Hello and thanks for this forum!
Have had mild asthma since 1985 manifested by infrequent nocturnal bouts of coughing, easily treated with Ventolin. For the longer bouts that occur after colds or URI's, I use Serevent for several days until the the bouts just go away. Anyway, that is not really the problem.
Recently, I have begun out of the blue choking, coughing and gagging suddenly while talking. This happens about once or twice every 3 months or so, usually about a week or two after I have gotten over a cold. I will just be talking to someone, feel a little tickle in my throat, and begin explosive coughing, gagging and even once vomiting. When this begins, I have to leave quickly, as i am just mortified and out of control, reeling around, eyes watering, sounding like I am about to die. People cluster around staring, pounding me on the back and so forth. The episode ends very quickly, usually in less than 5 mins. It recently happened while I was scrubbed in for a surgery (I am a nurse), and I was reduced to a coughing/gasping/choking nuisance during surgery! Thank god it wasn't some sort of critical time during the surgery, and I could run out and someone else scrubbed in!
I am frightened about scrubbing anymore, and will not until this is solved. I do hear some wheezes in my lungs (but minor) immediately after this happens, and I tried using Ventolin which does abort the attack pretty quickly. so I am guessing it must be related.
What do you think?