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1689801 tn?1333983316

Dyshagia- could not breathe?

Yeah right my again...sorry I seem to be drowning you all with my questions these days, it must be getting boring :( . But I just had to ask you all. Last night I woke up at 3,30 (was fast asleep) coughing like crazy and could not breathe in beetween even though it regularly stopped for a second, I just made this terrible sound when I was trying to take the air in, and my husband heard that I was trying so hard to breath! It was maby about 4-6 rounds of couching and trying to breathe. Then it started to get better. My husband and I got a little scared, but then I just kept on sleeping like nothing was wrong (used to everything these days :)).

To me it felt like it could be connected to my dysphagia, like maby I swalloved some saliva the wrong way and started coughing because of that, but why was it so hard to breathe? I do not have cold or anything like that, and when I go to sleep I am usually sooo tired that I fall asleep wright away. So I am no anzious or anything like that, I am that type like when something happens, or I loose something precius to me, I never really worry about it in advance, I always think "This will be ok, I will find it..". So I am very relaxed.

But because of this breathing problem I decited to talk to my family/regular doctor on phone to tell her what has been happening, because I can not get to the neuro so fast. But this doctor is so bored in her job, because I have heard it from more peoble around me that she always says to everybody "this is nothing to worry about just eat healthy and do exercising and you will be better, this is just an anziety..." And anziety is the macic word she had for me also! Even when I was not half in finishing my story, so I just said "thank you for this and goodbye". I am not angry at her though she probably is having a difficult time or has to many difficul patients :).

So I, once again, bother all of you with my questions :). Please let my know what you think.
Thank you for reading,
Dagun
7 Responses
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1816210 tn?1327354884
I have had this symptom for quite a while too.  Sometimes I can't breathe, sometimes I seem to be choking on "nothing", and I always have trouble swallowing- my food just won't go down, and I usually get liquids (and occassionally solids) down the wrong pipe.  I didn't know I should have told me neurologist.  
I hope your neuro gets you what you need.  
Helpful - 0
1689801 tn?1333983316
Thank you for you comment, it is always "nice" (even though I ofcourse would not wish this for you) to know someone knowing your symptoms, then I am not so alone in the world! This did not happen this last night so mabe I will be ok for now. But I feel like you, like things are not working together and there is often a bad tightness. I am going to try to be patient until I meet my "second opinion"  neuro in Nov. But if I get worse I can always get an app. with my old neuro within 2 weeks. Because he is almost retired (almost 80) and he never books more than 2 weeks in advance.
Thank you so much!
Dagun
Helpful - 0
1394601 tn?1328032308
I have the same problem.  My neuro said it is from a lesion on my brain-stem.  She had me see a pulmonologist.  He agreed that there was nothing  to blame it on but that....so, I was given the same medications given to COPD patients (Spiriva) and a rescue inhaler.  My neuro then gave me a script for Xanax because I do panic and the anxiety makes it worse.  

Sometimes I can feel it coming on.  It is like everything gets tight.  I have trouble swallowing...My nose feels numb....Just feels like nothing is working...almost like everyone has gone on strike.  And, yes swallowing your saliva wrong will do the same thing.

Sleep  apnea was ruled out in all the tests given by the pulmonologist. I had two nights of testing because he was sure it had to be apnea....lol...But nay,  it wasn't,   Besides it doesn't just happen when I am sleeping.  I do think this is something to bring up with your neuro.  You definitely deserve to have it treated.  It is one of the most frightening things MS has given to me.

I wish you the best and hoping you will get treatment thus some relief.
Helpful - 0
1689801 tn?1333983316
I have never had asthma so I don´t think that's it, but ofcourse there are all kinds of stuff and probably this was just this one time thing. Hope so :).
Thank you for your interest!

My best,
Dagun
Helpful - 0
1475492 tn?1332884167
It could also sound like an asthma attack.... but I have had episodes where I woke with a gasp and I have had trouble with asperating and dysphagia as well during this last year with all my other issues.
Helpful - 0
1689801 tn?1333983316
Sleep apnea happens when you are sleeping it does not start with coughing, and I always sleep with my mouth closed. My husband has GERD and takes meds for it, I always heard when it happened to him at nights and my husband has never noticed it with me. Also after this happened to him, we never eat anything after 8PM till we go to sleep, because that is much healthier and then the food is well on it's way :). Thank you for trying.

Dagun
Helpful - 0
1340994 tn?1374193977
It is probably either sleep apnea or GERD.  Both of these tend to improve with weight loss.  Doctors know that nobody wants to hear that because it takes time and everybody wants a quick fix so they can feel good and THEN worry about weight loss.  
Helpful - 0
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