Asthma - choking sensation - must cough

[Trevor535]

I am wondering if anyone else has had these same symptoms before.  First, a little background on me.

I've had asthma for about 7 years.    Mine gets worse when I get sick (i'll get a cough/wheezing) or when I exercise (cough/noticeable burning sensation in my back, chest).  As for medications, I've been prescribed Singulair for several months, although the last month I've really taken it inconsistently, and probably only 3 or 4 times in the past 2 or 3 weeks.  I also occassionally use Albuterol.

Even when I have taken singulair consistently, I'll still get the same problem.  While I am sitting at rest, I'll all of a sudden get a choking sensation, such that it feels like I stop breathing for a second, and the only way to start breathing again is to cough.  It's like all of a sudden my throat tightens up for a second and I HAVE to cough.

My peak flow meter tests are normal - 95 - 100+%.  I've had chest x-ray - normal.  

I'm just wondering, why do I get this out of the blue feeling that everything tightens up in my throat and it feels like I have to cough in order to breathe normally again?  Has anyone else felt this sensation?  It's different than a regular cough..it's the added choking/tightening sensation, with the feeling that I have to catch my breath for a second by way of coughing.  Thanks to anyone with suggestions

[moocowmadge]

Hi , i get this sometimes and having had asthma(active) for the past 11 years, I just take it that its one of those asthma symptoms no one can explain, It often happens to me a few days before a full asthma attack

[maria3931]

My son is 12 and has had asthma his whole life. He is on a daily controller, Symbacort, at the highest dose. Symbacort and Advair are the best/strongest controllers out there. He takes that 2 puffs in AM. He is on a nasal steroid because the doctors think that his asthma is allergy induced (we live in FL). He uses his rescue inhaler numerous times during the day and lately has also needed his nebulizer multiple times. His system is CRAZY sensitive! Over the last 2 weeks he has started this choking thing...almost like he has sucked water into his airway, in the end he always throws up. I am freaking out a bit trying to figure out why he is doing this. He does this multiple times in his sleep and never wakes. He has these episodes 5-6 times a day and I don't know why. We are calling his pulmonologist tomorrow.
Have you found out anything? Anyone?
BTW, He was on Singulair for about 1 year when he was 3 years old and had ALL of the adverse reactions: vivid nightmares, hallucinations, speech issues, bedwetting, major anxiety! be careful!

[SBTrap]

I have had this happen even in the middle of the night. It can be a little freightening as it has actually caused me to in fact choke. My best estimate is that is caused by an allegen entering your airway and causing a momentary anaphylactic condition. I will see an allergist and immunologist to address this as I have discussed this with my doctor who thought is acid reflux. I have also seen a ENT and everything is normal. As we are in  middle of ragweed season, there are many allergens in the air.

[Zypher]

I get this sometimes. Random, out of the blue. It's almost like my heart flutters and my throat feels weird/tight and I have to cough like I'm being choked. It's bizarre and I just googled 'choking sensation'. Haven't found a cause. I do have allergy related asthma and occasionally use an albuterol inhaler.

[Trevor535]

any thoughts on this?