Aa
Almost died laughing. (Really)
I was laughing so hard that my stomach and back muscles started to spasm and I couldn't breathe in. It suddenly wasn't very funny. I couldn't breathe in. After 5 minutes if this not slowing, I had to call 911 when they got here it was still going on. I couldn't talk so I couldn't get any words out. They thought I was having a heart attack. One guy made out my whispers and started to massage my abdomin, and they slowly went away after about 15 minute total of them getting tighter and tighter.What woul've happened if I would've passed out? Has anyone heard of this happening to anyone?
Good to hear from you!!!! Glad you are well.
Stop making me laugh! : ) JUst kidding, but yes, I don't go down THAT road anymore! Take care.
No problem, just glad you are ok!!! You are going to have to watch serious dramas for awhile. No more comedies!!! LOL
I'm not sure that I'm doing this right but I'm trying to reply to the two comments. Alison & Greenlydia. Thank you both for your well wishes. The medics had never heard of such a thing. The only advice they had was to follow up with a doctor and see what he says. I stopped laughing within a few moments of the attack. So for close to 15 minutes there was no laughter I assure you. But the muscles wouldn't relax. If anything they got tighter and tighter like an Anaconda was squezing my chest. The more I breathed, the less my lungs could expand to bring in air. The wierd thing is, weireder I guess : ) is one moment I'm on my hands and knees dieing, and the next moment I'm laying in bed getting ready to go to sleep. Very very strange. I've looked all over the web and can't find anything like it. I, of course, have been making sure that I don't laugh lately, and while the good advice of splashing cold water on your face may help, you'd have to be able to stand. It took everything I had to just stay on my hands and knees and not fall flat on the floor. All I could do was try to stay focused and awake untill help got there. They put an oxygen thing on my finger and I remember the number 9 being said. My understanding was that the reading should be almost 100. I got very very clamy, and my wife said I was pure white. Like death. No blood in my face at all. Very, very scary. Thanks for your replies guys. Polar Bear club sounds fun. : )
It has actually happened to me several times, but not nearly as extreme as what you experienced. I wish I could explain it to you, but it does have to do with spasms of the diaphram and other muscles groups. Your doctor should be able to explain it much better.
It is a very frightening feeling when you can't get any air, but your quesitons as to what would have happened if you'd passed out is that your body would have totally relaxed, including the diaphram and all the surrounding muscles, you obviously would have stopped laughing which was not allowing you to breath normally, and once you were "out," your breathing would return to normal. It's the same if someone is hyperventalating and passes out...........the body quickly stabalizes the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide and resumes normal breathing on it's own.
I talked to my doctor about it once and he said that if it happens again, to plunge my face into cold water. I've yet to have to try this, but he said the shock of the water will stop the "attack." Talk to your doctor. If you understand what's going on and steps you can take to stop it, you'll be in control and anxiety won't take over.
Maybe the two of us will have to join the Polar Bear Club!
Peace
Greenlydia
It is a very frightening feeling when you can't get any air, but your quesitons as to what would have happened if you'd passed out is that your body would have totally relaxed, including the diaphram and all the surrounding muscles, you obviously would have stopped laughing which was not allowing you to breath normally, and once you were "out," your breathing would return to normal. It's the same if someone is hyperventalating and passes out...........the body quickly stabalizes the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide and resumes normal breathing on it's own.
I talked to my doctor about it once and he said that if it happens again, to plunge my face into cold water. I've yet to have to try this, but he said the shock of the water will stop the "attack." Talk to your doctor. If you understand what's going on and steps you can take to stop it, you'll be in control and anxiety won't take over.
Maybe the two of us will have to join the Polar Bear Club!
Peace
Greenlydia
My goodness that must have been a very frightening experience. I have never heard of that happening but I guess like any other muscle the stomach muscles etc can spasm. Did the ambulance drivers tell you that they had seen it happen or take you to the hospital? Follow up with your doctor at the very least as I know some vitamin deficiencies can cause cramping and spasms. I am very glad you are ok now and hope that it never happens again.
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