20211113 : my Cough

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Cough is a regular feature of everyday. I get 3 types of cough mainly.

1 - aspiration triggered. Either saliva or some other fluid goes into the wind pipe and triggers the cough. This is easy to make out. I think I can feel the entrance of the wind pipe and the aspiration is a recognisable feeling. But since I don't feel anything after, I just have to wait for the cough reflex to kick in. It takes 2-3 seconds sometimes. But the wait feels like an eternity. There is no doubt here, I have begun to relax knowing that the body's defense is very reliable. Sometimes it it violent - but I am confident that whatever foreign body gets surely expelled.

2 - phlegm/ secretion triggered. These are sneaky buggers. Come without any warning. Since the phlem is secreted within the lungs, it doesn't get the foreign-body treatment. Why sometimes it triggers cough - I don't know. I can make out this one because the expelled secretion - I can feel at the base of the throat after cough. I keep coughing till I fully manage to swallow the same. I think when the body wants to expel something small/ little from the lungs/ trachia, it is very difficult by itself. It first encapsulates it with secretion and is easier for it to cough it out.
Sometimes a bad experience but can endure.

3 - Dry cough. These are an absolute train wreck. Since I can't feel my lungs/ abdomen - I have no clue how or where the discomfort starts. I just know that the body is struggling with some discomfort as it starts making a groaning sound. Almost sounds like I am crying. It can be for a few seconds or many times can go on upto a minute. I guess family and regular visitors are used to it and immune by now. Rare visitors should be wondering what is happening and why I am acting that way. 

I doubt they know, I also share a spectator seat with them to watch this drama unfold everytime...😂



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