Can I hurt my sleeve by coughing or repeatedly clearing my throat?

Something -- probably acid reflux -- is giving me a MASSIVE tickle in the back of my throat, and I've had some spectacular coughing jags and a lot of deep throat clearing.

So, should I fear for my sleeve? I haven't vomited.

I seriously doubt you could damage it by coughing... that'd move it a little bit, but wouldn't really push, pull, or traumatize it (I'm visualizing what would happen in there with a cough LOL).

Were you on oxygen in the hospital? They kept me on it the whole time I was in there and it was SOOO dry.... for days afterward my nose and throat just felt like sun-dried leather and my voice was so croaky and hoarse. Could that be the cause of the tickle? You might try some sugar-free Halls or Ricola, those really felt great for me during that time. :001_smile:

Hmm, I hadn't thought about the oxygen. Yesterday and Thursday I had a really raspy, sore throat from being intubated. That might be playing a factor as well.

Also, this could be post-nasal drip -- I had to stop all my allergy meds for the surgery, and I get wicked bad allergies.

Whatever the cause, the cough seems to have died down a bit since I took 20 mg of Omeprazole and a hit of Flonase.

For many months I would gag and dry heave every morning as soon as I started to brush my teeth and gargle...(still happens sometimes)--I've got this sinus thing going on too and it feels as though I've got a glump of mucus in my throat that I cannot expel no matter how I try! I'm going to an ENT on Monday. I just wonder if this problem has anything to do with acid reflux.