Cough drops

[CK]

Does anyone know of a safe cough drop? I have a lot of troubles with my throat and vocal chords and will soon be traveling to Colorado where it is much dryer and I know I'll need something. When I accidentally get some fructose/sugar, it immediately wipes out my voice before it starts the GI issues. Thanks.

[Tammy]

I can get some CVS brand cough drops in my local store. I never searched their site to see if you can get them online, but if you have a CVS store nearby, try them. Also Robitussin used to make one that is ok. I'm not sure if they still do or not since I've been using the CVS ones. They are usually menthol and have a mint taste. Not too bad, really.
Tammy

[Tammy]

oh, also,
If it's just the dry air that you are worried about, try Bob's SF peppermint hard candy. Or Wethers make a SF butterscotch, too. If her throat is dry we just use them.

[CK]

Hi,

I have my doctors and speech therapist completely stumped. It isn't reflex, but for some reason when I try a vegetable or accidently get some sugar it makes my voice so bad. At Christmas I completely lost my voice due to an allergic reaction (respiratory burn) to a medication. It damaged my vocal chords and I am now able to softly talk in a funny voice. (I have been in speech therapy 1-2 times a month for 7 months). I was without any voice for 6 months. They think there is some connection with sugar/fructose but can't figure out if it is affecting the nerves, vocal chords themselves, or what. Ever since I was little, I stayed away from sugar since it made me so sick. But if I would sneak a jelly bean or a cookie or something, the first to go was my voice and I would get a sore throat and of coarse the awful digestive problems, adrenaline, hypoglycemia, etc.

Has anyone else had any problems with their throat or speech when dealing with these fructose issues? We are trying to find the missing connection so I can get my voice back or at least so I can be-able to talk for more than an hour or so a day so people can hear me.

I thought that the cough drops would help me on the plane since I can't bring water with me and in the high altitude.

I have always thought there must be a link with food and my throat, but I haven't met anyone with similar issues.

[Tammy]

Ok a few little rambling thoughts here.
Regina had 1 really bad seizure when she was small. We actually saw her have it. eyes rolling back, arch back, just like you see on TV. This was after she had chocolate around her mouth, and her brothers empty Kit Kat bar wrapper laid beside her. It's the only seizure we ever saw. So we have always guessed that the major OD of sugar caused the seizure.

So since Coley seems to be overly sensitive with all his other symptoms, it doesn't really surprise me that he was having seizure activity while eating a normal diet. And it is very common that it would cause speach problems. A couple of the kids in Regina's class at school had very mild seizure activity and they also had speach trouble.

So again........Is it related? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe just a "side by-product"? Possible.

As for the mints, I get them at Wal-Mart. I just went up to check Regina's bags, and she has all of them in her "jar". So I don't have a bag to double check right now. I DO allow maltitol for her. She does fine with it. But if you don't, be sure to check the bags, I don't know right now.

And you can request all the water on the plane that you need. I always get more. They are used to it now. A LOT of people are getting extra water and drinks.

[Tammy]

I doubt if they would just give you the whole bottle. But I have gotten several glasses at once. You could even try taking your own big glass along and asking them to fill it. Also, you can walk to the back and ask for it even if they aren't actually serving it at the moment. I have never heard of any of them saying you couldn't have some. And I am sure they are getting lots and lots of extra requests right now. I know of some who are asking for lots of extra just to get the airlines to get tired of it so that the airlines push to have it changed back, too.

[CK]

Thanks for all of this information- it is very helpful. I'll try to find a CVS. Is the Bob's SF peppermints the ones you find at Walmart Tammy?

KJ, I am so glad you brought up the Neurologist. I have only been working with an ENT and speech therapist for this, but also was questioning if I should get back to my Neurologist. My neurologist basically treats me for the Dysautonomia, so he might be-able to see if more is happening with my speech as well. I am glad that you shared as much as you did about Coley- that is very helpful. It makes it a bit more of a challenge when I work with specialists- because they sometimes just see what is happening in their area of expertise and don't always look at what is happening with the whole body and how each part of the body communicates as a whole. It would be so nice if a, gastroenterologist, neurologist, ENT and other specialties etc. could all get together and rack their minds together to see the big picture to help a lot of people dealing with issues like the ones on this forum.

I wish they would just hand everyone a bottle or water when you enter the plane. It would make it so much easier. But the big cup is a good idea. It won't hurt to try.

[Tammy]

Our Wal-Mart has a couple different kinds of SF hard candies. I think they may even have a root beer barrel. I haven't tried some of them because she has a habit of wanting to only suck it so long......and then CHOMP. So I kind of stick to the smaller sized ones.
I do get the Bob's SF peppermints there. The only problem we have with them is that after she eats one, she has to come up and blow in your face. She is such a brat. Course, I blame her older brother. He's the one who's showed her most of those type of things.