GEN:choking episodes
Kriss Davis
I have had those choking episodes also. The fact that
they occur when I am NOT eating or drinking puzzled
me too.
The ear and throat doctor that I saw said that
polyps on the vocal chords can cause these kinds
of choking episodes. Also, a low thyroid problem
can cause choking spells. So, these spells can be
caused by things other than CFS--conditions that
should be checked into, and that can be treated.
In my case, they had become quite frequent and
annoying, so I didn't dismiss them as a "just
another CFS symptom"--I got them looked into.
One spell was so bad that my throat went into
spasms and cut off all my air and I passed out,
so I certainly wanted to avoid that happening
again!
The doctor said that in my case the choking
episodes were/are caused by a reduced response in the
"voice box" (I forget the technical term).
When a drop of water or mucous goes down
your throat, the top of the voice box should tighten up
and not allow the liquid to get past, but in some
people that response is too slow and the liquid gets
past, plus when the response finally does kick in,
it does it more powerfully than it usually would,
and the two problems together cause the choking
spell. He said that this usually happens to folks
in their 70's or later (I'll be the big four-oh in
February). Lucky me, to be such an illness prodigy!
The doctor taught me a breathing technique to get
the spasms under control so that I wouldn't have
the "super-spasm" and knock myself out. It has
worked very well. It involves breathing very shallowly
and somewhat quickly--not trying to draw air into your
chest, but just a little bit of air at a time into
your throat.
The doctor said that if the problem becomes worse,
there is a course of physical therapy for it--instruction
in swallowing, with electrodes hooked up and a computer
monitor to watch--that can be helpful. Gradually,
my spells have gotten farther and farther apart, and now
I rarely have one, so I've haven't needed to pursue it
further.
Hope that this helps. If the choking spells keep
happening, they probably should be checked into--why
put up with them when there might be a treatment for
them?
Hugs,
Betsy "no longer passing out" Davis
Dorothy J. Roberts
info on choking. I do plaan to mention it to my GP but she is on
sick leave herself at the moment and her locum just looks glassy
-
eyed at me when I me;ntion CFS sso I'm waiting till my real Dr
returns. Also, I have an appointment with a specialist in
Vancouver In Feb so I'll check it out with him.
Thanks again - glad to know your choking problem has
diminished.
Love, dorothy