Choking on Saliva/ Uncontrollable swallowing and air in esophagus

or maybe DEAD!!!

Please take your son to the mayo. No one that young should live with no hope. Many conditions have been offered here, like Gerd, laryngiospasm, vocal chord paralysis etc. he needs to be observed and Make Them Do It! Try video taping before appointment. So many of the tests they offer are useless because the episode isn't happening while they do the testing. I went thru a lot of testing and no results. My episodes always happened at night while sleeping.Please don't wait, take your son in so his mental health improves too. My prayers are with your son.

Has anyone experienced tremors or being in a fog while this happens including shaking of the head, arms, torso, or hands while in the middle of a coughing spasm and effort to regain your breath? I am wondering if it is due to the restriction of blood flow to the brain while my airway begins to spasm while in a deep coughing spell. Doctor will be asked what's up with this, but wondering if anyone else has experienced this... Starting last week I began to have the same symptoms most all of the others have described including the drainage moving into my throat, causing a spasm of my larynx, closing off my airway for up to 10-15 seconds, the panic feeling of wanting to gasp for air, and the need to stay as calm as possible while the spasm passes. I have also tried breathing through my nose, burp air up my throat, and press on the voice box area of my windpipe to try and get the spasm to end. It occurred first while sleeping and woke me up gasping for breath. Now it also happens intermittently throughout the day. Best Wishes to All Of You With This... Reed

So glad i found this site as i have now asked my dr about laryngospasms as i googled it after seeing it mentioned on here and finally feeling that i had found something that described my symptoms exactly.

It started when i was asleep and i have now had some day time episodes. I didnt used to get them too often but it is more frequent now i am pregnant - seems to make sense now ive read its linked to heartburn / reflux / gerd.

Dr has referred me to a specialist so hopefully i will get some answers and help.

Just to share, what i instinctively do to help it is stand up , or at least sit up or kneel up straight if youre worried about passing out, try to take small breaths through my nose and make my mouth small, like i'm going to whistle and try to take in a small amount of air each time. Sometimes sipping water helps, sometimes i dont feel i can.

Anyone else find they swallow a lot as the episode is wearing off? I guess guess there is excess saliva from things being blocked?

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction

To follow up with my post from yesterday, we had several cases 3 days ago of positive tests for Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and my symptoms were the same as theirs. I had a blood test as soon as I found that out since I had already been on an antibiotic treatment in case of sinus infection, and a swab would probably have come back negative. I just got my results, and it was positive also for Pertussis. It is a brutal condition for me, and I think I have a mild case. It has started to spread rapidly through our small community, and 2 of my 3 kids also have it as bad as I do. Mine is not related to acid reflux, it is due to drainage from the Pertussis. Google Pertussis, and you will see many of the symptoms described here. I've linked to updates for this site in case anyone else has comments or questions. I will be happy to answer. I was initially on a 5 day Z-Pack of Zythromiacin antibiotics, and once Pertussis was found in our neighbors kids, they put me on a second round of this RX. This can be life threatening especially to the very young, elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. I had laryngospasms as a result of this infection, and I suspect many others are having the same issue that may not have been diagnosed properly. Be prepared to consult your Doctor quickly if you have any of the symptoms associated with Pertussis. Getting it in the early stage is key. Once it gets to our advanced stage, the meds help, but the cough and spasms continue.

Best Regards.

Reed

My husband started having these episodes beginning this past week. His always happens when he is asleep. I called 911 because I was so panicked. Of course the Dr suggested what everyone else's Dr says "acid reflux". Luckily my husbands hasnt happened during the day (yet) So frightening!

He had food poisoning a couple weeks ago and vomitted quite a bit, and ever since then, he said his throat didnt feel right. Could he have maybe caused damaged to his larynx then? Could these possible "laryngospasms" be caused by some sort of trauma??

I wish we all had some recommendations of ways to PREVENT this from happening!! Its horrible when someone is afraid to go to sleep because they are scared whats to come! (My hubby is not sleeping well at all because of this) : (

Also, no one has mentioned this yet, but my husband knows his "episode" is over when he starts to belch. Both times this has happened, he belches a few times and its over. Anyone else experience this? Very odd!

Ready for answers! Its horrible when you are afraid to leave your husband alone. (Also, seems to affect all ages?? My husband is a very healthy, active 31 year old)

Yes, others have stated that burping helps to stop the attack, maybe for me because it puts back-pressure on the vocal chords and helps them to open slightly. Then trying to slowly breath through your nose until you can breath through your mouth again. My best suggestion to ANYONE having issues with this is to see an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist (ENT) as soon as possible, including the fact that your breathing is severely restricted, your fearful of going to sleep (I am too!) and the particulars that you have for a background, like in your case food poisoning, and I'm sure vomiting that put stomach acid into your throat, or mine, the build up of secretions from my sinuses that cause the intense coughing spells due to the infection of my upper respiratory system due to Pertussis.

As an aside, we had 4 other confirmed cases of Whooping Cough/Pertussis just today in our community of 600 people.



Best Regards to all who are suffering from this.



Reed

Hello.

 

I recently experienced this same issue twice, with one day in between, and i'm now pretty freaked out. It seems like this short choking usually clears up for everyone under a minute, but what if it doesn't? Does anyone know someone who hasn't...survived? I also experienced this once at night, but that episode is much more confusing, all i remember is being unable to breathe, pulse way way fast, and i think i might have passed out. It's all a blur.

 

Regardless i think we should each write down some basic info about eachother that could help figure out this issue.

 

I am 26, female. Overweight.

Diagnosed with epilepsy and asthma

also acid reflux and anxiety disorder, but i find these debatable: not sure about reflux and of course i have anxiety, i randomly choke and worry i die, duh.

