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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.
Just Google The Mystery Chronic Cough
The Mystery Chronic Cough (a.k.a. habit cough, tic cough, psychogenic cough, irritable larynx syndrome)A typical patient with the chronic cough is described as follows:
◦Started during or after recovering from a viral laryngitis and/or upper respiratory infection
◦Dry cough
◦Cough occurs due to no perceivable reason...perhaps only a tickle
◦Cough may occur several times an hour to even as often as several times a minute. Must be distinguished from whooping cough (severe attacks of a choking cough that lasts 1-2 minutes often with near vomiting and appearance of suffocation. Watch Mayo Clinic video).
◦Cough does not seem to get better with time (months or even years)
◦All diagnostic studies performed come back normal
◦Endoscopy of the throat and voicebox is normal (this exam will be performed on the first visit to ensure that there is no anatomic reason for the cough). Such anatomic factors that may trigger a cough include an elongated uvula as well as large tonsils (Link #1 • Link #2 • Link #3 • Link #4)
If this description sounds like you, you may have chronic cough due to laryngeal sensory neuropathy (aka, sensory neuropathic cough, vagal neuropathy, etc). What does this mean? Essentially, this means that the nerve that provides sensation to the voicebox and is responsible for triggering the cough reflex has been injured, usually by a virus. When this happens, the nerve's level of sensitivity before it triggers the cough reflex becomes markedly reduced; in other words, it becomes hyper-sensitive. This situation is akin to the elevated sensitivity of the skin producing pain even with the lightest touch after healing from a bad burn, even if the skin appears completely normal. Other related forms of such sensory neuropathy include diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, etc.
Dr. Chang was recently featured in Healthy Happenings, a regional quarterly publication. The article mainly focused on one of Dr. Chang's patient whom he had diagnosed and successfully treated for laryngeal sensory neuropathy as a cause of her chronic cough for over 10 years.
There is also a list of links to professionals in the USA and Canada who are familiar with this condition
The Mystery Chronic Cough (a.k.a. habit cough, tic cough, psychogenic cough, irritable larynx syndrome)A typical patient with the chronic cough is described as follows:
◦Started during or after recovering from a viral laryngitis and/or upper respiratory infection
◦Dry cough
◦Cough occurs due to no perceivable reason...perhaps only a tickle
◦Cough may occur several times an hour to even as often as several times a minute. Must be distinguished from whooping cough (severe attacks of a choking cough that lasts 1-2 minutes often with near vomiting and appearance of suffocation. Watch Mayo Clinic video).
◦Cough does not seem to get better with time (months or even years)
◦All diagnostic studies performed come back normal
◦Endoscopy of the throat and voicebox is normal (this exam will be performed on the first visit to ensure that there is no anatomic reason for the cough). Such anatomic factors that may trigger a cough include an elongated uvula as well as large tonsils (Link #1 • Link #2 • Link #3 • Link #4)
If this description sounds like you, you may have chronic cough due to laryngeal sensory neuropathy (aka, sensory neuropathic cough, vagal neuropathy, etc). What does this mean? Essentially, this means that the nerve that provides sensation to the voicebox and is responsible for triggering the cough reflex has been injured, usually by a virus. When this happens, the nerve's level of sensitivity before it triggers the cough reflex becomes markedly reduced; in other words, it becomes hyper-sensitive. This situation is akin to the elevated sensitivity of the skin producing pain even with the lightest touch after healing from a bad burn, even if the skin appears completely normal. Other related forms of such sensory neuropathy include diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, phantom limb pain, etc.
Dr. Chang was recently featured in Healthy Happenings, a regional quarterly publication. The article mainly focused on one of Dr. Chang's patient whom he had diagnosed and successfully treated for laryngeal sensory neuropathy as a cause of her chronic cough for over 10 years.
There is also a list of links to professionals in the USA and Canada who are familiar with this condition
I have been suffering with coughing spasms for the last three months. I have them about 3 or 4 times a day and they are especially bad at night. I have tried many remedies but I never could believe it was COPD and sinus infections didn't seem to be a reason for the severity of my illness, because I have them every year for months at a time. Last night, the mucus seemed to have dropped into my lungs and my breathing was very difficult and even talking was an effort so I headed to the emergency room. I met a doctor who told me he suspected PERTUSSIS and after reading the data, I tend to agree. I am 62 and most of the people I know who are sharing this issue, are within ten years of my age range. And as the doctor said, our generation was never innoculated against pertussis. The immunizations came when we had our children and our own health risks were not considered as critical but NOW as we age, the pertussis factor has really cropped up and created health issues for us! Check it out! It's worth a shot!
I have exactly the same thing as you, it's either a smell, a laugh, rushing, a shock, eating most foods, excitement. and on the list goes..you name it and it drives me and my family bonkers... I would like nothing else than a cure...I really empathise with you
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