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Throat closes can't breathe

I am a 62 yr old man. When I was 17 I was taking a shower, and out of the blue, I couldn't breathe. It felt like my throat closed (it probably was) and air couldn't get it or out. It lasted for about 30 or so seconds. Then it relaxes on it's own, slowly and air started flowing in and out. After a few minutes I was back to normal.
This happens infrequently. As many as months or a year or so between bouts. I had an attack last night that was brutal, seemed to last well over a minute, and I panicked. Now, this can happen while i'm sleeping, or awake during the day.  I all of a sudden jump out of bed and can't breathe. Feels like i'm trying to breathe through a straw with a thickness the size of a toothpick. Now for the strange part, this has happened in the middle of the day sitting at my desk. I'll jump up, and have the same symptom for a minute or so. It's scary. I have had two instances the last 30 days. I am reading that it could be VCD (vocal cord dysfunction). It's not sleep apnea ( I don't believe) because it happens while i'm awake. It happened while I was watching tv one night but only lasted 10 or so seconds.
Any thoughts?
Ant, it's very very frightening.
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Avatar universal
I have had the same thing for decades, and my mother before me. I happened to figure out that popping a Halls Mentholyptus cough drop greatly reduces the attack! As soon as I feel it starting, I start sucking on one as fast as possible. It stops the spasm. Try it!! Now I keep Halls in my desk, purse, car, etc.
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
Oh my God...my mom did same thing! She used spearmint flavored hall's. She carried them everywhere. My mom passed in 2016, and I still have an old jar with her spearmint cough drops.
Avatar universal
Talk to your doctor about EOE and getting an endoscopy that includes a balloon to widen your windpipe area.  Painless and I have had 9 wonderful months of being able to breathe regularly.  I had this for years, finally saw my doctor about it as it was happening many times every single day.  I was diagnosed with EOE and a couple of other things.  The endoscopy procedure helped me tremendously.  I will have to have it again if it comes back -
apparently, it does.  I hope that this helps other people.  
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I only started experiencing similar attacks after I had my total hysterectomy.  Following research (and I started a Facebook support group called UK HRT and Menopause Support - currently with over 11k members) - I found that symptoms for women and men can be triggered by low hormones as we get older / or have a deficiency.  
In women where swallowing difficulty or /throat closing sensation, can be low estrogen related - as so many women are getting these symptoms when their estrogen and hormone levels start to decline (whether in natural menopause or younger in surgically or chemically induced menopause).  In addition, low estrogen can sometimes also trigger hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) - which can also impact swallowing.  Some men may also get hypothyroidism as they get older.  
Important to note is that whether  with estrogen levels or thyroxine levels- blood tests may still reveal that your levels are within the “normal” range.  BUT with both tests the range is quite broad - and levels are always RELATIVE to each person.  For instance for me personally, if my thyroxine levels go over 3.5 (with thyroxine the higher the reading = lower thyroid function) / or if my estrogen goes below 700 pmol/L (both of which are still within the “normal” range) then I experience swallowing difficulty like my throat is closing  (which in turn can lead to panic. To be clear - the swallowing difficulty is the first thing- not the panic).  But with both these blood levels the docs will say that those levels are still within the “normal” range and that you’re fine.  But it’s NOT normal for me and many other people- and you get the adverse symptoms.
(FYI Estrogen blood levels below 505 pmol/L indicate post-menopause levels).  

