me stay calm or work out what is causing it would be greatly appreciated because I am now nervous about going to sleep in case it happens again.

Answer 1

I'm not a doctor but from my knowledge of situations like this I can say that you may have the flu- this can cause both coughing and vomiting, plus the sore red throat and the fever.  Another possibility is that the vomiting is a result of the antibiotic.  If you  have the flu, the antibiotic will do nothing for you- there are treatments for the flu available but most must be started when symptoms begin in order to be effective.  Your best bet is to support your body with plenty of fluids and rest and continue to see your doctor until you  recover.

Answer 2

You are not alone, i have had the same choking that you have for about a week now and it is very frightening when its happening. I am taking Levofloxacin 500mg which does seem to be helping but i have not been going to bed but sitting up right in a chair to try and sleep. Sipping water and sucking lozenges are the only relief i found Dequacaine to be the best. Hope you feel better soon.  Ray

Answer 3

just keep yourself warm. wear polo neck sweaters or scarves. it's very imp to stay warm at night, sweating might actually help alot. but continue vsiting your doctor.

oh n by the way panicing might get things even worse just try to stay calm n take a deep breath n hopefully you'll be feeling better in no time.

Answer 4

Your body is reacting to something in your environment that got past your five senses. Here are a few possible things that may affect a person.

1. The silver filling in your teeth are more mercury and could make you sick slowly over time.

2. Stray EMF in your home can make you sick.

3. Lead in your drinking water pipes hazard.

4. Mold hazard

5. Radon hazard

6. Lastly please consider the results of "NASA's Clean Air Plant Study" that can improve your environment drastically.

"Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution. Those plants in your office or home are not only decorative, but NASA scientists are finding them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings."

"NASA research has consistently shown that living, green and flowering plants can remove several toxic chemicals from the air in building interiors. You can use plants in your home or office to improve the quality of the air to make it a more pleasant place to live and work - where people feel better, perform better, any enjoy life more."

TOP 10 plants most effective in removing: formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air.

Common Name - Scientific Name

Bamboo Palm - Chamaedorea Seifritzii

Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema Modestum

English Ivy - Hedera Helix

Gerbera Daisy - Gerbera Jamesonii

Janet Craig - Dracaena "Janet Craig"

Marginata - Dracaena Marginata

Mass cane/Corn Plant - Dracaena Massangeana

Mother-in-Law's Tongue - Sansevieria Laurentii

Pot Mum - Chrysantheium morifolium

Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa"

Warneckii - Dracaena "Warneckii"