Laryngospasm: Sudden, Terrifying Difficulty Breathing
June 1st, 2010 by admin
Dr. Robert Bastian of Bastian Voice Institute explains laryngospasm with video of the larynx and a simulated attack.
Laryngospasm is a sudden, often severe attack of difficulty breathing, typically lasting between 30 and 90 seconds. Usually the individual makes a frightening noise while trying to breathe in during the episode, which they often call a “choking attack. You will hear the types of noises often made by the person experiencing laryngospasm, and see what the vocal folds are doing at the same time.
http://www.bastianvoice.com
Duration : 0:4:55
Posted in stop post nasal drip
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
treatment ???
treatment ???
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
im 18 i had it 4-5 …
im 18 i had it 4-5 times.ya its very scary, it is caused by allergic and hypersensitive body but can be prevented 100% by doing YOGA(pranayama). THE KEY LIES IN REDUCING HYPERSENSITIVITY WHICH CAN BE DONE WITH EXCERCISES like PRANAYAMA
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
OMG 7 years??? Im …
OMG 7 years??? Im so sorry. I hope this doesnt happen to me again but I am still very nervous at night. I have choked in my sleep before but this was different this time. This was a complete closing of my airway. The choking didnt start until after my airway slowly started to open. I am still so freaked out but I didnt go to the doctor.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I understand how …
I understand how you feel. I have been dealing with choking in my sleep for about 7 years. I had an episode so bad 2 weeks ago I finally called my Dr.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Thanks for this. I …
Thanks for this. I have been searching all morning to try and find out what happened to me at 3:20 this morning. Yes i say 3:20 because as it was happening I at straight up and looked at the clock and thought briefly that this would be the time on the clock when I die. I was terrified for me, and terrified that my children would wake up and find me because this was IT ! it lasted for maybe a minute but seemed like longer, I then began (cough-choking) on what seemed to be soapy, bubbly saliva.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Yes, I completely …
Yes, I completely agree, people shouldn’t get too concerned about anaesthesia- related problems – that’s what your anaesthetist or anesthesiologist is very highly trained and experienced to deal with. BTW, BV103, after Propofol came on the scene, I found on occasion that a very small dose was highly effective at abolishing post-extubation spasm, without noticeably depressing respiratory drive. Never wrote it up, though! (Recently I met the guy whose team developed Propofol – hero!!)
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Thanks for your …
Thanks for your post. Another great subject for a future video: There is great confusion in terminology among phsycians between VFD and laryngospasm. Laryngospasm is neurogenic. In contrast, IMO, VFD diagnosis should be reserved for behavioral / non-organic disorder. Clear distinction is needed between the two in order to apply the correct treatment. One doesn’t want to “medicalize” VFD but to treat it behaviorally. I’d like comment more, but can’t (for now)–lack of time!
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
TY for this good …
TY for this good post. To clarify: I’ve seen this very different “type” of laryngospasm many times, but only during emergence from anesthesia. It is managed with positive pressure ventilation and occasionally medications that relax muslces. If a patient were alone in this circumstance, would be life-threatening, but of course there are always at least 2 (usually 3 or even 4) in attendance when persons are awakening–so no worry here for those with laryngospasm as described in this video.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
It seems like my …
It seems like my daughter’s VCD started with GERD or acid reflux but now that the little buggers know how to paradoxially close, emotional stress can trigger them. Sometimes asthma can trigger them to where she has both.
An astute ER doctor not familiar with VCD may notice via stethoscope the constriction seems to have a higher source and suspect faking.
I believe this phenomenal can be unconsciously “faked” (but maybe not to the laryngoscope idk) as in the case of conversion disorder.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
My daughter (10) …
My daughter (10) has both asthma and VCD (vocal cord dysfunction) with laryngospasms. She is able to tell the difference. During VCD with laryngospasms she never has difficulty exhaing and she feels constriction high up near her throat. During asthma the feeling of constriction is lower and it is actually difficulty evacuating the lungs that makes it difficult to inhale well.
