Choking on Saliva/ Uncontrollable swallowing and air in esophagus

answer63 wrote:

rosaelia wrote:

I experience the same thing....the waking up choking, I have stopped eating things like rice corn...even olives it's very scary and sometimes my family and I both in panic and desperation call the ambulance............I have never been told what it is..........I explain in full detail..........I have been given nubilizer...I have been told about sleep apnea.........I never get a strait answer......how is this possible? I have done this for over 20 something years...it's quite scary it can happen anytime, anywhere..........so bad that sometimes I have run outside not even knowing what to do.........how to breath...........it's like trying to breath under water......especially when I get a cold with soar throat so dry I begin to choke......I can only control my panic for so long afterwards it is just too scary......I am 57 years I don't know what to expect in my life with this.......can I be by myself? I have even been driving at some point and my instincts tell me to pull over.......I react so quickly I take off my seat belt.......I get out of the car.........at work it has scared many and many times have had to call ambulance..........I could go on I have and what is sad is that before this happens I am warned......it starts slow and as I attempt to breath slowly very seldom has it not gone into a full blown choking episode..........I pray each night and ask our Good Lord to Bless me........to watch over me.......I call on my guardian angel to watch my breathing...seriously it is very serious......I really do not wish to go this way........I understand how victims of drowning suffer.......It is very sad and when it is over I am still carefully attempting to clear my throat because if I don't do this right it can set me off again........One thing however that has not worked for me is trying to drink water to clear it........it's as if the problem is the esophagus..I don't know........I am scared.........can some one come up with a logical answer?

Hi I am a 60 yr. old woman and have these same attacks right out of the blue. The latest one I was driving up the highway and just couldn't get myself together . It normally goes on for 10-15 min. I've decided to go see my doctor and try to get some answers. If I get some ideas about this condition other than bronchitis or asthma or acid reflux I will post it. And like someone else said you seem to just choke on your own spit for Nothing!

check out laryngoplasm, aspiration, and sleep apnea. My dr. says it is sleep apnea, but I cannot afford testing. A dr. at DUKE University med. ctr. says it sounds like a larynyx disorder? I just don't know!
But I do know this---- I feel like this IS THE WAY I WILL DIE!!!!!!!

 I have experienced this in my sleep. Had happened 4 times in a few months. I went to specialist and he told me it was a Lyryngospasm not sure if that is how you spell it. I thought maybe I had sleep apnea. Sounds like it is not life threatening but is brought on by stress and anxiety. I would go see a doctor and see what he has to say.

OMG! Dude THANK YOU SO MUCH! FOR SAYING THIS!

Okay cause I have had this say problem but only for a few years like ever since my last endoscopy. I have had 4 in my life the last one was WAY WAY traumatic and violent....no lie. See cause I remember every single second of it. The gagging, the screaming the crying the struggling and the four people that had to hold me down (I am a skinny girl but that's how hard I fought I was so scared) It was painful and terrifying and I begged them to stop even trying to envoke my AMA rights but they wouldn't listen and kept telling me it was almost over for what must have been an hour. I also had a bravo clip implanted into my throat as well for a few days....I felt everything. First they put the tube in and down my throat and took it out, then they put another tube in and cliped the bravo thing in place then took that out then put the camera down in again to make sure it was in there right. I remember every second of this, I am sure there is no way I could have been relaxed enough to NOT have damaged my throat with the way I was screaming, crying, breathing, gagging, struggling and trying to stop them.

Could this be why this has started happening to me? It would only make sense as it cannot be sleep apnea because it only happen once in a blue moon (Usually when I am scared or stressed) but I would prefer it didn't happen at all! I knew they messed me up somehow with that and now it's probably too late to do anything about it! URG!!! Is there any way to test for laryngospasm caused by damage to the throat without an endoscopy? I don't think I want to go through that again....

Sorry I kind of just asked you all this stuff you probably don't know....I have a hiatal hernia that's why I have had so many endoscopies I am supposed to get one once a year but it's been about 4 years since that horrible one and I am terrified to go back, even to a different doctor!

This happened to me just last night! I have written my physician at Kaiser Permanente. She is VERY good. If there are any medical answers, she will have them.

