DH constantly clearing his throat AIBU

My brother in law does this too but finishes off the throat clearing with a very loud cough. I’m pretty sure it’s a nervous habit, but I’ve noticed people in restaurants looking to see where the noise is coming from.

I don’t remember if he did this when my sister was alive, but if he did I don’t know how she put up with it.

You have my sympathy, CanOnlyTry ?

Nip out and buy some goats milk quick! And hide all the dairy products.

And does anyone know if 'lactose free' milk is one of those people with allergies can drink? My grandson get eczema if he has too much dairy but I am not sure what part of the milk causes it.

If it IS the lactose, then this may also be the answer here.

BradfordLass72 Lactose intolerance and cows milk allergy are two different things.

I have lactose intolerance but luckily can have a little milk in tea. My granddaughter has milk allergy and can't have anything with dairy in, not even a biscuit.

Both conditions cause us digestion problems, upset tummies but not coughing or clearing throats (too busy being sick).

Mine blows his nose about 50 times a day.

I'm laughing here KatyK ( sorry ) as my ex-SiL was a nose-blower, but it had to be loud ! Clearing the throat had to be loud too------I'd have strangled him.

How I never threw something at him I'll never know, but someone else is now putting up with it as my D has been relieved of him.

Excessive nose blowing, throat clearing, coughing, clicking...all within his control, and yet he dares to complain when I snore, which I have no control over.

TheBeeb
I wonder if some men are totally unaware of the noises they make, or they do know but can’t control it, or it’s just become a habit?

Throughout the day my husband does a little cough. This distresses the dog who then comes to me for reassurance along the lines of "It's ok Lottie. Nothing to worry about." She then goes to XXX to make sure he is alright. This happens many times but my husband denies that the cough could need looking at by the GP. How could there be anything wrong with him? He obviously needs reading glasses but won't admit it! I am ashamed to say that in the end I just think to myself "Well bl**dy well get on with it then!"

It could be acid reflux caused by a hiatus hernia. See if you can get him to go to the doctor.
When my hernia bothers me, it causes a tickle in my throat which leads to a bout of coughing and throat clearing, though it only happens occasionally.

I would want to be sure it’s not something serious.
Here’s a link to an article about it on “Healthline”:
www.healthline.com/health/clearing-throat

Oh yes Ellan It has to be loud. It sounds like an elephant trumpeting. Bless him

B9exchange that is very interesting. I was coughing in the night, and couldn't decide whether it was my acid reflux or my usual intermittent chesty cough. Couldn't decide whether to suck a throat sweet or a Rennies. Plumped for a throat sweet as often that works for both.

I find I am clearing my throat a lot at the moment, mainly in the mornings. I have put it down to the high pollen count, or it might be due to the Methotrexate that I take. It started with the oil seed rape season.

My father used to have the same problem and would spit the phlegm onto the back of the coal fire to sizzle, or out of a moving car. Not pleasant for any passengers in the back seat with the window open when it sometimes flew back in! Yuk!

Seriously I would see a GP.

There should be a remedy which needs to come from his doctor. How you will get your stubborn spouse to follow this up then I do not envy your task. Good luck.

TBH I have asthma and when I take my meds inhalers it makes me cough for about an hour in the evening and morning. If I didnt cough or clear my throat it would seriously affect my health. My hub is is constantly criticizing and grimacing everytime I do this and I'm afraid that this is unacceptable, I cannot help it and are made to feel rubbish about myself. So CanOnlyTry please don't make him feel bad, its not his fault and I dont blame him for shutting himself in a room, he must feel powerless.

Hi, I’m sorry I haven’t read other posts but could it be gastric reflux? That causes clearing throat. Just a thought.

He has not control over this either. People dont blow their nose, cough, clear their throat for enjoyment.

Cabbie21 He has not control over this either. People dont blow their nose, cough, clear their throat for enjoyment.

I know its not my DH's fault but its very hard to be constantly startled by his loud throat clearing. This is especially bad just as I'm drifting off to sleep only to be jerked awake by a loud cough from him yet again. It goes on all day so is not postural. The dry Ramipril cough went when he changed meds. This now seems to be a post nasal drip. Argh! There he goes again. Even the poor cat got a fright.

My OH had a really bad chest infection and would not go to the GP. Three weeks later he had stabbing pains in his back but still woulnt go and was still going to work. I rang the GP infront of him and they saw him 20mins later. The GP had a right go at him and said it was chest infection and pleurisy. She told him it could turn to Sepsis. Best to catch these things early ring GP and make him an appointment. My OH is the same won't go unless I force him

Some of these problems sound to be age-related and due to either sinus or post-nasal drip.

We have many elders in our group who suffer with various throat-clearing, nose-blowing and cough problems.

I have recently developed excess phlegm for which I have tried every alternative remedy and finally a drug-based one.
None of it works and it stops me sleeping because it wakes me every 10 minutes by choking me.

But is seems our doctors have advised this is just another problem of old age. Our bodies can't clear the mucus efficiently as they used to.

I'm not prepared to accept defeat yet but so far, haven't found anything which works more than temporarily.

He may have silent reflux - which is what i have. I have no gut issues, but need to clear my throat and also have a chronic cough. Good to have a check-up. Good luck

Has he said why he is doing this? Does it feel like a lump in his throat, or a dry throat? A quick cough is better than clearing the throat (which grinds the vocal cords together and causes problems with the voice). Certainly if it feels like a lump he has to get to the doctor. Not being alarmist but it could be serious. (Speech and language therapist specialising in voice disorders here)

I developed adult onset asthma a couple of years ago, and when I get a dry cough and feel I need to clear my throat, it’s normally because I have forgotten to use my inhalers! ?