dear doctor:

i quit smoking. it hurts to swallow and i cough until i dry heave.
i can taste the blood and just keep swallowing it.

Many people find that they cough more when they quit smoking.
But this is a temporary problem.

Your bronchial tubes are lined with millions of microscopic hairs (cilia).
Normally, these hairs sweep irritants and germs out of your airways.
But tobacco smoke temporarily paralyzes the cilia.
When you quit smoking, the cilia start to regenerate and repair themselves,
which results in coughing.

Coughing may last a couple of weeks or months — until the cilia are fully recovered.
To relieve coughing, try sipping water or sucking on cough drops.
See your doctor if coughing persists longer than eight weeks or if coughing brings up sputum or blood or disturbs your sleep.