Larongyeal spasms

[LewisLegion]

So my larongyeal spasms are getting worse. My doc is sending me to a throat specialist to see if they can figure out why I'm having them (up to about one every month or so...which is insane considering most people only get them once in a lifetime...if ever).

It could be anything from I just have a really sensitive throat (and they can't do anything about it) to cancer (though my doc says I don't meet the demographic so not to panic).

[telecom_goddess]

So my larongyeal spasms are getting worse. My doc is sending me to a throat specialist to see if they can figure out why I'm having them (up to about one every month or so...which is insane considering most people only get them once in a lifetime...if ever).

It could be anything from I just have a really sensitive throat (and they can't do anything about it) to cancer (though my doc says I don't meet the demographic so not to panic).

Forgive my ignorance but what is that exactly? And why would people have it once in a lifetime generally?

[LewisLegion]

It's a muscle spasm where your larynx completely shuts in reaction (usually) to fluid entering the airway. Like, if you're drinking and you swallow wrong causing you to cough. Most people don't ever have a spasm, or do only once or twice in their life and its usually caused by either inhaling water while drinking or swimming.

What happens is at the introduction of fluid your larynx spasms shut in reaction, allowing you to cough or breathe out but NOT breathe in. The spasm lasts typically from 30-60 seconds and relaxs on its own. Panicking tends to make it last longer...relaxing shortens its duration. People have them happen sometimes as a result of intubation during surgery, or damage done to the larynx or thyroid glad during surgery (or removal of the thyroid gland).

Mine can happen at any time. I can simply swallow (not swallow wrong, just swallow normally), cough, laugh too hard, etc. and suddenly my larynx will shut. The last two times it happened it lasted long enough I seriously was afraid I was going to pass out. So far I haven't actually fainted but many people do when this happens. Unconsciousness brings immediate relaxation of the larynx so they wake up very quickly but still. So far none have happened in public or in front of anyone else but it's just a matter of time.

It's a terrifying sensation and very grotesque to watch. Often breathing out results in nasty sounds like you're about to vomit, you go pale or turn red or blue, your eyes tear up and you start shaking and panicking because you can't get any air. In the middle of this you've got to try and relax so that you can start breathing again but its NOT easy to do.

[Primer]

I can sympathize. I've had that happen ONCE, and I hope it never happens again. I hope it turns out that they can do something about it!