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nighttime coughing fits with choking
Help! 4 weeks ago I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with bronchitis. I was treated with Avelox and since then, things have really gone downhill. Every night I wake up at least twice with severe coughing fits. When I try to take a breath, no air goes in and I make horrible rasping sounds. It feels as if my entire breathing system has shut down. After a minute or two I start breathing normally again, but the anxiety from this has really turned me into a nervous wreck. In addition, each morning as soon as I sit up in bed I begin to gag, and most mornings I vomit. During the day I also cough, but the cough is most severe late afternnon into evening. I do have a lot of mucus, and my doctor recently started me on Advair, which so far, has not helped. The back of my throat always feels very dry, no matter how much water I drink, and often taking a deep breath or yawning will start a coughing fit. My biggest concern is the my nightly coughing fits when I can't breathe. It makes me nervous to go to sleep at night. I am getting quite desperate as I have not improved at all in 3 weeks. Please help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Viral infections like bronchitis can cause inflammation of the airways of the lungs. When this occurs you may cough, especially when you take a deep breath or yawn. If a virus were the cause the antibiotic you took would not be effective in getting rid of the infection. If bacteria were the cause a culture of the mucus that you are coughing up would identify the specific bacteria and the most effective antibiotic to get rid of the infection. However this testing is rarely done since it is much more likely for viruses to cause these infections.
After the cold is gone, it is possible for the inflammation to linger. This inflammation can last for several weeks. Sometimes this inflammation may linger for 3 to 6 months. Eventually the inflammation will go away, and then the coughing will stop. This is called reactive airways disease (RAD) and behaves a lot like asthma. On a simple breathing test, called spirometry, this may not show up. This inflammation often clears more quickly when it is treated with an inhaled steroid medicine like Advair
After the cold is gone, it is possible for the inflammation to linger. This inflammation can last for several weeks. Sometimes this inflammation may linger for 3 to 6 months. Eventually the inflammation will go away, and then the coughing will stop. This is called reactive airways disease (RAD) and behaves a lot like asthma. On a simple breathing test, called spirometry, this may not show up. This inflammation often clears more quickly when it is treated with an inhaled steroid medicine like Advair
A related discussion, Breathing issues due to mucus was started.
A related discussion, Codeine Linctus was started.
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I have had this problem for years (probably about 15 years). The first time I remember this happening to me was when I had a severe infection or virus - I did not see a dr. - I went on vacation in the bahamas and spent the whole time in bed. I had this choking event a couple of times - I thought I was going to die.
Also years ago,I saw a dr. about shortness of breath in the evening he attributed my problems to postnasal drip and stress. He gave me an antihisimine - this didn't really help. Later my drainage got worse and my nose was always red from blowing it... and every once and a while I would get the coughing fit where the top of my windpipe closes up (it does not seem like my lungs do although my airpassages do feel inflammed sometimes). Years later they tried claritan then flonase or something like it - that did nothing. While living in London I got a pnuemonia many bouts of sinisitis/lung inflammation and had a lot of antibiotics; thye did an astma test on me but did not "see" it but still suspected a slight asthma problem. I frequently went on antibiotics after that. Nothing worked until one day a dr gave me atrovent spray for my nose - this significantly reduced the amount of mucous in my nasal passages.
Alhtough this has helped keep the number of attacks down I still have these coughing fits. Sometimes at night but most of the time while I'm eating - often vinegar on a salad or something else that tickles my throat. Of course once I start coughing my sinuses fill up with mucous and makes the situation worse. It happens a half a dozen times or so year. Each time I'm always afraid I will not recover my breath - the top of my windpipe just closes and I gasp for breath. It scares me and anyone around me. When I'm in a restaurant people have jumped up to give me the heimlech (sp?) manuever but I wave them off because I feel as though this would make things worse. My dr. gave me combivent for an attack but I don't feel it does much. However, this might be because I can't control my breathing to get it down my throat.
Most of the time my husband is around and can be there to "help" (i.e. get the combivent or call 911), but if he's not around I can not explain to anyone what is going on when I'm having an attack. I just wonder what the emergency people would do if I stopped breathing and I could not tell them what is wrong.
