Choking on Saliva/ Uncontrollable swallowing and air in esophagus

OMG... this just happened to me an hour ago. Sitting playing cards on the computer when a drop of saliva went down the wrong way. This has happened many many times before, but usually just causes a very bad and embarrasing coughing fit, but this time I COULD NOT breathe. Tried to breathe in, and all that happened was this loud and scary noise, tried to breathe out and all that happened was coughing, over and over untill I really panicked. Was going to run out on the street to get help, but nearly passed out. It started to get black infron of my eyes and I got really really dizy, had to grab hold of the hall door frame. I was sooooo scared. Felt like no air was getting in at all. Was so scared I even thought about cutting a hole in my troat to insert a straw, cuz Ive seen that beeing done on the TV on ppl that had a bad allergic reaction, so I could get a breath. (I know, stupid, but crazy thoughts came in to my panicked head)

Then I thought... just calm down, tried to tell myself that if I passed out, my throat would also relax. It worked... I could take tiny breaths wich led to me beeing able to cough better, but I kind of lost controll over my bladder and I started throwing up small amounts of foam.

Oh I was so scared

Now I keep burping and I still feel weak and shakey

I never want to go through that again

Have you researched Esophageal spasms?

My 25-year-old son has had this happen to him twice now. Even though the timing and situation seem to be different than yours, it's possible that the actual physical event is the same. For my son, it's while he was eating a chicken and rice dish and drinking cold water at a Chinese restaurant, and then eating steak and drinking ice cold lemonade at another restaurant about a year later.

His esophagus clamped shut in a spasm, not allowing anything to pass (not even saliva). That caused him to feel as though he was drowning from drinking water.

This last time, his esophagus was closed for a full 8 hours, which caused him to have to expel saliva every few minutes (he just carried around a bowl and plastic bag with him. It was very debilitating.

He also complained of severe chest pain, because that's where the esophagus was closed. He later reported a very sore throat and abdominal muscle fatigue.

The doctor gave him Diazepam (a muscle relaxer), which is an oral medication. Of course, he couldn't take it, because he couldn't swallow anything. So the doctor suggested we crush up the pill and have him put the crumbs under his tongue to hopefully absorb some of it. It took two pills crushed - each given two hours apart - for his body to finally absorb enough of it to relax his esophagus.

This may or may not be what is causing your problem. But I thought I should at least mention it, since no one else has here.

I am feeling so much better after reading all of the posts here....I have had these nocturnal episodes for years and also have them when I doze off on the recliner while watching TV.  Very scary. Tonite was the worse one yet...I have a cold right now and that probably made it worse...the tips posted here will hopefully be helpful next time...raise arms, breathe slowly through the nose, tilt the head back,stay calm...just hope I can remember them and not panic!  My poor husband did not know what to do and the sound that you make is terrifying for someone to listen to....I do have reflux but I am on meds. for it and I have my bed raised up a lot...I have been indulging in caffeinated drinks late in the day and that may be one of the culprits...will try to stick to water 3-4 hours before bedtime...so very thankful for all those who posted here. 

I guess this is maybe the closest I'm going to get on this, though the noise does not sound like choking.
While at ultra loud snoring worst, my legs were numb to the touch, my feet swollen and my body refused to get warm whilst attempting exercise)

Mine is as part allergy based, that I do know. The extreme noise levels whilst sleeping have now gone. At night my legs have ceased to be numb to the touch and the swelling in my feet has disappeared. I now wake up with a slurp and sometimes a bad head, but not bad enough for the head to be quite painful to the touch.

What helped was a hospital consultant who thinking back, appeared to bypass anything whatsoever to do with my sinuses, found me on a good breathing day, really made me think 'you're on your own mate'.
Luck would have it, later I stumbled on the main cause of my extreme arthritis pain, thus letting me exercise again .( I now only do low impact exercise.)

The increased oxygen quality appeared to increase cognitive awareness enough to notice my breathing was more difficult laying down so that I quite rattled at night.

The last year or 2 I have been sleeping with a pillow under my shoulder to get myself at an angle for easier breathing. For some reason this has an instant improvement feeling with the passages getting/less inflamed.
I still get a very big involuntary 'slurp' to clear my breathing again, both day and night, and an regular ear blockage (right ear would start making a dry crunching noise) has gone and I can get enough oxygen and reasonably gently breath through my nose.