This has been happenning to me since childhood but have learnt to deal with it by trying to relax and attempting three deep breaths from the nose. I know that if i panic i will prolong the episode and scare everbody around me.I have helped several people going through the same by holding their attention and going through the breathing with them very slowly. I taught my daughter to do it with me and she has often helped me by doing the breathing with me. My husband can't help but now at least knows to keep calm and not to panic. I went to a specialist a few years ago but found nothing...a sensitivity I have to leave with!

Hi All,

I will explain my experience and then what may be related, the first just choking for no reason I thought that was it! Making a noise like a kazoo, ran down stairs and then just when you think that’s it you start breathing still struggling.. The last one(second time) three weeks ago in hotel room having a shower when I think I was breathing and got water in my throat, on the floor the same gasping nothing then all out of air, trying hard to breath out and then I could breath coughing slightly and a pain in right hand side of chest..

Anyway about 9 years back I had an allergic reaction (to what they cannot find out - angioneurotic oedema) and I thought I was getting the flu sore throat etc, after waking up unable to talk and said to my wife I’m off to A&E (2am) anyway the Dr said your throat is closing up and rang for advice he gave me anti histamine 10 minutes later nothing. Still closing up, and then you panic. The Dr rang his superior once more he said give him more anti histamine. It seemed to work half hour later my voice returned. 9 am I seen the Dr in ENT and he said your throat is fine and showed me pictures with a Scope through my nose and down my throat. Anyway since then I had arm swell up, eye and throat again twice. I now carry epi-pen but when I feel a sore throat I check my uvula for swelling and then take Piriton allergy tablets. Anyway six years ago I had my tonsils removed to make more room in case my throat swelled up again and this seems to have caused me to swallow a lot more and the feeling of liquid in my throat. Maybe related but hope someone else can find similarities.

I am not over weight, drink occasionally and do not smoke. No asthma..

Good health to all.

I was wondering if you ever got any feed back on what was happening to you. I'm having the same things you have experienced and I really get scared that I might not take my next breath. It has happen to me about three times this year and I think that I'm going to make a doctor appointment to find out whats wrong with me. I do panic because I can't swallow and I think I make it worst. Please let me know if you have been to the doctor or if you gotten any feed back on what this might be caused from.

hervvirg wrote:

answer63 wrote:

rosaelia wrote:

I experience the same thing....the waking up choking, I have stopped eating things like rice corn...even olives it's very scary and sometimes my family and I both in panic and desperation call the ambulance............I have never been told what it is..........I explain in full detail..........I have been given nubilizer...I have been told about sleep apnea.........I never get a strait answer......how is this possible? I have done this for over 20 something years...it's quite scary it can happen anytime, anywhere..........so bad that sometimes I have run outside not even knowing what to do.........how to breath...........it's like trying to breath under water......especially when I get a cold with soar throat so dry I begin to choke......I can only control my panic for so long afterwards it is just too scary......I am 57 years I don't know what to expect in my life with this.......can I be by myself? I have even been driving at some point and my instincts tell me to pull over.......I react so quickly I take off my seat belt.......I get out of the car.........at work it has scared many and many times have had to call ambulance..........I could go on I have and what is sad is that before this happens I am warned......it starts slow and as I attempt to breath slowly very seldom has it not gone into a full blown choking episode..........I pray each night and ask our Good Lord to Bless me........to watch over me.......I call on my guardian angel to watch my breathing...seriously it is very serious......I really do not wish to go this way........I understand how victims of drowning suffer.......It is very sad and when it is over I am still carefully attempting to clear my throat because if I don't do this right it can set me off again........One thing however that has not worked for me is trying to drink water to clear it........it's as if the problem is the esophagus..I don't know........I am scared.........can some one come up with a logical answer?

Hi I am a 60 yr. old woman and have these same attacks right out of the blue. The latest one I was driving up the highway and just couldn't get myself together . It normally goes on for 10-15 min. I've decided to go see my doctor and try to get some answers. If I get some ideas about this condition other than bronchitis or asthma or acid reflux I will post it. And like someone else said you seem to just choke on your own spit for Nothing!

check out laryngoplasm, aspiration, and sleep apnea. My dr. says it is sleep apnea, but I cannot afford testing. A dr. at DUKE University med. ctr. says it sounds like a larynyx disorder? I just don't know!
But I do know this---- I feel like this IS THE WAY I WILL DIE!!!!!!!