I went on-line today to look at my problem because I just had an attack tonight while I was eating dinner. I wish there was something that I could do about this problem.
Also years ago,I saw a dr. about shortness of breath in the evening he attributed my problems to postnasal drip and stress. He gave me an antihisimine - this didn't really help. Later my drainage got worse and my nose was always red from blowing it... and every once and a while I would get the coughing fit where the top of my windpipe closes up (it does not seem like my lungs do although my airpassages do feel inflammed sometimes). Years later they tried claritan then flonase or something like it - that did nothing. While living in London I got a pnuemonia many bouts of sinisitis/lung inflammation and had a lot of antibiotics; thye did an astma test on me but did not "see" it but still suspected a slight asthma problem. I frequently went on antibiotics after that. Nothing worked until one day a dr gave me atrovent spray for my nose - this significantly reduced the amount of mucous in my nasal passages.
Alhtough this has helped keep the number of attacks down I still have these coughing fits. Sometimes at night but most of the time while I'm eating - often vinegar on a salad or something else that tickles my throat. Of course once I start coughing my sinuses fill up with mucous and makes the situation worse. It happens a half a dozen times or so year. Each time I'm always afraid I will not recover my breath - the top of my windpipe just closes and I gasp for breath. It scares me and anyone around me. When I'm in a restaurant people have jumped up to give me the heimlech (sp?) manuever but I wave them off because I feel as though this would make things worse. My dr. gave me combivent for an attack but I don't feel it does much. However, this might be because I can't control my breathing to get it down my throat.
Most of the time my husband is around and can be there to "help" (i.e. get the combivent or call 911), but if he's not around I can not explain to anyone what is going on when I'm having an attack. I just wonder what the emergency people would do if I stopped breathing and I could not tell them what is wrong.
I went on-line today to look at my problem because I just had an attack tonight while I was eating dinner. I wish there was something that I could do about this problem.
It sounds like 'acute bronchitis', which is often caused by a virus, so antibiotics may not work. See:
http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/uri.html
UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS (COLDS) and ACUTE BRONCHITIS
Excerpt:
"Acute bronchitis is an inflammation and irritation of the bronchial tubes (airways) in the lungs. It is usually caused by an infection or, more rarely, by an exposure to chemicals. Symptoms generally include cough with mucus, chest discomfort, fever and extreme tiredness.
.........
An antibiotic is prescribed if you have a bacterial bronchitis. If you have a viral bronchitis, however, an antibiotic may not be prescribed..........
Bronchodilator medications are given if you experience wheezing or shortness of breath. Corticosteroid medications may be used to decrease inflammation and irritation in your airways.
How long the bronchitis lasts is affected by your general state of health, the virus or bacteria involved and how soon you get treatment. Avoiding smoke and other irritants, good nutrition with plenty of fluids, rest and medication are all important. Sometimes viral bronchitis can cause asthma-like symptoms. This is more common in persons with a history of asthma or allergy. This condition's main symptom is a dry, hacking cough that lasts four to eight weeks or longer after the initial infection is over. The cough may be triggered by cold, dry air, smoke or dust."
-----------------------------
http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/uri.html
UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS (COLDS) and ACUTE BRONCHITIS
Excerpt:
"Acute bronchitis is an inflammation and irritation of the bronchial tubes (airways) in the lungs. It is usually caused by an infection or, more rarely, by an exposure to chemicals. Symptoms generally include cough with mucus, chest discomfort, fever and extreme tiredness.
.........
An antibiotic is prescribed if you have a bacterial bronchitis. If you have a viral bronchitis, however, an antibiotic may not be prescribed..........
Bronchodilator medications are given if you experience wheezing or shortness of breath. Corticosteroid medications may be used to decrease inflammation and irritation in your airways.
How long the bronchitis lasts is affected by your general state of health, the virus or bacteria involved and how soon you get treatment. Avoiding smoke and other irritants, good nutrition with plenty of fluids, rest and medication are all important. Sometimes viral bronchitis can cause asthma-like symptoms. This is more common in persons with a history of asthma or allergy. This condition's main symptom is a dry, hacking cough that lasts four to eight weeks or longer after the initial infection is over. The cough may be triggered by cold, dry air, smoke or dust."
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