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What Causes Coughing After Drinking Liquids?

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Posted on Mon, 10 Aug 2015
Question: I am coughing every time I drink a liquid. I just had a large benign cysts removed from near my thyroid gland. However, the coughing did not start until two weeks after the surgery. I also have loss of voice. What does this seem to indicate?
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Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I am sorry for the situation you are going through.

1. You are reporting to have a history of removing a large benign cyst from near your thyroid gland. Such operations are often associated with loss of voice as sometimes the nerves that are responsible for the voice are damaged during the operation.

Please take note that there are 2 nerves responsible for the voice including : 1.recurrent laryngeal nerve and 2. the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.

When these nerves are damaged, temporary changes in the voice are noted and will be reversed in a few weeks. In rare cases, these changes are permanent.

2. With regards to coughing, this is commonly noted after surgery due to intubation during surgery. Usually, it will be cleared up in a few days after surgery. However, you are reporting to have coughing 2 weeks after surgery.
Can you please tell if you are also experiencing signs of flu like: fever? cold? general weakness?
Or if you are also having heartburn problems?

As the coughing has started 2 weeks after surgery (and not immediately), this makes me think over an acute pathology like cold? or GERD/gastritis that should be further evaluated.

Looking forward to have the requested information in!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 7307 Questions

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What Causes Coughing After Drinking Liquids?

Brief Answer: Please provide the following data... Detailed Answer: Hi, I am sorry for the situation you are going through. 1. You are reporting to have a history of removing a large benign cyst from near your thyroid gland. Such operations are often associated with loss of voice as sometimes the nerves that are responsible for the voice are damaged during the operation. Please take note that there are 2 nerves responsible for the voice including : 1.recurrent laryngeal nerve and 2. the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve. When these nerves are damaged, temporary changes in the voice are noted and will be reversed in a few weeks. In rare cases, these changes are permanent. 2. With regards to coughing, this is commonly noted after surgery due to intubation during surgery. Usually, it will be cleared up in a few days after surgery. However, you are reporting to have coughing 2 weeks after surgery. Can you please tell if you are also experiencing signs of flu like: fever? cold? general weakness? Or if you are also having heartburn problems? As the coughing has started 2 weeks after surgery (and not immediately), this makes me think over an acute pathology like cold? or GERD/gastritis that should be further evaluated. Looking forward to have the requested information in! Dr.Albana