I too feel like this is the way I will die. Just horrifying! However, I have discovered what brings mine on. I am always talking when it happens, and kind of worked up or hyper. I breathe in through my mouth to say my next word, and a tiny bit of saliva trickles down my throat...and puts me into a full-blown episode. The last 2 happened at work...not good! What I have been doing is when I feel that I am getting worked up, I conciously calm myself down. I stay quiet for a bit. I'm a fast talker anyway, and get hyped up pretty easy. I am trying to talk slower and stay relaxed. So far, so good. I hope this helps someone.

ILoveDogs wrote:

hervvirg wrote:

answer63 wrote:

rosaelia wrote:

I experience the same thing....the waking up choking, I have stopped eating things like rice corn...even olives it's very scary and sometimes my family and I both in panic and desperation call the ambulance............I have never been told what it is..........I explain in full detail..........I have been given nubilizer...I have been told about sleep apnea.........I never get a strait answer......how is this possible? I have done this for over 20 something years...it's quite scary it can happen anytime, anywhere..........so bad that sometimes I have run outside not even knowing what to do.........how to breath...........it's like trying to breath under water......especially when I get a cold with soar throat so dry I begin to choke......I can only control my panic for so long afterwards it is just too scary......I am 57 years I don't know what to expect in my life with this.......can I be by myself? I have even been driving at some point and my instincts tell me to pull over.......I react so quickly I take off my seat belt.......I get out of the car.........at work it has scared many and many times have had to call ambulance..........I could go on I have and what is sad is that before this happens I am warned......it starts slow and as I attempt to breath slowly very seldom has it not gone into a full blown choking episode..........I pray each night and ask our Good Lord to Bless me........to watch over me.......I call on my guardian angel to watch my breathing...seriously it is very serious......I really do not wish to go this way........I understand how victims of drowning suffer.......It is very sad and when it is over I am still carefully attempting to clear my throat because if I don't do this right it can set me off again........One thing however that has not worked for me is trying to drink water to clear it........it's as if the problem is the esophagus..I don't know........I am scared.........can some one come up with a logical answer?

Hi I am a 60 yr. old woman and have these same attacks right out of the blue. The latest one I was driving up the highway and just couldn't get myself together . It normally goes on for 10-15 min. I've decided to go see my doctor and try to get some answers. If I get some ideas about this condition other than bronchitis or asthma or acid reflux I will post it. And like someone else said you seem to just choke on your own spit for Nothing!

check out laryngoplasm, aspiration, and sleep apnea. My dr. says it is sleep apnea, but I cannot afford testing. A dr. at DUKE University med. ctr. says it sounds like a larynyx disorder? I just don't know!
But I do know this---- I feel like this IS THE WAY I WILL DIE!!!!!!!

I too feel like this is the way I will die. Just horrifying! However, I have discovered what brings mine on. I am always talking when it happens, and kind of worked up or hyper. I breathe in through my mouth to say my next word, and a tiny bit of saliva trickles down my throat...and puts me into a full-blown episode. The last 2 happened at work...not good! What I have been doing is when I feel that I am getting worked up, I conciously calm myself down. I stay quiet for a bit. I'm a fast talker anyway, and get hyped up pretty easy. I am trying to talk slower and stay relaxed. So far, so good. I hope this helps someone.

They say, that you will pass out and start breathing again because you are calm, and that you cant die from this. This happens to me in my sleep, and it seams as though i cant wake myself up, maybe i pass out in my sleep, i dont know, but trying to get your throat cleared after these attacts, or i should say esophagus, because it is very high up, is a terrible feeling as well.

Something I've noticed that helps me at night - I only sleep on my side (never on my back) to discourage an attack while I am sleeping and this really seems to help (I am less likely to choke on my saliva in this manner).  I just surround myself with pillows so I can't roll over.

