Choking related asthma??

[Jrod37]

Hi,
I am a 25 year old male.  Just a bit of background: I was a smoker (for about 3 years) but quit over 2 1/2 years ago, and have also had a broken nose when I was 14 and pertussis as a child.

I recently choked on a piece of carmel (about 2 months ago), and while I was only choking for a couple seconds, I immediately felt discomfort in my throat and had very noticeable breathing problems.  After trying to clear my throat and cough it up, I went to urgent care, who told me that my throat was just inflamed and that after the inflammation subsided, my breathing would return to normal.  

Skip ahead two months, and I have been to the E.R.,seen my family doctor and a pulmonoligist (had chest x-rays, spirometry, advanced lung function test at the pulmonary center).  My breathing is still not normal.  Every so often I have to take a deep breath, and have to actively think about breathing throughout the day.  70-80% of the time these deep breaths are productive, but sometimes I cannot get a full deep breath.  I have had a couple 'episodes' where I cannot get a full deep breath for 20-30 minutes (which I am sure anxiety plays a part there, as I get a little worked up over the fact I can't fully catch my breath).  A couple other factors are that I have CONSTANT mucous in my throat now, and seem to have acid reflux symptoms that weren't there before this choking incident (bloating, sensation of food in the throat, acidic taste in the throat, trouble breathing specifically after a meal).  

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.  These doctors are really kind of at a loss it seems, and are telling me that I MAY have aspirated part of the candy and now have asthma, or it could be anxiety induced (although I am not normally an anxious person or stressed out UNTIL the breathing is abnormal for 20 or 30 minutes).  Also, I am on Claravis (isotretinoin like Accutane), a strong skin medication that dries you up completely.  They did tell me that while on the medicine (I am on month 5 of a 5 month treatment) that my body will take a lot longer to heal from injury.  Any chance my body is still trying to recover from the choking incident, and this may clear up??

I am currently on Spiriva to help expand the airways, and Proventil as needed to help reduce the occurrence of these 'episodes'.  

[Tammy2009]

I think some more time is a good thing.  A methacholine challenge test would be able to show for sure if there is any asthma present.  ASthma meds can increase or cause reflux, did these symptoms start after you started those meds?  Your throat may need some more time to heal, sometimes it takes forever!  

Hopefully that helped.  Try asking your doctor for something to control the acid reflux because this can increase the asthma symtoms and breathing problems.

[roxeal]

Oh, one other important thing I forgot to mention - the other thing I use infrequently that greatly helps the stomach calm down is a digestive enzyme.  This helps the stomach break down food and send it south instead of north into the esophagus.  I usually use a mild one as it is less hard on the stomach and also the esophagus in case there is any reflux.  The one I have right now is called Daily Essential Enzymes digestive aid - 500mg, by Source Naturals.  I often get my vitamins online for much cheaper (and supplements) at VitaCost.com.  Anyway, I take the capsule, open it up and dump out a bit of the powder, maybe about 1/3, if I have not had a really large meal and just need a bit of digestive support.  

[roxeal]

Have you tried drinking aloe vera juice?  There is one from Nature's Way that is berry flavor that is pretty good.  It soothes and heals the throat and stomach.  You have to keep it in the fridge.  I had severe acid reflux until I realized I was totally gluten intolerant (can develop with age) as are a few of the women in my family.  I totally cut out gluten in my diet - wheat, soy sauce, barley, rye, graham flour, bread, tortillas, biscuits, pancakes, licorice whips, wheat cereals, etc. - it's in an awful lot of stuff.  It helps immensely.  I get a relapse if I begin to cheat.  I now use gluten-free foods, and corn or rice grains, millet, buckwheat, quinoa, there are options nowadays.  I recommend trying it to anyone who has reflux.  I heard that reflux was the cause of us eating foods that we cannot digest (the wheat problem also always gave me a feeling of fullness and bloating, stomach pain at times, could not digest, etc.) so then the stomach begins to church and churn creating more and more acid to try to deal with this food that the body does not want, and it eventually churns it up into the esophagus.  I am so thankful I found the answer!