Throat closes can't breathe

[jappel2]

I am a 62 yr old man. When I was 17 I was taking a shower, and out of the blue, I couldn't breathe. It felt like my throat closed (it probably was) and air couldn't get it or out. It lasted for about 30 or so seconds. Then it relaxes on it's own, slowly and air started flowing in and out. After a few minutes I was back to normal.
This happens infrequently. As many as months or a year or so between bouts. I had an attack last night that was brutal, seemed to last well over a minute, and I panicked. Now, this can happen while i'm sleeping, or awake during the day.  I all of a sudden jump out of bed and can't breathe. Feels like i'm trying to breathe through a straw with a thickness the size of a toothpick. Now for the strange part, this has happened in the middle of the day sitting at my desk. I'll jump up, and have the same symptom for a minute or so. It's scary. I have had two instances the last 30 days. I am reading that it could be VCD (vocal cord dysfunction). It's not sleep apnea ( I don't believe) because it happens while i'm awake. It happened while I was watching tv one night but only lasted 10 or so seconds.
Any thoughts?
Ant, it's very very frightening.

[jayniel]

So glad to see I'm not alone in this - happened one time when a friend was visiting, he's in a Master's Swimming program and immediately pulled both my arms up over my head (perhaps to relax the chest, not sure) anyway, it seemed to shorten the attack somewhat, you might like to have someone do this for you, you can't really just hold up your own arms, as the panic takes over.  My triggers seem to be drinking something (ie. water), so now I'm terrified each day to take my medication!  Anyway, hope this helps somewhat. (70 year old female, had this for 30 years)

[Kaiskye]

I hear you all.  I just had the worst one yet.  My throat was closed so tightly I couldn't even make that awful noise of trying to pull in air.  It lasted much longer than any of the others.  Even though my husband was with me I was terrified and knew this was it!  Even my dogs were panicked.   I have had these spasms triggered by my own saliva in the wrong place, but it is usually something dry--crackers, meat cooked too long, dry hamburger meat, toast crust, vinegar, hot peppers, some sour things or something that just happens to hit in the wrong place at the very back of my tongue/beginning of my throat.  When I finally brought this to my doctor's attention some years ago I thought she would dismiss it, but apparently her mother suffered from it as well.  She said there really isn't anything you can do and that no, you won't die from it.  After today's attack I also looked online and found some information at emaxhealth.com.
The first method would probably require practice beforehand and keeping one's wits about them during the attack.  It is a breathing technique.  The second involves using a shortened straw (that you need to keep on hand at all times) and breathing through it with your mouth tightly around it to slow your rate of breathing.  The assumption is that you ARE breathing.  Another suggestion is to tilt your head back which may relax the vocal cords.  There are also medical and alternative healing methods.  If anyone who reads this finds any that work, please let the rest of us know.

[HtwoO]

I only started experiencing similar attacks after I had my total hysterectomy.  Following research (and I started a Facebook support group called UK HRT and Menopause Support - currently with over 11k members) - I found that symptoms for women can be low estrogen related - as so many women are getting these symptoms when their estrogen and hormone levels start to decline (whether in natural menopause or younger in surgically or chemically induced menopause). Also low estrogen can sometimes trigger hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) - which also could possibly impact swallowing.  Some men may also get hypothyroidism as they get older. Important to note is that whether  with estrogen levels or thyroxine levels- blood tests may still reveal that your levels are within the “normal” range. BUT with both tests the range is quite broad - yet levels are always relative to each person.  For instance for me personally, if my thyroxine levels go over 3.5 (with thyroxine the higher the reading = lower thyroid function) / or if my estrogen goes below 700 pmol/L - then I experience swallowing difficulty (which in turn can lead to panic. To be clear - the swallowing difficulty is the first thing- not the panic).  But with both these blood levels the docs will say that those levels are still within the “normal” range and that you’re fine.  But it’s NOT normal for me - and many other people- and you get the adverse symptoms.
Estrogen blood levels or below 505 pmol/L indicate post menopause levels.  So I started to take HRT.  It took a year to get my estrogen levels balanced / and my thyroid came in line again too - and now I don’t get any more swallowing problems or throat closing issues at all.  (Only if my estrogen levels drop).
Low estrogen / testosterone levels can cause muscles to become slack and weaker to a degree (this varies from person to person) and this can affect swallowing/ throat (much similar to how it can cause vaginal atrophy in women - another example of muscles becoming weaker/slacker due to low estrogen and testosterone).  Testosterone in men is responsible for keeping muscles healthy - so this too can affect men’s throats and swallowing.
Hope this helps.