Also, I am curious, how many folks here had their tonsils removed as children (possibly leading to vocal cord nerve damage?).  Just curious - I had mine out when I was about 6 or 7.

And yes, I too use Nexium - daily.  And I have severe sinus issues.

Thanks for your input, Millerscafe. Yes...I had my tonsils out when I was around 4 years old. I take Omeprazol (generic Nexium). I don't really suffer from sinus too much. However, I have read quite a bit about vocal cord nerve damage and that appears to be one of the issues that contributes to this condition. I also read about a surgery to correct it, but it takes about a year to recover from it, and there were other extensive things about the surgery that made me think that it would have to be a last resort.

What you are having is a laryngospasm. I have the same thing happen, usually in the middle of the night, and I will wake up out of a dead sleep and not be able to breath. Hope this helps.

Have you figured out what's the problem. I have a child that's going through this almost every week for the past month and its very scary. If you have find out what it is, please let me know so I can give her doctor what to look for.

Have you figured out what's the problem. I have a child that's going through this almost every week for the past month and its very scary. If you have find out what it is, please let me know so I can give her doctor what to look for.
God bless.

ILoveDogs wrote:

hervvirg wrote:

answer63 wrote:

rosaelia wrote:

I experience the same thing....the waking up choking, I have stopped eating things like rice corn...even olives it's very scary and sometimes my family and I both in panic and desperation call the ambulance............I have never been told what it is..........I explain in full detail..........I have been given nubilizer...I have been told about sleep apnea.........I never get a strait answer......how is this possible? I have done this for over 20 something years...it's quite scary it can happen anytime, anywhere..........so bad that sometimes I have run outside not even knowing what to do.........how to breath...........it's like trying to breath under water......especially when I get a cold with soar throat so dry I begin to choke......I can only control my panic for so long afterwards it is just too scary......I am 57 years I don't know what to expect in my life with this.......can I be by myself? I have even been driving at some point and my instincts tell me to pull over.......I react so quickly I take off my seat belt.......I get out of the car.........at work it has scared many and many times have had to call ambulance..........I could go on I have and what is sad is that before this happens I am warned......it starts slow and as I attempt to breath slowly very seldom has it not gone into a full blown choking episode..........I pray each night and ask our Good Lord to Bless me........to watch over me.......I call on my guardian angel to watch my breathing...seriously it is very serious......I really do not wish to go this way........I understand how victims of drowning suffer.......It is very sad and when it is over I am still carefully attempting to clear my throat because if I don't do this right it can set me off again........One thing however that has not worked for me is trying to drink water to clear it........it's as if the problem is the esophagus..I don't know........I am scared.........can some one come up with a logical answer?

Hi I am a 60 yr. old woman and have these same attacks right out of the blue. The latest one I was driving up the highway and just couldn't get myself together . It normally goes on for 10-15 min. I've decided to go see my doctor and try to get some answers. If I get some ideas about this condition other than bronchitis or asthma or acid reflux I will post it. And like someone else said you seem to just choke on your own spit for Nothing!

check out laryngoplasm, aspiration, and sleep apnea. My dr. says it is sleep apnea, but I cannot afford testing. A dr. at DUKE University med. ctr. says it sounds like a larynyx disorder? I just don't know!
But I do know this---- I feel like this IS THE WAY I WILL DIE!!!!!!!

I too feel like this is the way I will die. Just horrifying! However, I have discovered what brings mine on. I am always talking when it happens, and kind of worked up or hyper. I breathe in through my mouth to say my next word, and a tiny bit of saliva trickles down my throat...and puts me into a full-blown episode. The last 2 happened at work...not good! What I have been doing is when I feel that I am getting worked up, I conciously calm myself down. I stay quiet for a bit. I'm a fast talker anyway, and get hyped up pretty easy. I am trying to talk slower and stay relaxed. So far, so good. I hope this helps someone.

I think you may have a good solution to preventing these occurrences. Most of the episodes I have had are when I I am talking excitedly and I feel the saliva drop into my throat. It will be difficult to remember to talk slower and/ or not get too excited when talking. I know that panic just prolongs the episode so when i have an episode , I am trying to keep calm and slowly suck in a breath. I am 74 years old and still quite healthy .