So I started to take HRT after my hysterectomy.  It took a year to get my estrogen levels balanced / and finally my thyroid came in line again too - and now I don’t get any more swallowing problems or throat closing issues at all.  (Only if my estrogen levels drop).
Low estrogen / and testosterone levels can cause muscles to become slack and weaker to a degree (this varies from person to person) and this can affect swallowing/ and throat muscle slackening (much similar to how it can cause vaginal atrophy in women - another example of muscles becoming weaker/slacker due to low estrogen and testosterone.  Fun fact: a woman’s ovaries produce 3 times more testosterone than estrogen. Although still way below a man’s testosterone levels of course).  Testosterone in men is responsible for keeping muscles healthy - so this too can affect men’s throats and swallowing too.
Hope this helps
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm having the same problem. I was just watching TV and decided to eat a pack of peanut butter crackers and when I took a drink my throat closed up. I couldn't breathe in or out and panicked. It lasted for about 45 seconds which seemed like minutes. This was so scary.  I wonder if it's from drinking diet Coke and the carbonation. I also suffer from vertigo randomly after using an elevator and wondered if anyone else here experiences that symptom. It's so nice to know you aren't alone and there's a good chance I won't die from this although it certainly feels like the end during an episode.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I’d get checked for a peanut allergy perhaps.  Sometimes allergies can start at any time.  I think yours sounds slightly different to the author’s - as yours appears to be related to eating/drinking perhaps.
Avatar universal
Has anyone been able to figure this out? This has been happening to me for at least 25 years! It will happen while I'm awake, eating, drinking, or in the dead of sleep. It lieterally feelis like my airway is almost completely closed. I fight to get air in my lungs. It usually doesn't last for more than a minute but it's the longest minute of my life! And this A!WAYS happens when my lungs are empty, after I've exhaled (Which makes it scarier  because I had no air in my lungs at all!)
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
There is nothing you can do.  I'm 70 years old and my first attack came at 17 in the shower. I will have an attack once a month there are times I didn't have anything for two or three years. I was at work once about 18 years ago talking to a colleague sitting down and I had an attack he looked at me and said oh my God. It usually lasts close to 30 or 40 seconds it is the scariest thing anyone will ever go through. My doctor said there's nothing anybody can do it is called laryngeal spasms. I haven't had an attack in about 3 or 4 months thank God it is the scariest thing that anyone will ever go through because you can't breathe nothing goes in nothing goes out.
The only thing you can do is not I repeat not panic. Purse your lips and try to breathe through your nose slowly and eventually you'll be fine some of the things I've read is the throat closes if water is going to get in it's a drowning prevention that the body does normally. I went to an ENT and he scoped my throat and said there's absolutely nothing wrong. Just don't panic just relax eventually your throat will open.
Avatar universal
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nPtdkqOLLP4