I'm now quite certain that 15 years ago my lifetime of chest and breathing problems had only cleared up because I became very fit, thus allowing far more efficient use of oxygen and thus less aggravation on the inflamed breathing passages.

When fit I get in a phase when 'with work' I can get smooth quality breathing throughout the day. It is non automatic a d I have to focus to get breathing normally, but the inflammation goes, my head clears/cognition becomes more normal and I get no chest pain.

I'm writing this as the bad weather has meant I've hardly exercised in 2 weeks, my chest is painful again and in a very confused morning yesterday, it took me 2 hours just to post a letter. Later I must have looked weird in the supermarket, looping round the isles 5 to 10 times to finally remember what I wanted/was there for.

I'm 50 and was mildly worried that the liquid that would suddenly give that the nauseating swimming pool drowning feeling(more day time than night time) would kill me off. It is the same with the big day and night time involuntary slurp which also may signal 'no breathing'.

Reading these posts have the put my mind at rest, probably at least until I get a bit older with less of the toughness of youth. I'm hoping to be back to better fitness with the better weather. I just wish I'd realised that super fitness is the key for me, in both career ability and in the well being of no day to day breathing struggle.

Alan

This post was very helpful to me as I have Gerd and suffering from these episodes, the latest last night.
Not eating several hours before sleep is helpful and not drinking at least 3 hrs before sleep is very helpful.
Also, avoid spicy/hot food all the times if you have a sensitive larynx.
Obviously not easy things to do but it worth it, especially to those of us who have experienced the episodes.
My doctor didn't have any experience or knowledge of this disease.

please let me know how you overcome that situation...i have same prob..just last night i scared all of my family..now they are worrying if i have prob.in heart...but just i feel drowning on my own saliva..i woke up atleast 3x in a night of being chooked....PLS SHARE it to me..thnks

Not sure if is is related in anyway, but since posting this post, I have been diagnosed with ACC (cancer), Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma in my Lacrimal Gland. My Specialist belive that I dont have hayfever and sinus problems, they have been caused by the ACC. I have since had the gland removed and havnt had any attacks unfortunatly in 3 weeks time they will be removeing my right eye too :(

i hqve the same but sibce i was a bby i drowned on my soliva and died thank god a friend saved me all i would like to now what the hell it is

Hi there i am sorry to hear you suffer like this. I too get this sensation alot but it seems too happen mainily at night when i am asleep. i wake up gasping for breath and i feel as though im choking on my own saliva. i have been diagnosed eiyh Gerd which is acid reflux but i am i.sire if this is related. I do feel like i chome on acid sometimes but i get the feeling i camt breathe and i can only relieve it by forcing myself to vomit which is horrible. i now find myself being terrified to fall asleep so havent been sleeping well. :(

I'm suffering from the same problem of choking on saliva while sleeping. I read through all the comments in this thread up today (Jan. 4, 2013), and made a summary, which I'm hoping others will find useful as well.

Problem:

Choking on saliva, especially while sleeping

Symptoms:

- Saliva blocks the airway.

- Feeling of gasping or choking; unable to breathe.

- Can't breathe at all or able to get in a tiny amount of air.

- Lasts many seconds to several minutes until the person is able to  clear the blockage and resume breathing.

- A few people report passing out.

- Most people were not eating or drinking when it happened, and in fact,  many were asleep. A few report that it happened while drinking something.

- Most people report that they were asleep and woke up with this attack,  but some people also say it happens during the day while awake.

Diagnosis:

- Sufferers reject these diagnoses: sleep apnea or panic attack

- A few sufferers suggest these diagnoses, but some also reject it: GERD or acid reflux

- Some sufferers suggest this diagnosis: sleep-related laryngospasm

- No sufferer (as far as I can tell) has been given a definitive  cause or diagnosis by a doctor.

Immediate treatment:

- What everyone seems to do is gasp for air until they can clear the  blockage and resume breathing. Trying to remain calm is often mentioned.  Going down on your hands and knees, or moving to a safe location, is  often mentioned in case you pass out.  Below are more specific ideas suggested by the sufferers.

- Tap just below my Adams apple with your fingers.  "It immediately allowed me resume breathing (by relaxing the vocal chords)," says one writer.  In this case, the presumed cause is sleep-related laryngospasm.

- Try to swallow.  "I learned over the years to try and relax and swallow; until I swallow I can't breathe," someone wrote.

