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Vocal Cord dysfunction?
Has anyone had a very frightening episode, very similar to drowning, where your vocal cords spasm, and close? No air can get in your lungs and it literally feels like you will die without air.
This has happened 3 times, a long (several years or months) time between attacks. It lasts about 2-3 minutes but of course feels much longer.
I do have appointment with a ENT dr. in several weeks, but am frightened it will happen again before I see him.
Any exercise or preventative hints?
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@luris1515
Hi. Did these episodes start after your sons surgery?
Thank you for responding, he did not have them as bad before the surgery. I feel like after the surgery it has gotten a lot worse. He is also having to deal with an unknown allergy that they haven't addressed. I don't known if this is contributing to these choking episodes.
@luris1515
If dealing w/ unknown environmental trigger, that can be challenging to identify sometimes.
A change in nasal physiology during that time can change symptom response or exacerbate symptoms as well.
This sounds familiar. I might have responded to your son on the Sinusitis forum on Reddit.
Either way, don’t allow for the doctor to tell him it’s just anxiety, especially if that’s the same doctor that performed his surgery.
Have him work to see if he can find what was the original trigger. And anything for an antinflammatory affect. If the procedure has caused a little more throat dryness, that could be a possible cause as well.
Yes! Several episodes of almost passing out before I was able to start breathing again. Finally went to ENT specialist and he did examination and scans and diagnosed “laryngospasm”. He told me that the folds of my vocal chords were malformed.
Each time I had an episode it was when I was eating or drinking water. I would start coughing when a tiny drop of water or food would touch down on a spot in my throat right where my air intake is. Like I was aspirating it into my lungs.
I was just totally panicked! I could not breathe. My trachea felt completely cut off. I really felt like I was drowning.
So when he gave me this new word, Laryngospasm, he told me there was no cure for it. Said if/when it happens again- get on the floor in a comfortable position with pillows and if you pass out- you will stop the spasm, naturally. If you Google it you will find many tips that work for people.
Here’s what I found that works for me.
I try to CALM MYSELF DOWN.
I sip a small amount of fizzy club soda and try to “throw” it the back of my throat. It has worked the past 5 times.
I quit eating dry foods like popcorn, crackers, chips, pretzels, etc.
Wishing you the best of luck.
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1 ReactionSuggest ENT examination, to rule out vocal cord dysfunction. This is done by videostroboscopy. I have VCD due to severe/chronic post nasal drip. I have a speech and swallowing therapist to help manage with the coughing, choking, difficulty taking a breath.
Hello, I have similar spasms and they can be terrifying. I have just read a book by Dr Chris Honey - he has discovered a syndrome and named it HeLPS - Hemilaryngopharyngeal spasm. It sounds exactly like what you have and it can be stopped. I have spoken to my doctor and she is referring me to see him. He is a brain surgeon in Vancouver, BC.
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3 ReactionsGood luck with your appointment! I hope you can post your experience on this chat site. I will research this new term you just gave me. Wishing you the best outcome!
Thank you for your response, so I want to say everything enhanced to a thousand after the surgery. Just today he was finally able to see a gastro doctor after writing letters to our state senator. Gastro doctor said he has dysphagia and needs endoscopy for further diagnosed. He has been complaining about this chocking feeling for nearly 6 months now, but like I said after surgery it just got worse. Weird thing is he was in Germany for 10 days and he wasn't feeling this chocking feeling as much then they fly him back to Turkey and bam it comes at him like crazy. I just pray there is no extensive damage.
He needs to see a different doc. Hope he can find the right one.🥰
Just a thought: Have they checked him for spasmatic dysphonia? They can do injections for this if that is the case and they can completely heal the problem most of the time. Praying for your son. God Bless You!