Most ER docs are not familiar with VCD and always try to give steroids which will help asthma but not VCD.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Acute laryngospasm …
Acute laryngospasm is quite common at the start and at the end of anaesthesia. Att these times, the normal laryngeal reflexes become accentuated. The problem occurs much more frequently in smokers, sometimes to a life-threatening extent. Smoking prior to surgery is not a good idea – ask your friendly anaesthetist! Apart from the effects on the upper respiratory tract , carbon monoxide is inhaled as part of the smoke and takes up oxygen-carrying capacity in the red blood cells.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
GreatTeacherYukari, …
GreatTeacherYukari, that doesn’t sound like typical laryngospasm. You need to see your GP / physician and discuss investigating the problem.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Dr.Bastian, I …
Dr.Bastian, I cannot thank you enough.
I’ve had three of these in ten years and each time I thought I was about to cash in my chips. Now I know what’s up, I’ll cope better next time. Thanks again.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I’ve been having …
I’ve been having shortness of breathe attacks since middle school and I never knew what they were until my senior year of highschool. And lately I’ve noticed that they’ve increased this year in my 2nd yr of college, especially during winter. Every week now I seem to have at least 3 attacks and although it doesn’t hurt and they go away quickly, I am tiring of it. A few times a year when this happens I also feel a great pain in my chest that goes to my back. This video was informational so thanks!
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Great video. …
Great video. Amazing, I was eating chocolate today at work and had one of these. Man, I thought I was going to die, my co-workers were ready to dial 911. I’ve had post nasal drip for years due to something which is not allergy related. Good to read all these comments and know I’m not going to die from it. I’m also a scuba diver so would hate to have one of these while 80ft under water. I think anxiety is a large side-effect. I’m nervous to even cough now. My Dr. diagnosed larnygospasm
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I have experienced …
I have experienced these spasms since the age of 10, a few each year. (I’m now 54.) Until very recently, no one could tell me what they were. After so many years, I have “learned” to relax and breathe through my nose instead of struggling to get air via the closed throat. Let me reassure any folks who have just begun to experience them, they aren’t fatal! Scary yes, but the spasm always resolves.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
1st time it …
1st time it happened in an airplane at 30,00 feet while eating a dry hamburger bun. With food flying from window seat & flight attendant giving heimleck I thought I was dying. Finally figured out that it was brought on by a mold allergy which gave post nasal drip with GERD contributing. It’s still scary. I woke last night with an attack brought on by post nasal drip from a cold. It’s so hard to relax and sniff through the nose when you’re so scared, but it helps. Haven’t died yet.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I commented 8 …
I commented 8 months ago that a tootsie roll pop caused this to happen, and today it happened while eating a chocolate and caramel piece of candy..seems like if It touches back of my throat in a certain way that is when it happens…I know enough to not panic and draw strong through my mouth to get little breaths, It will pass in 30 to 45 seconds…Still scarry to me..
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Waking up with a …
Waking up with a laryngospasm is like seeing a ghost. No one seems to believe it happened, and no one seems to believe how unfathomably scary it is.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I took these over …
I took these over the counter acid controllers and I think it’s pretty much fixed my problem. Haven’t had one for 6 or 7 months.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
i only had 3 …
i only had 3 attacks in 1 yr. but after that i didn’t have any. it is possible to get better. =] the best way to not have it happen is taking your ppi’s for gerd since it’s associated to gerd. talk to your doctor.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
lucky! i had one …
lucky! i had one during the night. =[. so frightening!
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
i have ….just had …
i have ….just had it while surfing 40 foot waves… imagine having this episode..inside of a 10 wave …
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
This is information …
This is information, NOT medical advice: In 20+years, 100′s of patients, nobody died. Just very frightening! Use a small-caliber drinking straw to practice many times breathing in through it for 2 minutes. After do this many times you’ll have trained lips to same tiny size during spasm. For persons with severe & frequent l-spasm ask your Dr. re neuralgia medications like amitriptyline or gabapentin. Can be very helpful. All the best!
June 1st, 2010 at 5:14 pm
My daughter is a …
My daughter is a surgeon and has seen me during one of these episodes. They are not very nice to see and I’m afraid that I alarm her too. Can I die during one of these episodes? Does my daughter need to teach my husband how to do a trache? If I lose consciousness, will my larynx relax? I don’t have a problem with acid reflux at all. I don’t think this is the reason for this problem but I must admit, it is scary.