Aa
choking while sleeping
I've read the related questions and answers, but I do not suffer from sleep apnea or acid reflux. I do snore very loudly, but I don't only choke during sleep, but also during my waking hours. I will choke when I taste a strong or sweet flavour or when I am just sitting around.. At night, I have no idea. I sleep on my side because the choking happens less often, but it still happens quite frequently. As far as I can tell, it is only saliva that I am choking on and it is a small amount since nothing comes up when I am coughing to get my breath back. I have some suspicion that my tongue is the problem since it always seems to be in the way when I'm trying to go to sleep. Can you offer any advice?
Venlafaxine in my knowledge doesn't have such a side effect. Did you have this problem before starting the medicine?
How is it when you sleep with head end of the bed higher than the foot end? Did anyone advice you like this?
It may be just some saliva dripping into your larynx which then raises panic, as it is its duty to 'shut off'. It will be ideal if one ENT can watch the larynx while this happens. Since this is not possible, one examines the larynx when you are awake, and listens to your story, does some relevant (so to say) investigations and come to conclusions.
They may even check if there is 'pepsin' (from gastric juice) in the saliva. In my geographical area, such facilities are not available, and we have to give therapeutic trials. (Like giving anti-reflux medicines to see its effect in two weeks)
Didn't you see any doctor regarding this? We can go on stretching our imagination to poetic proportions :-)
Best,
TA
How is it when you sleep with head end of the bed higher than the foot end? Did anyone advice you like this?
It may be just some saliva dripping into your larynx which then raises panic, as it is its duty to 'shut off'. It will be ideal if one ENT can watch the larynx while this happens. Since this is not possible, one examines the larynx when you are awake, and listens to your story, does some relevant (so to say) investigations and come to conclusions.
They may even check if there is 'pepsin' (from gastric juice) in the saliva. In my geographical area, such facilities are not available, and we have to give therapeutic trials. (Like giving anti-reflux medicines to see its effect in two weeks)
Didn't you see any doctor regarding this? We can go on stretching our imagination to poetic proportions :-)
Best,
TA
I have no other health problems other than a chemical imbalance that I take venlafaxine for. I am 35 and have suffered from choking while sleeping most of my life.
You haven't said how old you are, what your work is, how long you have been having this problem, and if you are a diabetic or hypertensive and if you have any other illness, or if you are on any medication.
It need not always be 'acid' reflux. It may be the enzymes in the stomach that is coming up.
But your problem has to be evaluated by an ENT.
Best,
Thomas Antony
It need not always be 'acid' reflux. It may be the enzymes in the stomach that is coming up.
But your problem has to be evaluated by an ENT.
Best,
Thomas Antony
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