And then i'll describe how this "attack" feels like. I get some kind of...minor tickle, in my throat. Like..a small drop of saliva going down the wrong way. Then suddenly, i can no longer breathe, then i can some, with major effort, and i wheeze terribly. Then i spend some time coughing and panicing and my eyes water as i slowly start to feel more normal, though today, my throat has hurt ever since the attack, and i feel a bit coughey.

Thank you for your input, i hope we can solve this or at least share symptoms and maybe like, comfort eachother. I'd be really glad to know how many years someone has had this you know, without dying. =P /smiles

 

Best wishes, DFTBA.

When I went to the ER for this a week ago Friday, the ER Doc and an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist MD came in to talk to me. That was one of my questions. I said, what will happen if I can not breath. The ENT told me that if I could not breath, and I were to pass out, that there is an auto-reflex in my muscles to relax, including the muscles in my throat, which would open up to allow me to breath. That said, I think it is important to note that there appears to be three distinct causes for what we are seeing here. One is for those like me that have a sinus or post basel drip issue caused by an illness, those that have an issue with Asthma with or without a cold or drainage, and lastly those with GURD/Acid Reflux. All three seem to have complications that tie back to our larynx going into spasm for one of these reasons. My ENT also wanted to put me on Prilosec in case I was having acid reflux, telling me that if acid was able to get up into my esophagus high enough, it could trigger these spasms of the Larynx. I have never had issues with that before, and since I have now been confirmed Positive for Pertussis, that was the culprit as far as I am concerned. We must each evaluate our own circumstances, document when and how these events occur, get a video of it happening to bring to your Doctor if possible, and ACT. You should not just assume it will get better on it's own... Engage your Doc with extreme concern, and move to be evaluated quickly. Panic, though I also experienced it, is not helpful, and should be avoided if you can. I know, easy for me to say. If you know you are about to cough, and can take a slow breath first, thats good. If you can't, just try to relax, press on your voice box/vocal chord area to stimulate it to open back up, and swallow if you can. Breath through your nose, as you will be able to do that even if your Larynx is closed. Not trying to give med advice on medications, but I have taken Sudafed Sinus PE the past several nights to try to reduce drainage, and it has helped some. For me, it seems as though the frequency, and severity of these events has subsided somewhat. With the infection that I had, even though I was treated with antibiotics, and am no longer contagious, the prognosis for the coughing to quit is rather bleak for a while. The say this illness is called the 100 day cough. All the Best to You All, and Good Nite Reed

I am so sorry for all your son (and family) are going through. It sounds like you've really aggressively been seeking some answers and have been really diligent with getting all those tests done. And to find out NOTHING after all that! Just that it is in his head? I would definitely head to MAYO if I were you. I feel I may be heading there with my 8 year old son. This has been happening now for almost 3 weeks. It came on suddenly, out of nowhere. No previous medical issues whatsoever. Started during the day, now it is striking at night. He also gets terrible pain in his head from coughing so hard. Thanks for your post and your lead to MAYO. Is there any particular doctor?

THESE ARE MY SYM TOMS!!!!!!!!!FEELS LIKE I AM DROWNING. IS THERE AN ANSWER? NEED IT QUICKLY PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!

Be sure to read the previous posts for advice. Do you experience frequent heartburn? If so, start taking over the counter Omeprazole or Prilosec right away. Also, try sleeping on you side and surround yourself with big pillows so you can't roll over onto your back and choke. If you have co-workers/ family/ friends that you see often, let them know in advance about your condition and tell them NOT to perform the heimlich maneuver on you - but instead get you a glass of water and let you catch your breath. And above all, stay out of stressful situations (no heated arguments that might trigger an attack). Not fun. I hate it too but I have kept the attacks under control for over a year now.

Yes Reed, I know exactly what you're talking about! I've had any number of body parts start to spasm/shake/tremor in the middle of an episode. I get a "flushed" feeling all over my body as it's happening. Once I regain breathing I am usually a little light headed for a short time after. Not that this really helps but just know that you aren't alone with those symptoms.

Hi everyone,

wow don't I feel like I've found the only people I can relate to at the moment. I am going through the exact same thing With choking fits night and day.

 

My experiences so far have been tdowntown diagnosed me with a pneumonia as it was consistent coughing at first, they gave me antibiotics to get over this. I was fine for about four days and then the choking fits got worse. the frustration of knowing something is wrong and you and your doctor not being above to do anything about it! They gave me blood tests for whooping cough which came back negative, he explained that it may show up as a false negative the first time so I need to get another one two weeks later (which is tomorrowAnyway way, the treatment for this is the same as the pneumonia so they continued me on these for another two courses. No change. Sore ribs, sore chest, headaches from the coughing so back to the dr I went. This time he sent me for chest x rays - these came back clear. No cyst anything wrong thankfully. Doctor has admitted to not knowing what it is and is blaming it on a chest infection (HELLLOOO doesn't explain the choking fits at all). So finding this thread is helping me to believe its not just in my head. 

 

Anyway he has put me on a 25mg prednisone steroid to which it has actually helped quite a bit, I still get coughing fits but not with the choking and rasping/wheezing for air and no vomiting or passing out. I will be interested to see what happens wince I finish this course to see if I continue to improve or if I go back. It scares the c**p out of my trying to sleep or anything because I start getting the anxiety that I will stop breathing altogether. My poor boyfriend and I guess all of our partners they get more scared then what we do sometimes. Bless them.

i hope for all of our sakes we get some answers.

 

thoughts to all of you. x

Eep sorry about some of the spelling - iPad typing...