Help me with this new symptom!

[bikesing]

Well, another new one has come up. I'd like comments on this one, please! My stress level is high now because of work demands. Here's the symptom - sense of having to cough (tickle in what feels like my right lung or right bronchial tube). This started about 6 days ago. 8 days ago I poured a concrete pad which meant working with 10 bags of cement. There was a good breeze and there was some cement dust in the air. Of course, I did my best to avoid it and sprayed the hose on it to keep the dust down. I was ok after that. Then 2 nights later, we ran 2 humidifiers in the bedroom and when we woke up there was a cloud in the bedroom. I felt like I had to cough starting then. It feels like the esophageal spasm I get too on the right side. I have a history of tightness/mild pain on the right side of my chest which has checked many times for cardiac problems and is always fine. This usually comes with stressful times. All this may simply be due to stress. Has anyone ever experienced this tickling sensation that you want to cough as a result of anxiety or stress?

It's not bad, but my anxiety is growing. I think I need a chest xray or a flex bronchoscope to check out for lung cancer or calcification because of the cement dust. And I realize that this is probably hypochondria again as I really could only have inhaled very little.

It seems that I get very little time "off" from one health anxiety or another. I'm getting tired of this!

Thanks for reading and thanks for your feedback! So again, the question is has anyone had a sensation of needing to cough as a result of stress or anxiety?

Tom

[bikesing]

I posted this 8 days ago and have gotten no replies!!! Please someone reply!!

I'm really really upset over this physical symptom and want to know if anyone has ever had anything like it!!

I get a tightness/pain in the right side chest area and a tickle in my throat/chest that makes me fell like I have to cough. Nothing comes up at all. It feels better with eating. I'm in a very high stress time at work now which will peak the next two days as I make presentations. I've had this tightness/pain many times before and have had many cardiac and other evals but they're all negative and it goes away as it's diagnosed a a tension thing. But I never had the feeling like I wanted to cough. Of course, my anxiety as described below was started when I think I may have breathed in some cement dust 2 1/2 weeks ago. So now I'm convinced that it's a lung thing and that I need to cough. So how much is my health anxiety fueled by stress? Yes, I know, see the Dr. I had an appt for today but called it off because I was feeling ok yesterday. Then today it starts up again, probably because I wasn't going to se the Dr. What a mess! Symptom wise, it doesn't mess up my sleep and deep breaths are ok. Could this be caused by anxiety??????

What do you think???

Thanks so much for your comments!

Tom

[debbiep]

Hi , Hi, yes I think I get this also...I have noticed over the years that my anxiety symptoms change. My old fear was fainting when in public or with friends etc...but I have this new one which I have had for months now that is I get a tickle in the throat and need to cough.I know as soon as I think of the tickle it comes on... I know, for me, its anxiety related so yes I think it can be a symptom of anxiety. I used to suffer from panic attacks but now its more like throat attacks if this makes sense...!!! Takecare Debbie !!
ps I remember when it started for me I used to think it was from dust and or dry air as you mentioned the cement dust !!!!

[bikesing]

Debbie - thanks so much!! Let me add to my post about the cement dust - as you read below in my first post, I was pouring a cememnt pad outside and the cement dust was stirred up in the air a bit as I emptied the bags of cement (2 at a time into the wheelbarrow). I clearly tried to avoif the dust and used a hose to blow the dust down so there would be no more in the air. I should have worn a dustmask, but didn't. My stupid mistake. Anyway, this started my concern. I actually wonder if anxiety and stress could actually cause some broncial spasm or constricting (like asthma) which would make us feel this way.

It helps so VERY VERY much to hear from others who are sympathetic and who may have experienced the same or similar problems.

Thanks!
Tom

[huffnpuff]

My husband was doing some tuckpointing this summer on some old brickwork, and he sanded out the old cement before putting in the new. He worked like this for a few days, coughing at night and making me crazy. He finally put on the mask, but came in each day covered with the dust. I do believe the cement dust could have been an irritant to you also, but if your lungs are healthy, your coughing is probably getting rid of most of it. it's a good lesson tho, isn't it? A mask the next time for sure. And as an irritant, it doesn't go away that fast, but my husband's did after about a week or so. I also get the nervous cough from my nerves, although mine interferes with sleep. I think you'll be fine, but as we see all the time, a persistent cough should be looked at eventually.