Choking on Saliva/ Uncontrollable swallowing and air in esophagus

I have the same thing. It started after I had a polyp removed from my vocal cords. It is esphogeal spasms. 

esophageal spasms....I have had the same problems after my thyroid and a polyp from my vocal cord removed....

I have this too from time to time maybe 3 or 4 times a year, just swallow "wrong" and all of a sudden it is like all breathing is cut off and I struggle to get air.............I have found that if I put my hands on the edge of the table, sink, counter something and stand back and put my head down, tuck my chin down toward my chest that it somehow opens my throat a little and some air can get in and in a few seconds I'm able to breathe correctly. This sometimes happens to my daughter as well, I told her to try this and she did and it worked for her as well.

I hope this helps.

I am 60 and several times per year this all happens to me, in fact today is 05/27/16 and I was in my office and was working and drinking water and hot tea, and them BOOM. That little tickle in my throat, and then the strangle cough, the cough is from a over abundance of drainage and saliva, I strangle, as I am triple coughing, and it will trigger a sneeze and I can not get a breath, I feel my face and eyes pressure and then I get like a little air, and then back to strangle cough and then I will gag. Sometimes a large amount of what I would say is a large spit ball of fluid comes out. Now, I saw my doctor yesterday and because this happens 2 to 3 times per year for me, he thinks it is allergy driven. I will say drinking water and I mean a lot helps make your flam, not as thick. If you are in dry area run a humidifier at night with Vicks mental. For what ever reason, rubbing Vicks on the bottom of your feet at night and wear light socks, seems to help as well. Their is a wide list of things to help, dust and vacuum more often, wash your pillow cases and bedding at least once per week more if you can, with hot water or a allergy detergent. Watch those nice smelling detergents or dryer sheets, they can trigger the same thing in some people, like dye in come clothes and perfumes and soaps and shampoos, and wash your hair before you go to bed. Your hair catches pollution, and then you lay down and then the pollutions are all over your pillow and you breath it in, and then it triggers your sinus. Water house plants, a dried out house plant will mold, set out spores in your house that you breath in. In a way I wanted my Dr to know what I was going through, so when I have my attacks I grab my phone, I know what you are thinking, oh gosh, I am chocking to death and I am going to so a selfie., well yes I managed to record two of my attack, the video is not good ok because I am trying to breath, blow my nose and gag all at the same time I am fumbling with trying to video myself with sound as how this really sounds and looks. My Doctor has my video's because he has never seen this attack in real like, he has had people describe it, but the video has a much more impact. So, it is a suggestion, if you can't do it have someone around ready if possible. Right now I am having this attach twice of not several times per day. I don't have a fever, and when all is normal, I am normal I breath clear, my nose if not even stuffy, then the little tickle AND THEN BAM! I am a strangling mess. Nose gets all stuffed up and I can't breath through my nose or mouth, until THERE a 1/2 breath.

As of today, I am taking Singulair in the morning, Allegria at night, I was proscribed Proair Hfa inhaler, Tessalon Pearls to help the cough Munsinx-DM.
Also, no I do not have Asthma nor do I have any respiratory issues, just have this Stupid Strangle Cough.
So, for now you might try to look at it as some kind of allergic response of some kind. This may be a quest you never figure out because so far I am doing everything I can to figure out what triggers mine, but I wish all of you hope and you are not alone.

I've had this same thing my whole life. Waking up, coughing/choking/not breathing easily, tons of saliva generation during and just after this event, plus it is hard to swallow bc my esophagus is raw feeling.

My answer: someone told me that it was an asthma symptom. Not exactly sleep apnea. So I've kept my inhaler a little closer to my bed for those few occasions every few months or years. It seems to help me "recover" from the initial shock and terror more quickly. It's just one of those things I've learnt to deal with cause there isnt a definitive answer out there.

I know this was posted a year ago but hoping some of you see this. I was distressed to see that a doctor said "it was just one of those things". I choke on drinks or just swallowing saliva. my mom did too. she is dead. it got so bad that she went to the hospital several times and the last time she did, the doctor gave her fluids and she died. giving her fluids was the wrong thing to do and my family sued the hospital and won. this may seem to not be serious but it can become very serious, especially if the doctor doesn't understand it. I just had an episode and for the first time it was so bad I couldn't breathe for a while. I really thought I wasn't going to catch my breath at all. I don't have an answer but I do know doctors don't know everything. they make mistakes. don't accept an answer of "it's just one of those things".

Yes! One time I was at a friend's house and I was eating Whoppers and I ate one but instead of choking on the whopper itself, i choked on a little bit of the chocolate and some of my saliva went down my wind pipe? I started to have a choking fit. Having been through this many times I thought it would pass over but it only got worse. My friends were no help and they were just laughing. I could barely breathe. I would try my absolute hardest to get some air without panicking but I ended up having to get up leave not knowing where I was supposed to go I just knew I had to get away. I felt that everytime I would have enough breath to cough my throat would just close up again forcing me to wheez in some more air to the point I was breathing normal again. I've had many of these choking episodes before but not as bad as this one. This was my closest near death experience and I'm still pretty young.

I just found this post, because I finally did a search on this issue I've had for years and years. As sad that we don't know what it is and why it happens, I am happy to learn that I'm not alone with this craziness that takes place about 6-8 times a year for me.