This basically sums it up. When it happens to me the only thing that kinda helps is if I try to slowly breathe through my nose
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
when it happens to me.....I will be breathing normal and breathe out and then nothing back in....throat just locks up!!  I have found that when this happens to me is to remain calm and breathe through my nose.....I can relax and calm down while breathing through my nose easier!  then back to my mouth and I still cant breathe through my mouth!!  When its back to normal....my throat hurts and sore for hours after the attack!!  DO NOT try to drink anything to wash it down!!!  That was a mistake!!!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
see my post at the end of the thread
Avatar universal
when it happens to me.....I will be breathing normal and breathe out and then nothing back in....throat just locks up!!  I have found that when this happens to me is to remain calm and breathe through my nose.....I can relax and calm down while breathing through my nose easier!  then back to my mouth and I still cant breathe through my mouth!!  When its back to normal....my throat hurts and sore for hours after the attack!!  DO NOT try to drink anything to wash it down!!!  That was a mistake!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My dad is a 58 year old man and he has the same thing and some of them were just worst than others one of them I thought he was going to pass out so I called 911 im trying to figure out a more effective way to treat it but my dad elevates his bed and he has them less often now and I definitely see a difference
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
see my post at the end of the thread
Avatar universal
My mom has had the same problem infrequently for many years. She just had an Espisode about an hour ago, and it was the scariest yet. It seemed to go on for at least 60 seconds. It was the middle of the night, she ran out of her room in a panic, her throat closed up and she was gasping for air, wheezing desperately. I too told her to put her arms up because I thought it was her lungs. After the 60 seconds, slowly she began taking in small amounts of air. Once she started being able to breathe without severely wheezing, she collapsed. Luckly, my boyfriend and I were right there to catch her. I imagine her body was exhausted from the episode. This has occurred during the day time as well. Years ago the doctors told her she had sleep apnea, but it has occurred when she is wide awake too. Super freighting. I am just afraid waiting it out may not be enough one day. What if the airway doesn't relax and allow air in. She does seems to have allergies, she does mention have some acid reflex issues from time to time that make her nauseous. She is 67, Hispanic, not over weight, never smoked, never drank, and goes for walks every couple days. I am going to talk with her about the tips I read above, but if anyone knows of something that really helped during an episode or how to prevent or shorten the length of them, please let me know.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
I have been having this problem for about a year, only at night.  It wakes me up, and it really puts me in a panic.  It just happened a few minutes ago, so I decided to look it up. I am so glad to see everyone's comments here. I am suspecting this is allergy related with me, but there may be some other problem as well, since I have had allergies my whole life, but now this is happening. So, I think it is allergies and something else.  I am thinking the other thing is hormones.  I don't know how or why there might be a correlation, but at the same time that those episodes have gotten progressively worse, I have been having more symptoms related to low estrogen.  Still, I am going to make an appointment with the doctor tomorrow because this is really scary. I don't have acid reflux, although it may be that there are several reasoms why people get this.
I am not very optimistic about seeing a doctor after reading the posts here.  It seems like most doctors don't have answers.  I am a 51 year old female.
see my post at the end of the thread
18082563 tn?1463019808
I am 55 and have never had this happen until today for the first time and I thought I was going to die, It scared me to death almost. I do have bronchitis right now but this did not feel related. I was just sitting on the sofa and BAM! I could not breathe, It felt like my throat closed 100% and I thought that it was the end for me.  I go back to the health dept next week for a recheck and I hope they will be able to put my fears to rest because I must admit I am very freaked out. I was not eating or drinking or anything it was totally out of the blue. So scary!
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
My mom has had the same problem infrequently for many years. She just had an Espisode about an hour ago, and it was the scariest yet. It seemed to go on for at least 60 seconds. It was the middle of the night, she ran out of her room in a panic, her throat closed up and she was gasping for air, wheezing desperately. I too told her to put her arms up because I thought it was her lungs. After the 60 seconds, slowly she began taking in small amounts of air. Once she started being able to breathe without severely wheezing, she collapsed. Luckly, my boyfriend and I were right there to catch her. I imagine her body was exhausted from the episode. This has occurred during the day time as well. Years ago the doctors told her she had sleep apnea, but it has occurred when she is wide awake too. Super freighting. I am just afraid waiting it out may not be enough one day. What if the airway doesn't relax and allow air in. She does seems to have allergies, she does mention have some acid reflex issues from time to time that make her nauseous. She is 67, Hispanic, not over weight, never smoked, never drank, and goes for walks every couple days. I am going to talk with her about the tips I read above, but if anyone knows of something that really helped during an episode or how to prevent or shorten the length of them, please let me know.
see my post at the end of the thread
17278603 tn?1455217009
Has anybody found any help from this site: http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com/
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So glad to see I'm not alone in this - happened one time when a friend was visiting, he's in a Master's Swimming program and immediately pulled both my arms up over my head (perhaps to relax the chest, not sure) anyway, it seemed to shorten the attack somewhat, you might like to have someone do this for you, you can't really just hold up your own arms, as the panic takes over.  My triggers seem to be drinking something (ie. water), so now I'm terrified each day to take my medication!  Anyway, hope this helps somewhat. (70 year old female, had this for 30 years)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I hear you all.  I just had the worst one yet.  My throat was closed so tightly I couldn't even make that awful noise of trying to pull in air.  It lasted much longer than any of the others.  Even though my husband was with me I was terrified and knew this was it!  Even my dogs were panicked.   I have had these spasms triggered by my own saliva in the wrong place, but it is usually something dry--crackers, meat cooked too long, dry hamburger meat, toast crust, vinegar, hot peppers, some sour things or something that just happens to hit in the wrong place at the very back of my tongue/beginning of my throat.  When I finally brought this to my doctor's attention some years ago I thought she would dismiss it, but apparently her mother suffered from it as well.  She said there really isn't anything you can do and that no, you won't die from it.  After today's attack I also looked online and found some information at emaxhealth.com.
