Smokers Cough

[DWC]

I recently developed a smokes cough. After signing up here on FOH I found myself buying and smoking a lot more than I usually do. Kind of like a kid in a candy store!

The cough was getting worse, so I figured I’d cut back a bit. No use, the cough was getting worse. So I laid off completely for a couple of weeks. No good, cough was worse yet.

So being pessimistic by nature, I assumed I had either lung cancer, throat cancer or both. (My Dad had throat cancer and my Mom died from breast cancer) So I nervously went to the doctor. After a chest X-ray and a trip to the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist today I came out with a clean bill of health. Seems my coughing is from acid reflux. So when the doctor told me I was too fat and it was causing acid reflux and making me cough I said I wanted a second opinion. He said ok, you’re ugly too! (haha, old joke)

My biggest fear thru all this was I finally amassed a bit of a nice collection and I wasn’t going to be able to smoke any more. The doctor asked how much I smoked, I answered “not much more than an average doctor” he said ok, try to cut back. Gotta love it. He said cut back, not quit! I thought for sure my son in law and my other daughter’s boyfriend was going to get all my smokes.

So anyway, If you’re coughing get checked. It could be nothing or it could be something.

Great news for me.. I think I’m going to celebrate by buying a box of cigars!

Dan

[Yagermeister]

Glad to hear it was nothing major, brother. I have the same problem with acid reflux and coughing. I think a lot of us aficionados will fall into the general body type and lifestyle that makes us prone to it. I took some prescription medication for it for a while, but it left me with a bad metallic taste in my mouth (which ruined my enjoyment of cigars!) so I weaned myself off of it and I'm now trying to alter my diet to minimize it.

[TiminBC]

Do not eat 2 hours before bed. Drink and eat less and walk a bit. It solved it for me. Sucks to get old or to have to suffer from our excesses!

[Fosgate]

I thought I had smokers cough once but discovered it was Hystoplasmosis. Let it go until I thought I was having a heart attack one night with pain radiating to the left of my spine, above my left pectoral muscle and radiating up the side of my neck. Hospital ran xrays and scans with an overnight stay in the hospital. Saw two small lumps near a lymph node and thought it might be cancerous. Went and did an expensive PET Scan and came back inconclusive and wound up doing a lung biopsy with no cancer but positive for hystoplasmosis. Turns out they suspect all my past Pneumonia cases were actually the hystoplasmosis but unconfirmed. Have not had a problem since I started using a CPAP for sleep apnea (also cut back on snoring as well.)

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/histoplasmosis/basics/definition/con-20026585

[Arazk9]

I love this post Dan... some suspense, humor and a happy ending! I want to second that you must get checked if someone is worried about their health "It could be nothing or it could be something``.

[LordAnubis]

Good to hear all is ok mate ! Don't leave the smokes for your kin, smoke all, smoke em now, while you can

[mncz]

Cheerful read. Glad the health is in good working order save for that pesky GERD. Cheers.

[PapaDisco]

Oddly enough, I used to have a persistent cough originating from an annoying and minor irritation. Lasted for decades. Taking up smoking cigars cured it, no lie. Two stogies a week and I'm right as rain!

[Vetteman]

I often get coughs and flem this time of year, particularly in the morning. I assume it's related to pollen.

[Ginseng]

Glad it turned out for the better!

Sometimes when I am phlegmy, like from seasonal allergies, I will take a smoke. More often than not, that clears me up.

Wilkey

[Stogiedude3]

Man this is an awesome read, lots of great info!

I have figured out a remedy for almost all things that ail ya?

Smoke a stogie dude!

[DWC]

"I think I’m going to celebrate by buying a box of cigars!"

Yup, Just ordered a box of Quai d'Orsay coronas. I've been meaning to try them for a while now (Capt Quint likes them so they must be good) and this was a perfect excuse to buy something milder than my 'regular' smokes.

Dan