Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Forum - Been Coughing for a Year...can it be chronic laryngitis, can

Hi,
I was wondering if you could maybe give me an idea on what is the cause of this, because I have been unsuccessful so far in getting a proper diagnosis and therefore treatment.
I have had this cough for nearly a year, the best way to describe it is; when you got a cold, you cough and get a sensation that something has been cleared from your throat, well this feeling is similar only it never gets cleared. When I cough it makes a strange loud sound and it feels like it is something there, but no matter how hard I try to cough it never clears. I have tried all standard and over-standard treatments for cough and post nasal drip and all was unsuccessful.
Also this is accompanied by wheezing usually on exhale but occasionally especially when lying down or not cleared my throat for a while on inhale too.
It causes me insomnia, severe anxiety and unability to concentrate and really impairs my every day life.
I was wondering if there was any way there is any reason for me to be concerned about cancer of the larynx or something serious, or what do you think the cause of this is? Or is it possible that this is chronic laryngitis? As the symptoms kind of fit. If so, please advice on possible treatment for this.
I am a female, 24, my GP won't give me an urgent referral for an ENT specialist as he seems to think that my problem is not serious enough, so I have to wait several months for an answer. That is why I am looking for a peace of mind online until that time comes.
Thanks a lot for your help,
Cristina

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on May 26th, 2006

Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders Answer A981

It seems that you definitely need to be examined by an ENT-specialist. It doesn't seem that you are experiencing cancer of the larynx... chronic laryngitis, however, it is possible. You can also be examined to exclude a possible case of asthma because wheezing during exhales and coughing are typical symptoms of asthma. Functional tests of the lungs (pick-flow-metry) and provocation tests are administered to exclude asthma.

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