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.

[Kathryn22]

ps a friend was recommending also coka cola good for cough, which I had been craving before she told me! (although stay away from it in normal circumstances!)

[Kathryn22]

Also my instinct is to wrap up glands as mine I feel is related to a complication to a flue virus this left me with bad cough. So I wear a lovely 100% Pashmina scarf loosely round neck to keep all glands warm and in day, or if going out also, plus at night as cold air affects the current sensitivity in larynx, I also have a bed hat with ear flaps, keeps the whole area nicely warm , wrapped up and protected at night. When I had the first episode it was so frightening as i awoke at 5 am unable to breath at all, I was not sure if I was going to die or not. after panicking and getting very hot, i went to bathroom, splashed cold water on face to cool down, and sat on the loo seat with my knees pulled up , which flexes your back and makes you hold your chest very upright, which helped me, or I believe standing as straight as poss, if you cannot do this.

[Kathryn22]

The recovery position for this is to extend the neck backwards as much as poss, looking up to ceiling, or tilt back as far as poss, do not breath in fast but slow, faster breathing closes the muscles tighter blocking the airways further. Extend neck back and slow breath through nose, extending neck back prevents the vocal cords from clamping closed, it stretches them out, also breathing through nose also stretches them and prevents further spasms. Sleep with head elevated from stomach to prevent acids causing attacks at night, and find a way to have your neck in the stretched recovery position should prevent night time episodes. Well it worked for me since I was recommend on another forum! Good luck . If you have a cough, get doc to give a good medicine to stop the coughing, in my case this also triggers an attack, so avoiding coughing is important. If I need to cough now, i extend neck back to cough and breath in through mouth, which leasers the clamping closed.. Also get a good stomach acid tablet to lesson acid in stomach which causes these attacks also.there is another great website here: http://voicedoctor.net/therapy/laryngospasm#causes

[LSA1]

I have been suffering with this for quite some time with the last two years being the worst.  When it first started I wondered, "Am I choking on food to cause this reaction, or is the reaction making me choke on food?"  I have been treated for GERD, Asthma and LPR and still I struggle.  Like most of you I have found this site after a scary episode.  I am going to try the magnesium.  I would like to share something I found that has helped me and has not been mentioned in the previous posts.  Blues Singer and teachers listen up!  I talk for a living and have had voice issues along with the spasms.  I have done a lot of my own research trying to heal myself as the GI, ENT and Pulmonary physician's advise only helps a little.  Three things that have helped me are:1 humming to warm up your vocal cords first thing in the morning.  I read this is how Frank Sinatra always warmed up.  Also after heavy voice use hum to cool down, just like a runner has to cool down to keep blood from pooling to prevent cramps.2 Throat Coat Tea is very helpful to the throat and voice.  I add raw honey to mine.  You can drink it hot or cold.  It is very soothing and you will notice when you are sick or using your voice a lot it helps.  You can find it in the tea section of most grocery stores.  I have found it at Target and Walmart too 3 Talk to your physician about Sinus Rinsing to see if it may be helpful for you.  I was not excited to try this, but it wasn't bad and has reduced some of my coughing.  Good luck to all and I will revisit this site to keep learning from all of you too!

[dlsnackman]

After stopping smoking, I developed a cough that lasted for 5-6 weeks. Went to DR and got steroids and cough meds and antibiotic. Then started having spasms at night. Went to ENT, he scheduled esphoagram, I take it next Monday. It is really unnerving to not be able to breathe...mine mostly occur at night or early in am after I get out of bed. I hope there is a cure for this...I am reading all the comments in this forum now. Good luck to everyone.

[Ron1960]

My wife is 53 and almost a year ago, she choked on a peice of steak, and turned blue for about two to three minutes.  Luckily I was there, (we were having a cookout in the backyard), and my neighboors were both outside.  I yelled for help and within a minute, i could hear the ambulance comming.  I did the heimlick manuver and just as the ambulance got there, she coughed up the peice of meat.  After that episode, she seemed ok, but a couple of months later, she started getting the lyrengial spasams about once a week.  As those of you who have this, its a terrifying thing to go thru and to witness.  I try and hold her upright, and hold her head up, talking to her telling her to stay calm and try and breath.  This usually happens just after dinner, and some two to three times a week.   We will try the vitamins and repost with the results,(dont see how it could hurt anything).  If anyone has any other remedys or advise, please post them.  Thanks   Ron