DH constantly clearing his throat AIBU

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

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!

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.

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.

Sorry, think it should be "Ramipril"

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

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.?

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

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.

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

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!

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!)

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.

I think your father was right grandtanteJE65.

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.

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

Could it be Acid reflux?

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! ?

Silent reflux? Might be worth checking out.

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

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

"Jane10" that was exactly what happened to me - Ramapril was causing a permanent cough - changed to Losartin - no further problems.

sorry Jane10

My DH does it all the time. It’s so irritating, especially at night when I’m trying to get to sleep. I too have timed him and he does it every 10 seconds!
He has had it diagnosed as nasal drip. He has tried various cough medicines including one for excess mucus but nothing seems to work. Some days are worse than others, especially if he has been shouting at the television!
Strepsils - the red packet- are the only things that temporarily relieve it, but they are expensive
to keep buying. He is consuming 4 packets a month.

He too gets very annoyed when I point out that it can’t be doing his throat any good.

My DH used to sniff twice before he ate biscuits, snacks etc. Drove me nuts. My stepson used to clear his throat every few seconds. It was like an orchestra warming up when they were together.