My nickname that some close friends gave me is COYOS (Choke On Your Own Spit). It is horrifying when it happens and I feel like my lungs just collapsed for a brief split-second and I can't breathe. My lungs feel cold and shallow and the pain hits my chest. It happens during the day - out of no where. I just swallow as usual, and BAM!! major coughing fit, eyes watering, I'm squeezing my thighs in hopes I don't pee myself from the insane chocking gasping and coughing that follows. And then the gutteral burp or small throw up in my mouth that sometimes also happens after I've coughed so hard in order to catch my breath. And the worst is everyone around trying to pat my back like I am chocking on food and wondering if I'm okay. It is so embarrassing because they realize that there isn't any food. Nope, just silly me and my own saliva.

I have this horrible fear that I will have this "COYOS" moment while presenting in front of a large group of people and I'll actually wet myself. I have no solutions, but only offer that I fully understand this situation and would also be grateful if anyone ever does hear how to prevent it again.

Oh boy!!! FINALLY someone has not only experienced this, but also can explain it EXACTLY as it happens to me. Yes, a tiny trickle of saliva out of nowhere which completely chokes me for several minutes. Sooooo scary. What is this????

It started happening to me when I got a partial plate in my upper mouth. I think the plate makes me salivate more which makes sense to me. I choke sometimes just from having it in and have to remove it for awhile. I seem to choke and start coughing for no reason or I'll feel almost a tickle in my throat and I start choking. I have acid reflux too. I'm on meds for it but I still get acid up into my mouth at times. It's awful!

Was just reading about your breathing episode. This happened to me just this morning. Very scarey. Did u ever find a reason

I have seen my husband have these severe attacks that can go on for five minutes.. He continues to gasp for air and is literally choking and drowning in his own saliva. He coughs up what seems to me like a few glasses of saliva. He had esophageal cancer 12 years ago and swears these are esophageal spasms. It is very frightening and seems like he could die right on the spot. Some research said he should get his esophagus stretced or take channel blockers. This is happening when he is in a deep sleep and may or may not have to do with sleep apnea and being over weight. Someone said drinking a glass of warm water may help stop this when it is occurring.

I have the same problem. When I have an episode it feels like the epiglottis snaps shut. I can't breath in, out, swallow or ask for help. It feels like I'm breathing through a coffee stir then a straw gradually until I feel it releasing. After the episode I am gasping trying to catch my breath. I have cough variant asthma as long as I can remember. This is different than asthma attack because I feel it in my throat not my chest. I take asthma medicine. So I have grabbed my inhaler. Since I can't breathe in I have been. spraying it about 3 inches from my mouth. I'm not sure it's working, or if it's just relaxing on its own. When I explained it to people. They don't seem to take it seriously. I have a chronic cough so they believe I'm having a coughing spell. I get laryngitis once or twice a year. Recently I have had horrible pain in my stomach to my back. I have been from one doctor to the next. Until now, I have been diagnosed with an ulcer. I am being referred to gastroenterologist. Suspected of having laryngealspasms. Does anyone have suggestions how I can get through this without freaking out and terrified?

Please look up laryngospasm. This happens to me quite frequently and seems to correspond with your symptoms. Just FYI - DEFINITELY alert your doctor before undergoing anesthesia (when you don't have the cognizance to wake up & cough). This is what killed Joan Rivers. Best of luck!!!

i have suffered from this also...it is the most scariest thing ever. no matter how many times I get it i cant control the utter panic.. i rhino it is a form of Gerd.. but more so based on my saliva... please read this
The feeling of choking on your own saliva is a very scary thing. The feeling that most patients report is almost like a feeling of drowning. This is something that has to be investigated without any delay whatsoever.

The likely cause behind this could be something relatively simple like GERD or a lot more complex.
1. Overproduction of Saliva: Sialorrhea or the over production of saliva is actually quite common to see. Most of these people will not have anything worse than a little drooling at night, however there are some that may feel they are actually choking due to this increased salivary production.

The cause of this condition needs to be investigated and can be caused by an infection or inflammation of the salivary glands, a neural abnormality as seen in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease or there may be no apparent cause at all.

The use of the anti-cholinergic class of drugs has been found to quite successful in controlling this excessive salivation.

2. GERD: This basically stands for Gastro Esophageal Reflux disorder and is caused by a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter. The acid from the stomach is allowed to flow back up triggering an increase in the salivary production and leading to a choking feeling.

A hiatal hernia is also commonly seen as the cause behind GERD. The management for GERD ranges from diet and lifestyle changes to surgery. It has been seen that majority of the patients improve by non surgical means. A thorough investigation by the ENT surgeon is a must.

3. Injury/Growths

The cause for this feeling of choking may actually lie in the throat. An injury to one of the many sensitive anatomic structures in the throat can lead to a failure of the muscles do work in harmony.

A tumor or a non-cancerous growth can sometimes be hard to detect in the area and can be the cause for a feeling of choking.
There will usually be other symptoms associated with a growth or injury in the area, like hoarseness of voice, difficulty in swallowing, pain and even bleeding from the throat.

If this is suspected then the doctor will have to run blood tests and do MRI's to confirm the diagnosis and start medication or schedule for surgery at the earliest.

4. Nerve injury

The muscles of the throat are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve. Any reason which interrupts with the normal transmission of signals from these nerves to the muscles will result in muscular weakness and paralysis.

In such conditions the swallowing reflex becomes severely compromised and can lead to a situation where choking becomes a very real possibility.
The cause for this nerve damage could a lesion in the brain or a direct trauma to the nerve. Nerve injury is notoriously difficult to heal and the sooner it is detected, the better are the chances for successful treatment.

An MRI of the brain to rule out any lesion or growths in the brain are necessary as well as nerve conduction tests to ensure proper functioning of the nerve.