The first method would probably require practice beforehand and keeping one's wits about them during the attack.  It is a breathing technique.  The second involves using a shortened straw (that you need to keep on hand at all times) and breathing through it with your mouth tightly around it to slow your rate of breathing.  The assumption is that you ARE breathing.  Another suggestion is to tilt your head back which may relax the vocal cords.  There are also medical and alternative healing methods.  If anyone who reads this finds any that work, please let the rest of us know.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I only started experiencing similar attacks after I had my total hysterectomy.  Following research (and I started a Facebook support group called UK HRT and Menopause Support - currently with over 11k members) - I found that symptoms for women can be low estrogen related - as so many women are getting these symptoms when their estrogen and hormone levels start to decline (whether in natural menopause or younger in surgically or chemically induced menopause). Also low estrogen can sometimes trigger hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) - which also could possibly impact swallowing.  Some men may also get hypothyroidism as they get older. Important to note is that whether  with estrogen levels or thyroxine levels- blood tests may still reveal that your levels are within the “normal” range. BUT with both tests the range is quite broad - yet levels are always relative to each person.  For instance for me personally, if my thyroxine levels go over 3.5 (with thyroxine the higher the reading = lower thyroid function) / or if my estrogen goes below 700 pmol/L - then I experience swallowing difficulty (which in turn can lead to panic. To be clear - the swallowing difficulty is the first thing- not the panic).  But with both these blood levels the docs will say that those levels are still within the “normal” range and that you’re fine.  But it’s NOT normal for me - and many other people- and you get the adverse symptoms.
Estrogen blood levels or below 505 pmol/L indicate post menopause levels.  So I started to take HRT.  It took a year to get my estrogen levels balanced / and my thyroid came in line again too - and now I don’t get any more swallowing problems or throat closing issues at all.  (Only if my estrogen levels drop).
Low estrogen / testosterone levels can cause muscles to become slack and weaker to a degree (this varies from person to person) and this can affect swallowing/ throat (much similar to how it can cause vaginal atrophy in women - another example of muscles becoming weaker/slacker due to low estrogen and testosterone).  Testosterone in men is responsible for keeping muscles healthy - so this too can affect men’s throats and swallowing.
Hope this helps.
17047180 tn?1453291024
This has been happening to me for years. Maybe three times a year. Its terrifying. Walking my dogs one day in a secluded area, I thought I was going to die. I just read a suggestions that said if it happens, breathe through your nose very slowly instead of your mouth. This happened while on the phone today and my friend was ready to call 911. You feel helpless and doomed when this occurs.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
**DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A DOCTOR AND IN NO WAY MEDICALLY TRAINED OR CREDIBLE/RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OUTCOME OF PEOPLE FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THIS POST. I AM JUST TRYING TO HELP BY SHARING MY KNOWLEDGE**
So, now that that's over:
Hello everyone who has this problem. I believe that what you are experiencing is laryngospasm, where the vocal cords temporarily seize, making it hard to breathe. This can happen at any time not just while eating or sleeping. It usually lasts only 2-3 minutes at most, but can be terrifying. A very distinctive noise is made when trying to breathe, and while exhaling and coughing are still possible, inhalation is a huge challenge. Inhaling faster also makes it worse.
The explanation of the reason behind this issue is lengthy, but the most important thing is: please go see your doctor. If you feel that they don't understand your problem, or can't help you, do some research before you go in. Also, if it is possible, you may want to videotape one of your spasms, should you have that much clarity during an attack, to show the doctor.
Finally, when you do have an attack like this, tip your head back, and inhale slowly through your nose, and exhale forcefully through your mouth. Keep your breathing slow and steady, and stay calm, and the spasm should pass quickly. Breathing quickly will just make it worse.
Hope this helps :)
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I believe you nailed it. That seems to be exactly what it is. I diagnosed myself with this when I'd have these episodes from chewing mint gum or eating something spicy.
Avatar universal
I am a white female 62 and have experienced this while infrequently for years.  I just had my worse attack to date. For me, it feels like the flap in the back of my throat gets stuck.  It's like the reflux meets the sinus drip.  I can't breathe.  I've learned to sit up and relax; but, for some reason that didn'the work tonight.  I scare my poor husband who tries to help by telling me to relax. He was pounding me on the back to help.  Tonight really was terrifying.  I finally was able to get some air in and even vomited phlegm after it was over.    Even after 30 minutes, I'm scared to go back to sleep.  It leaves me exhausted.  I am overweight; but, it happened when I was very thin too.  I've  talked with doctors who dismiss me.  I agree with those who say relaxing is difficult when you wake from a sound sleep because you can't breathe.  I sometimes know when I might have an attack.  If I'm in a place with lots of smoke, it is more likely to happen.  I take benadryl nightly to sleep and help with allergies.   It has happened in the daytime.  It has me terrified to have anesthesia.  What is this?  What type of doctor should I see that will listen and help?
Thanks for this forum.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was watching tv one night and I went to take a drink of my water and my throat closed up. It seemed to get worse upon trying to eat or drink. Even when I'm not trying to eat or drink, my upper throat feels like it's closing up. I can feel it swelling up. Once it closes up, I can't eat, drink, swallow, or speak! It's so terrifying! Nothing is provoking it. It just happens out of the blue.
I went to the ENT the next day and had several tests done and they couldn't find anything wrong. Thyroid came out normal, too.
The only thing wrong in my blood work was that I had low estrogen. Other than that, everything was normal. They gave me muscle relaxers ,which did not help. I take heart burn medication, which does not help. I've seen a neurologist, family dr, emergency room dr, ent, and a gi doctor and none of them can find a cause!
I can't eat very well and I've lost weight. I've been experiencing this problem since July 2015.
I wonder if this is a hormone problem and perhaps that's why the doctors can't find a cause??? I do have TMJ and my dentist doesn't seem to think TMJ is causing this.
I'm tired of living like this. I'm only in my early thirties and I'm healthy. I just can't swallow off and on through out the day. I'm desperate and scared! Doctors just send me out the door and don't help me.I don't know what to do anymore.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi. How did things turn out with your condition? I am having trouble swallowing liquids and if I take too much in one swallow my throat will close---it happened once to warn me and it's frightening. i realize you haven't been on here in a long time but maybe you'll see my message. I don't feel though like my throat closes up or swells up. I just can't take in much liquid. Food is okay depending on texture.
Avatar universal
I never had a problem until I was rafting and became trapped under a large waterfall.  This was a bad situation that kills rafters every year, but I knew that by relaxing and letting the current toss me out I would escape.  If you fight it you risk using up precious air and then you are a goner.  