- Carry peppermint oil and sprinkle some on your tongue when it happens.  A sufferer says that this was suggested by her doctor but the person writing about it hasn't tried it yet.

- Try steroid nasal spray.  The writer did not say if it worked or not. In this case, the presumed cause is nasal drip.

- Use of the Heimlich Maneuver (if someone is available to do it).  "Many times I have been given the Heimlich Maneuver, which clears it up," wrote a sufferer.  "I know there is nothing in your throat, but this clears the airway," said another person.

- Patting on your back (if someone is available to do it).

Long-term treatment or cure:

- Losing weight or getting fit is suggested by a few sufferers as being effective.

- As far as I can tell, no one has suggested any other long-term treatment  or cure.

This just happened to me tonite and I had a read a suggested treatment and it worked beautifully! The suggestion was to raise my arms over my head, straight into the air and then breathe slowly through my nose. Do not gasp for air....It totally worked to my surprise! within seconds the fluid (in this case water) was gone and I got relief....

I use a "Vaporizer" (made by Vicks) during my sleep. It works for me. As far as I know, cold humidifiers make the problem worse. Try it. If it works for you, I will teach you how to clean up the electrodes so that you don't have to buy a vaporizer every two/three weeks (or ever).

I have also had this problem for well over a year. I do have GERD which is under control with 40 mg of nexium QD. I find my self choking, never on food, out of the blue. The horrrible wheezing noise when you try to draw a breath, tears running down your face, the looks from others when you are in public. I had a swallow test which was normal. I was tested for Celiac and Myasthenia Gravis. Negative. I am also expieriencing numbness around mouth and nose and slight loss of taste with tounge numbness. My family doctor and GI both are out of answers. How can this be? I am not an isolated case obviously. Has anyone seen a neurologist? This is my next option but I am not holding out much hope. I do not feel as if I have a overly large amount of saliva produced. I will be 50 next year and the only other health problems are high blood pressure ( treated with toporol) and ovarian remnant syndrome which has produced a 7 cm scyst which is being monitored.I will try some of the suggested cures for when it happens, but I want it to be gone.

You all have described whats been happening to me since my first episode 37 years ago. (I'm 57) I've suffered attacks at home, while driving, at church, movies, etc. the only person who has recognized what it is, was a 90 year old neighbor who was a life guard.

 He said it's called "glottal spasms". He said when someone swallows water (or spit and mucus) and it goes down the wrong pipe, most people simply cough for a minute or so, but they can still breathe somewhat.

With glottal spasms, the wind pipe closes and goes into a spasm and takes longer to resolve itself. Panic is normal. I just had one last night (It's been 4 or 5 months since the last one), but this was the first one that happened due to a cold and I felt some flem and couldn't clear it. It then blocked my airway, and you know the rest of the story.

This 90 year old man said he used the Heimlich maneuver and it helped "pop" open the airway quicker. I told my wife and she has used it on me with some slight improvement. Once, when my 21 year old daughter was home and I had an episode, my wife yelled for her to do the Heimlich maneuver and she did it with much more strength then my wife, and just like the 90 year old man said, it popped open. It also seems to help if someone slaps my back hard.

I talked to a doctor about this and he said that little flap that closes over the windpipe when you swallow or drink fluids is so small and delicate, that there is no surgery or medications currently to help. So, for now, the Heimlich maneuver is it. Oh, and he said if you are along, you can let your abdomen fall down over the back of a chair. I did that once and it did seem to clear up faster. I just couldn't get the same force as my daughter did. The Heimlich is best if someone is available.

One more thing. My Doctor said I could learn to relax and it would probably solve it on it's own faster. Yeah, right. I can tell he's never had one. I've tried telling myself I would be fine, but when everything in your head is in a panic, knowing that not breathing could end your life, I can't seem to control the real and uncontrollable terror. I heard another elderly man say the other day, that, "life is bitter sweet...everyone will find bitter things that will have no answer". I guess this is one of them.

Thanks for posting, everybody. I don't feel alone. And that counts. Perhaps one day, we'll get a better answer. Good luck to all.

 

Anxiety. I bet you all are subject to anxiety disorder. When this gets bad, it can alter your breathing, make you feel you are going to choke, and even wake you up at night. It can cause "serious" palpitations. To make matters worse, once you get scared, the cycle goes up a notch thanks to adrenalin. Generally if you understand you are"not going to die" can calm yourself down and stop thinking about this, it tends to go away.