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violent coughing...is it laryngeal spasms?

Hello. Yesterday my doctor suggested I might have Laryngeal Spasms, and while I wait 2 months for the Throat specialist to get my appointment, she suggested I look online.  But my symptoms don't seem to match all of yours...no voice problems or 'breathing' problems.  I just get these violent coughing attacks that literally feel and behave as if I inhaled a bread crumb, and my body suddenly and violently is trying to cough it up.  And just like when we are choking, I have a hard time catching my breath during these violent choking fits.   By the time I'm done 4-8 minutes later, I'm shaking, tears streaming down my face, and I've probably wet myself.  Its horrible!  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  Oh, and this happens at all hours of the day and night, and usually, its not when I'm eating.   Its frightening to wake up from a deep sleep choking like this. She suggested curbing any reflux I might be having, but I rarely ever have heartburn (but I'll try anything now!)  I do note that it happens more often when my respiratory system is weakened by a cold, or allergy season, or even a little cough.  I'm thinking she might be in the right ballpark, but not the right diagnosis.  Thanks for your help.  
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Avatar universal
Hi did you get any response or help for this dreadful condition? I suffer with it too.
Clarabelle64
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So far after 2 months with every symptom that others have listed No Relief
I am going to start taking Benedryl several times per day up to the suggested limit
Read my 1st Comment
Makemyday16
Avatar universal
Hello. I am 64 and just started having these coughing fits also. Have gone to doctor who said I have a bronchial infection. Took blood and sent me home with Zpac. I am still coughing an just had to get up out of bed because the coughing was so bad I felt like my head was going to burst or I would have a heart attack. Have found this forum helpful. Now at least I have some ideas and questions to ask when i return to see Dr. Recently opened up a wall in my bathroom and founs black mold. I asked DR. to have my blood screened for this also. Have had allergies most of my life and this is very disturbing. Going to buy Depends, because i dont know what elsr to do about the bladder out of control.
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So far I have found nothing to help me with these coughing spasms just like you I've gone to doctors specialists I've taken Benadryl and cough syrup,  a bronchial inhaler I've been careful about what I'm eating I do have acid reflux but I take Nexium and Zantac I've been tested by a Pulmonologist, Gastrointerologist, General Physician even Urgent Care. In the past two months I've taken Z pac,  amoxicillin, cough surup with codeine, and more  Adding a regular sleep pattern and changing my diet and exercises still no change  It can start anywhere or anytime wetting requires that I wear a protective pad This is overwhelming for a normally healthy active woman.... help!!
Please look into 'leaky gut syndrome'. You will probably get to the root of your problems.
Avatar universal
I too suffer from this awful dilemma which is what lead me to this forum. Im looking for answers. It all starts with a cold which I'm still battling. I've been extremely  stressed on top of that so I know my immune system is comprimised. It starts with what feels like dust landing on a dry patch in my throat. Then a cough that sends me running into isolation and obscurity.  The cough becomes so violent that the tears, almost peeing myself,and splitting headaches set in. I have to clear my throat for an hour after before homeostasis sets back in. I've had to run out of class, leave church services, whatever, just so I can hack my head off. I hate this and it didn't start until my 30's. Why now?
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2 Comments
I relate to every word  This is something I never experienced before It is very bad
Look into 'Leaky gut syndrome'.They say most of our sickness/disease comes from the gut.
Avatar universal
Hi did you find a cure? I'm currently having the same issue.

please advise

thanks

Joe
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Avatar universal
I have suffered from these after a cold for many, many years -- the sudden coughing fit or spasm running its course, eyes watering, nose running, violent coughing.  If I am lucky, I don't pee my pants.  I recover in a few minutes.  The best trick, as noted by previous posts, is as soon as you get that "tickle," pound tons of ICE COLD water and follow with a strong cough drop but you have to get it right away or you are too far gone to be able to do it. I always have a bottle of water and Halls right at my fingertips if I am riding in someone's car or in a meeting.  

I was reading that it can be caused by acid reflux which is not normal for me, but the action of excessive coughing brings up acids into the throat area creating inflamation which is known to cause these spasms -- actually they are vocal cord spasms.   I am going to experiment with taking something like Nexium every day during and recovering from a cold.  The next time I get a cold, try Tums for a comparison.  It's worth a shot.   One anecdote:  My Norwegian grandmother had an old-school method of preventing these during sleep which my parents did for me when I was a kid and it seemed to help.  It was a washcloth dunked in ice water, rung out, wrapped around the throat with a hand towel around that.  I think I will try the Tums route these days but since gramma's method offered some relief while the washcloth was cold, that seems to support the inflammation-causing-spasms idea.  Reduce the acid in your stomach, cool and hydrate the throat.  If there is acid in there, water will dilute it temporarily.  Cold, cold water.
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Avatar universal
Very interesting post above ^ but don't think it's the cough we are talking about. I suffer from the same thing, i.e. fairly rare throat tickle that persists and causes heavy coughing, I don't freak out though because c'mon, if you are gonna die, then you are. I am no doctor but I do notice that it only emerges after a bad cold or flu. Considering that everywhere is said that a viral bug causes this, perhaps the cough is to do exactly with the virus. I know that a virus infects our body by attacking one of our body cells and using it to reproduce. Once the new viruses are developed inside the body cell, they can remain dormant for long periods of time until your organism is weak for example, so they break out from the invaded body cell to have a higher chance to infect your body. When they break out, the cell that the virus used for reproduction is dead and this causes damage. Perhaps the virus damages some of the cells inside our throat, and perhaps the nerves are affected and perhaps get damaged by that and occasionally malfunction after the disease. Anyway unless it's chronic, it seems to happen after a viral bug. If people have those on occasion after a bug, and nothing happens, perhaps not to worry. Those who have a cough that chokes them or a chronic cough should definitely be worried however I believe, and should seek medical advise.
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