Gransnet forums

AIBU

DH constantly clearing his throat AIBU

(97 Posts)
CanOnlyTry Sun 28-Jul-19 20:18:33

I've tried my very best to put up with DHs habit but whenever I mention it, he gets really annoyed and says "what am I supposed to do!!" trouble is that he won't listen when I suggest that maybe he has a dairy allergy or maybe he needs to see our GP. He's been clearing his throat all afternoon and evening today and when I commented "Oh dear" and mentioned this, he got annoyed again and has taken himself off to the bedroom and angrily closed the door shut. What can I do? other than permanently wearing earplugs that is? Truth is he takes offense so easily about any 'perceived' criticism - is got to the point when I feel as if I'm treading on eggshells and monitor what I can and cannot say. This afternoon/evening became just too much though. AIBU???

ReadyMeals Mon 29-Jul-19 17:05:49

Some people have that as a sort of nervous tic. Yes it is irritating.

CanOnlyTry Mon 29-Jul-19 16:47:23

Trouble is how can these things be checked out if he point blank refuses to go to GP?

Paperbackwriter Mon 29-Jul-19 16:29:01

Silent reflux? Might be worth checking out.

CanOnlyTry Mon 29-Jul-19 16:26:00

Thanks once more everyone, your varied comments have made me think /analyse what might be the cause but no way will I manage to get him to the Doctor, in fact I've had to leave off speaking about it because of the foul mood he went into. Maybe he's feeling his age and doesn't want any bad news, who knows but other than drag him which I clearly can't, it's very difficult. Also,
as we only have one lounge so it's hard to listen to and anticipate the next. I can also hear it from the bedroom so I put in my earplugs!
I'll try the non-dairy approach and see if things improve! ?

Seiko70 Mon 29-Jul-19 16:16:27

Could it be Acid reflux?

Granmaz Mon 29-Jul-19 15:47:00

My Husband use to do that, and after visit to GP was diagnosed with Asthma, he still does it when stressed and he knows it’s a sign to use his inhaler.
Hope you can persuade him to see his GP smile

HannahLoisLuke Mon 29-Jul-19 14:07:18

I had this problem plus a very croaky voice. Several visits to the GP and various unsuccessful medications later I was sent for an endoscopy and silent ref.ux was diagnosed.
Now on the lowest dose of omeprazole (at my request) and it's much better. No throat clearing but still a bit of a croak. My GP says a higher dose would stop that but I'm happy at the moment.
The throat clearing really does feel like there's mucus on the upper airways that must be cleared. You are compelled to do it so I do sympathise.
Please try and convince your DH to see a doctor. It could so easily be fixed.

Gonegirl Mon 29-Jul-19 13:42:15

I think your father was right grandtanteJE65.

Gonegirl Mon 29-Jul-19 13:40:58

My DH does head nodding, and twiddles his thumbs. Nothing to be done about the head nodding - it's an essential tremor, but the thumb twiddling I do try to put a stop to.

Gonegirl Mon 29-Jul-19 13:39:17

There is something quite satisfying in coughing up the excess nasal fluid that has collected on your chest, in the mornings. Best to find a room to yourself though. And no one will believe you have never smoked a ciggie in your life!)

grandtanteJE65 Mon 29-Jul-19 13:39:00

I think it is an age thing. (His getting offended when you say anything about this habit, I mean.) We all have difficulty accepting that we are not as young as we once were and most men at any age tend to become grumpy if you suggest there might be something wrong that necessitates going to the doctor.

You have two options, IMO. A full blown row because you insist that he consults his doctor to make sure nothing serious is wrong, or grin and bear it to keep the peace.

No consolation to be told it could be worse, is it? but my father developed the habit of passing wind, irrespective of whether other people were present or not. He insisted he did not need a doctor, (he was one himself, which didn't make it easier to get him to consult one).

This bad habit drove my mother mad, but she had to grin and bear it.

Hope your husband sees sense. Could you just revert to goat's milk and clear all cow's milk products out of the house`? That might do the trick.

That's three options, I never was good at counting!

Gonegirl Mon 29-Jul-19 13:36:00

Ooh I love a good loud sneeze lemongrove! (me doing it that is)

gillybob Mon 29-Jul-19 13:15:53

My DH takes Ramipril cc and his voice is really croaky too but not in a "need to clear his throat" kind of way. He has always spoke very quietly but it seems to be getting even quieter. I have asked if it hurts to talk but he says not.

lemongrove Mon 29-Jul-19 13:13:43

My sneezes are extremely loud ( but obviously am not sneezing all day.)

lemongrove Mon 29-Jul-19 13:12:16

quizqueen it may be helpful to some posters if you say what you inhale at bedtime ( to help with postnasal drip) as a lot of people seem to suffer with this.?

blue60 Mon 29-Jul-19 13:02:46

My DH coughs a lot due to his medication. Although irritating at times, he can't help it so I just got used to it ...unless he's choking on something.

I sneeze a lot which irritates him so we're quits grin

cc Mon 29-Jul-19 12:36:57

Sorry, think it should be "Ramipril"

cc Mon 29-Jul-19 12:35:46

My DH also takes Rampiril and I have the opposite problem when he doesn't cough and his voice is croaky which I hate. It puts me off my food! It does give symptoms similar to hayfever.

quizqueen Mon 29-Jul-19 12:14:48

Buy some cough sweets and offer him one EVERY time he coughs. He will get very fed up with that very quickly but it will make him realise exactly how often he is coughing and how annoying constant repetition of things are to other people! Seeing the doctor is the only remedy really.

I coughed for years every time I got out of bed in the morning or encountered a different atmospheric temperature. After getting really fed up with it and thinking I really ought to get checked in case it was something serious, I was given something to inhale before I went to sleep. I was cured in days! It was just excess nasal fluid dribbling down my throat.

icanhandthemback Mon 29-Jul-19 12:05:12

Is he irritable about it because deep down he is worried too but doesn't want to waste the GP's time/admit there might be something wrong/because he's a man?
Perhaps you could gently point out that persistently clearing one's throat can be a sign of something sinister and that you are concerned. Regardless of what the problem is, it is "not his fault" that he does it but at least if he saw the GP, he would be able to rule out anything sinister but could just accept he's an irritant someone who makes a noise!

Graygirl Mon 29-Jul-19 12:02:22

My DH developed COPD 6years ago , often has this problem , due to something in my childhood this used to make me feel sick . Had learn to cope

BazingaGranny Mon 29-Jul-19 11:59:18

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! ?

GrannyBeek Mon 29-Jul-19 11:53:24

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)

Mistymorningstar Mon 29-Jul-19 11:45:21

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

BradfordLass72 Mon 29-Jul-19 11:36:41

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.