Laryngospasm

[Montana Carol]

Good Deed, Indeed!

Welcome to the forum, Germinator, and thanks for this very hopeful information! I've been dreading having another laryngospasm even though I'm now armed with lorazepam (did you folks know that's Valium?); but now I feel much less afraid. Carol

 

[wicker]

Willing to try

Just found this page thru a web search. For over 20 yrs. I have suffered from laryngospasms. This came about after thyroid surgery that resulted in a parlyzed vocal cord and further nerve damage. I have sought out specialists for any solution to prevent or treat it, without success. Those of you who have this know what a terrifying experience it can be, and just trying to relax until one can breathe again is most difficult. I read all the postings and see two things I can try: the nose breathing and the liquid lorazepam. I will run the latter past my Internist, but certainly the nose breathing sounds easily workable. Why on earth don't any of the throat specialists know about or tell us about these or other suggestions?! I am very grateful for the help, and sure hope one or the other or both work. Thank you.

 

[MarianneS]

Yes, I get these spasms too. I had one on the phone the other day and scared my sister to the point where she wanted to call 911. I also have been getting them at night with this cold I have. It is good to know that they will stop. It seems like they go on for an eternity. Afterwards I feel like a truck ran me over. I will try and remember breathing through the nose. I'll tell my husband and he can remind me. I'll ask at my clinic for some medication to have on hand.

 

[wicker]

Your description of how you feel afterwards is so true. I used to just sit and cry, shaking and sweating, until I regained my composure. After 25+ yrs. of trying to find anyone else who had these, I finally succeeded. (Of course there was no internet at first.) Mine can happen at any time, but generally involve swallowing liquids. At night I sleep with my head slightly elevated so I don't as readily aspirate saliva. When I have a bad cold, which fortunately is rare, it is worse, and I have written directions from a Dr. as to how to immediately treat the congestion. I can see why your sister wanted to call 911, as it's hard to explain to someone that you are or will be "all right." Someone suggested wearing one of those medical bracelets, but I 'm not sure what info would go on it and whether or not it would help. When I'm getting dental care, I always ask to have my head raised slightly higher than they'd like, but they understand why. So now I know I'm not alone (truly in a support group, the first in my life.) I'm not happy to find how many others there are, but glad we can learn from the suggestions presented. I will continue to check from time to time to see if any other solutions come up. Thanks for your response, and let's hope we all find some relief in one way or another.

 

[halfin]

I had one of these laryngeal spasms or laryngospasms yesterday, for the first time. I was in the shower and I think I choked a little on saliva, and suddenly my windpipe shut down. I couldn't get air in and it was pretty scary.

But I remembered reading this old thread. The first thing I remembered is that the worst that can happen is you will faint and then it will relax and you can breathe OK. Well that didn't sound too good in the shower, not a great fainting spot. Then I remembered the suggestion from post #11 to try to relax and breathe through the nose. That worked! I just did little "sips" of air through my nose and was able to fill my lungs and give a good hard cough, and then I felt fine.

It definitely helped that I was able to recognize what was happening and remember that there was advice about what to do. That way I didn't panic and was able to take the time to find something that worked. Hopefully if it happens again I will be able to do the same thing.

 

[wicker]

So glad it worked for you! I've always thought ,too, of passing out somewhere, so the first thing I always do is sit down. Last year ('09) I had some sessions with a speech pathologist who had attended a session on these spasms. She had me practice taking deep belly breaths through my nose. For the life of me I can't figure out how air can come in that way, if the airway is clamped shut, but she insisted it would work. About a month or 2 ago, I woke up in the middle of the night, unable to breathe. I can't actually remember what I did, but I recall this time it only lasted a short while. Maybe I was trying the nose breaths; it's hard to do when you feel you have to have your mouth wide open to take in air. I've got to concentrate on the nose breathing the next time, as you successfully did! And, yes, the coughing finishes the job.

 

[irismarie]

welcome, germinator, especially with such direct aid.
Hope this works for everybody.
THainking of you all with love