laryngeal spasm

[mokita]

what causes laryngeal spasm and is there any medication to prevent an attack.


This discussion is related to Laryngeal Muscle Tension/breathing distress.

[Viewmaster]

My LARYNGOSPASM Cure
About 3 years ago I had suffered 3 Laryngospasms within 18 months,
the last 2 within 6 weeks of each other, (when I was referred to a specialist.)

The specialist said my Laryngospasms could be caused by my goitre and the
only advice given was to try to breath in slowly during attacks.
  
After this I soon found on the internet that Calcium deficiency can case muscle spasms
so I asked my Doctor to check my Calcium level.      It was OK.
But as a precaution I started to take Calcium anyway....taking just 1/2 of RDA.

Very fortunately for me,  the supplement  bought from a health shop, in addition to Vit D,
contained Magnesium, Copper, Boron and Zinc too.
I had no further attacks for nearly 3 years........  
But after about 2 1/2 years I began to purchase most of my supplement in supermarkets.  
This only contained Calcium and Vit D.

Approx. 4 months after using mostly the supermarket supplement I had 3 very slight
short attacks within about a 4 week period.        Foolishly, I ignored them.
5 days after that third attack I had a full Laryngospasm on 15/1/09.

Immediately I returned to taking my original supplement containing Magnesium etc.
I have not suffered any further Laryngospasms.

As you will know, Magnesium is a muscle relaxant and has been used to prevent
Laryngospams in children during operations on the throat.
(reference on my site and also to an American Laryngospasm specialist and video.)

The RDA for Magnesium for a man over 35 is 420 mg.  
The foods containing the most Magnesium are not those eaten every day,
or at all by many !  
So for me, to absorb 420mg per day could be quite a task, especially as I drink a great
deal of tea as the sole Calcium in milk can deplete the body's Magnesium.

I now believe that my voice box muscles are relaxed just by simply taking 1/2 RDA of
Magnesium.  Magnesium deficiency  can cause muscle spasms and cramp and
although I may not be deficient, that little extra is relaxing my vocal chords and so
prevents attacks.   The copper, boron or zinc too my assist in this.

Of course, this may not work for others and the taking this supplement which
appears to cure my Laryngospasms could be the placebo effect.   But I think not.

Albert Noble.

[mokita]

I have had many spasms over the past few months and have learned to take control of it by not panicking and very slowly breathing in through my nose and out through my nose.
The trick is not to panic, which i have learned to do.
I have had my thyroid and three para thyroid removed and it has taken 5 years to stabilise so i would not like to upset the balance by trying any other supplements.
However, the connection between the two is interesting.

[Judith23]

I to suffer from laryngospasms - and blame a rough tonsillectomy when I was 17 (33 years ago). I've done my own research and done trial and error to manage this as ENT's and emergncy Dr's have been little help. What helps me is an obsessive avoidance of colds and flus, acid reflux meds in case I have silent reflux, pilocarpine med as needed (saliva stimulator), and salt water gargling at night. I do many of the other suggestions seen here - constant throat lubrication with cough drops and gum, trying not to panic (good luck with that one), and I never yell or talk for long periods of time. I am excited to try Albert's suggestion of adding magnesium. To anyone suffering from this I feel for you! I also wear a medic alert bracelet as I guess a tracheotomy would be neded in an emergency. Good luck to all of you.
Judith

[Viewmaster]

If you wish to try what I did bear in mind that the supplement I take also contains boron/copper/zinc as well as Magnesium and VitD.  As I said, when I went to thesupermarkets supplement it only had Calcium/VitD and my spasms returned, so it must be the other Minerals that do the trick for me. As Magnesium is a muscle relaxant it is probably that.   I was very dissapointed that neither my doctor or specialist suggested taking supplements.....I had to cure myself and I am now writing to them about this.
I shall also write to the BMA too as I wonder how many others might just be helped by taking 1/2 RDA of the supplements I take?  But I daresay they will completely ignore my letter....doctors only seem to want to drug you or cut you! :-)

Albert.

[Viewmaster]

Sorry, my previous letter should have been addressed to Judith23, not Makita.
Albert.

[ramel213]

Hi,
  I have suffered with laryngospasms since I had a surgery and implant of a medical device in which the surgeon had to go into my neck and throat. They are terrifying. I found a very unorthodox way of treating them. It is not preventative, but it is a rescue. I hope it will work if you ever need it. It is very odd. I literally push my head as far into my freezer as I can. I try to get the blower to blow very cold air into my face. I told my ENT about it and he said it made sense to him because of the type of spasm it is. I don't know why it works, but it has worked every time. I grant you, it is still terrifying and each time I wonder if this will be the time it does not work. I think the air may relieve some swelling but I don't know because it happens pretty fast - though not immediately. You have hold on for a few frightening seconds.
  As weird as my treatment sounds, the way it came about it even weirder. I was having a particularly long and terrifying laryngospasm. I tried putting a straw down my throat, because my doc told my to try to breathe like I was breathing through a straw, a little at a time. But there was no air - nothing. I threw the straw and picked up the phone and hit a speed dial number (a friend), but I had no air so I could make no sound. I banged the phone on the counter, but she didn't get it. I realized that I was near losing consciousness and things were going kindof dark. I am not a holy roller or even a religious person, though I try to practice in my own way. Out of nowhere I prayed in my head, "God, please save me." And I felt like I "heard" someone say "Put your head in the freezer." With what seemed like the last ounce of consciousness in me I ran and threw my head in the freezer (laughing to myself that people would find me dead that way), and within second I began to pull in small amounts of air. I tried to stay calm and keep it small (that's important) and just keep pulling in small amounts; they got bigger until I could breath normally. Tears were streaming down my face from feeling suffocated, but it worked.
   The problem is, finding a freezer when it happens out of the house.
I hope this helps someone, and I will be trying the magnesium.
My heart goes out to all of you.
Sheryl