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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Windpipe constriction while sleeping
Answered by
CO
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Windpipe constriction while sleeping
by tonyconklin, Aug 13, 2009 05:13AM
I am a health 37 year old non-smoker. I exercise regularly and keep a fairly healthy diet. A few years ago I had surgery to remove nodules/scar tissue from my vocal cords. It came back a few months later and I had them removed again. It has not surfaced since, and it never gave me breathing problems. Recently I have been having issues at night with very small amounts of saliva/fluid clogging my windpipe while I sleep. Although I get seasonal allergies at the beginning of Spring, it usually clear up with a few weeks of meds- and is definitely not bothering me now. These issues have progressively gotten worse. I've never had issues sleeping, and I don't think I have sleep apnea. These episodes are severe enough to abruptly wake me as I try to breathe. Last night was bad enough that I was completely constricted. I went a good 30-45 seconds without air. It was quite scary. What could be causing this?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Aug 20, 2009 12:03PM
, Aug 20, 2009 12:03PMTo: tonyconklin
What you describe strongly suggests the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. That you have also sensed “small amounts of saliva/fluid clogging” your windpipe, brings two other considerations to mind, possibly but not necessarily related to your inability to breathe in or out and those are: 1) acid reflux, also called gastric reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) or, 2) post-nasal drip. The first of these is not uncommonly associated with sleep apnea. Finally, there are any number of functional or anatomic abnormalities of the larynx and vocal cords that could foster obstruction to air flow.
The latter must be ruled out, first, and this would best be accomplished by direct examination of your larynx and cords, via the use of a fiberoptic laryngoscope, by an experienced examiner, either an ENT specialist or a pulmonary disease specialist (Pulmonologist). If that is normal, you should proceed with a sleep study, despite your belief that you, “don’t think” you have sleep apnea.
Not being able to breathe can be very scary and I would not delay in seeking medical assistance for your problem.
Good luck
The latter must be ruled out, first, and this would best be accomplished by direct examination of your larynx and cords, via the use of a fiberoptic laryngoscope, by an experienced examiner, either an ENT specialist or a pulmonary disease specialist (Pulmonologist). If that is normal, you should proceed with a sleep study, despite your belief that you, “don’t think” you have sleep apnea.
Not being able to breathe can be very scary and I would not delay in seeking medical assistance for your problem.
Good luck