As I was being rolled and tossed around in a whiteout of bubbles I was thinking, any second now, stay calm, don't fight it, but it was taking longer than expect.   The seconds passed and I played all sorts of mind games to remain calm, but by the time I was in clear dark water we estimated I had been trapped under the falls for over 2 minutes.    

I found myself free of the waterfall, but I near the bottom of the river, out of air, with 15 feet of dark water over me! (I was wearing a life vest too)  In a last surge of adrenaline I swam to the surface which also used up the last bit of air in my lungs.  My timing was off by a split second as I broke the surface and I gulped water and that closed my throat.  

The irony was I on top of the water, but I still couldn't get any air!  I started coughing to expel the water and clear my airway.  It was like breathing through a tiny straw at first, then as the seconds ticked off my throat began to relax where I could breath.  

A year later I was asleep in bed and I felt the sting of acid reflux in my throat and I leapt to my feet unable to breath.  It was a scary experience, but I was also angry at the muscle in my throat that triggered this event. I recall thinking, hey this wasn't supposed to happen except during drowning!
It was probably a full 20-25 seconds before I could get the first tiny gulps of air into my lungs.  With every few seconds my throat was opening up and within another 15- 20 seconds I could breath with only a small restriction.    

I've had at least 6-7 similar events since that time and I've learned to stay calm, don't rise up and let it relax.  Just lay there and trust that this is the fastest way to get my throat open.  

I believe I suffer from a condition know as Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) that is similar to another condition -- GERD  -- that results from the contents of the stomach backing up (reflux). But the symptoms of LPR are a bit different.  

According to the article I read on LPR, "At either end of your esophagus is a ring of muscle (sphincter). Normally, these sphincters keep the contents of your stomach where they belong -- in your stomach. But with LPR, the sphincters don't work right. Stomach acid backs up into the back of your throat (pharynx) or voice box (larynx), or even into the back of your nasal airway. It can cause inflammation in areas that are not protected against gastric acid exposure."

I've scheduled an appointment with family doctor and I am going to present my finding.   I'm a male, in my mid 60's and I'm about 40 lbs overweight .  When the acid reflux events happen I've usually eaten just before bedtime.  

Hope this helps.  







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Avatar universal
This does sound like what I have.  Thank you for suggestions.
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Avatar universal
I have this.  It has happened only four or five times in the last few years.  I am 62 and not sleeping well.  I am also a singer.  I believe it is triggered by unexpected things such as vinegar or hot food, spicy food.  After another recent attack I am going to the doctor this week.   I am avoiding these types of foods.  It is truly terrifying.  
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Avatar universal
Thank goodness there are others like me. I have the same symptoms around once a month. Throat closes .u try to suck in air but it won't go down. Then the panic starts. I sip some water , don't know if it's the right thing to do but it works for me after maybe 30 sec to a minute. Scares the crap out of my wife and me. No doctor can come up with a solution.
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Avatar universal
my daughter carnt breath throat tightens, been to hospital and they said it was a panic attack, she only panics because she carnt breath, shes having a baby very soon and I am truly concern, she has experience this for the last 5 years, I tried the homeopathic, anything, she is an asthmatic, waiting on hospital checkup, I hope someone finds a solution, I'm her mother and feel so helpless, can someone help her, anything
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Avatar universal
I cannot believe I found this site and I'm so grateful. I am nearly losing my mind thinking what could I have. I have thought of worst things like cancer and Im dying. My doctors cant give me straight answers. Thank you for all who said something and truly I'm relieved.

I have this problems since high school. Im in my 30s now. Before it only happened once or twice a year. This month almost twice or more a day thats why I had to go to urgent care multiple times and they diagnosed me with bronchitis. After a round of antibiotics it still persists. I get really scared and I thought I could die from this. I am scheduled to see another doctor tomorrow. Hopefully he can give a good insight about this problem.
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