[jackee0728]

This has been happening to me for years. Maybe three times a year. Its terrifying. Walking my dogs one day in a secluded area, I thought I was going to die. I just read a suggestions that said if it happens, breathe through your nose very slowly instead of your mouth. This happened while on the phone today and my friend was ready to call 911. You feel helpless and doomed when this occurs.

[BookWurrm]

**DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A DOCTOR AND IN NO WAY MEDICALLY TRAINED OR CREDIBLE/RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OUTCOME OF PEOPLE FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THIS POST. I AM JUST TRYING TO HELP BY SHARING MY KNOWLEDGE**
So, now that that's over:
Hello everyone who has this problem. I believe that what you are experiencing is laryngospasm, where the vocal cords temporarily seize, making it hard to breathe. This can happen at any time not just while eating or sleeping. It usually lasts only 2-3 minutes at most, but can be terrifying. A very distinctive noise is made when trying to breathe, and while exhaling and coughing are still possible, inhalation is a huge challenge. Inhaling faster also makes it worse.
The explanation of the reason behind this issue is lengthy, but the most important thing is: please go see your doctor. If you feel that they don't understand your problem, or can't help you, do some research before you go in. Also, if it is possible, you may want to videotape one of your spasms, should you have that much clarity during an attack, to show the doctor.
Finally, when you do have an attack like this, tip your head back, and inhale slowly through your nose, and exhale forcefully through your mouth. Keep your breathing slow and steady, and stay calm, and the spasm should pass quickly. Breathing quickly will just make it worse.
Hope this helps :)

[Sunshine137]

I believe you nailed it. That seems to be exactly what it is. I diagnosed myself with this when I'd have these episodes from chewing mint gum or eating something spicy.

[Knukem]

I am a white female 62 and have experienced this while infrequently for years.  I just had my worse attack to date. For me, it feels like the flap in the back of my throat gets stuck.  It's like the reflux meets the sinus drip.  I can't breathe.  I've learned to sit up and relax; but, for some reason that didn'the work tonight.  I scare my poor husband who tries to help by telling me to relax. He was pounding me on the back to help.  Tonight really was terrifying.  I finally was able to get some air in and even vomited phlegm after it was over.    Even after 30 minutes, I'm scared to go back to sleep.  It leaves me exhausted.  I am overweight; but, it happened when I was very thin too.  I've  talked with doctors who dismiss me.  I agree with those who say relaxing is difficult when you wake from a sound sleep because you can't breathe.  I sometimes know when I might have an attack.  If I'm in a place with lots of smoke, it is more likely to happen.  I take benadryl nightly to sleep and help with allergies.   It has happened in the daytime.  It has me terrified to have anesthesia.  What is this?  What type of doctor should I see that will listen and help?
Thanks for this forum.

[aces29]

I was watching tv one night and I went to take a drink of my water and my throat closed up. It seemed to get worse upon trying to eat or drink. Even when I'm not trying to eat or drink, my upper throat feels like it's closing up. I can feel it swelling up. Once it closes up, I can't eat, drink, swallow, or speak! It's so terrifying! Nothing is provoking it. It just happens out of the blue.
I went to the ENT the next day and had several tests done and they couldn't find anything wrong. Thyroid came out normal, too.
The only thing wrong in my blood work was that I had low estrogen. Other than that, everything was normal. They gave me muscle relaxers ,which did not help. I take heart burn medication, which does not help. I've seen a neurologist, family dr, emergency room dr, ent, and a gi doctor and none of them can find a cause!
I can't eat very well and I've lost weight. I've been experiencing this problem since July 2015.
I wonder if this is a hormone problem and perhaps that's why the doctors can't find a cause??? I do have TMJ and my dentist doesn't seem to think TMJ is causing this.
I'm tired of living like this. I'm only in my early thirties and I'm healthy. I just can't swallow off and on through out the day. I'm desperate and scared! Doctors just send me out the door and don't help me.I don't know what to do anymore.

[johnjerry]

Hi. How did things turn out with your condition? I am having trouble swallowing liquids and if I take too much in one swallow my throat will close---it happened once to warn me and it's frightening. i realize you haven't been on here in a long time but maybe you'll see my message. I don't feel though like my throat closes up or swells up. I just can't take in much liquid. Food is okay depending on texture.