laryngospasm

[Cerist]

I have had small bouts of laryngospasm before over the years just with saliva swallowing or drinking but not often but after bronchitis some weeks ago coughing badly then caused my first frightening laryngospasm attack which frightened the life out of me, it then carried on maybe twice a night until I went to see my GP & was prescribed a week of Steroids. It did subside a bit but then turned to it happening in the day when I was just talking. I have also been prescribed Montelukast which I take every night, but still having the spasms. Last night I took 400 Ibuprofen as I felt my throat quite sore even though not coughing as the coughing can set the spasm off & it was my first night with no spasm. My throat is very hoarse & sore all the time so going back to see my GP.

[Homely2 Administrator]

After having a number of bad asthma attacks, I started to also get some Laryngospasm, in addition to bronchospasm. It did not respond to my fostair mart, and it was very sudden and scary.

I had been on a waiting list to see an NHS respiratory physio for a long time, so I decided to go privately, and found that the NHS physio I would probably have seen, also did private work, it cost 55 pounds a session. In five sessions the physio really helped me with my breathing.

The physio before she helped me, checked out my asthma, with my NHS consultant to make sure it was safe for her to work with me.

I still get the Laryngospasm, but much reduced and I am happier at my ability to control it when I do get it.

The other thing I did was the asthma UK breathlessness course, see their website, it is free of charge, and online. It also really helped.

[Itswonderful]

I can empathise! It is very frightening. As well as having input from a respiratory physiotherapist I was also referred to speech and language and they helped hugely too. The techniques taught to me helped me to get on top of it and this gave me confidence. I was seen by ENT who discovered that one side of my vocal cords were not closing properly and I was able to use exercises to improve that. When things were at there worse before input from the therapists, I was also taking 2mg diazepam as a muscle relaxant because it really is a terrifying experience. I only needed this medication periodically and very short term but it helped. I hope you feel better soon.

[Dianadaca]

Hi, I know how frightening is the laryngospasm. I have asthma but mild. My first laryngospasm happened after chest infection and excessive cough. At first I thought it was an asthma attack. Went to the GP but they said my asthma was well controlled. Also my SATS were normal when I was having laryngospasms. Then I read a lot on the web and all the symptoms I was having were leading to laryngospasm not asthma problem. I went to my asthma nurse again and she prescribed me Montelukast and Omeprazole. I took the Montelukast only for a month because I didn’t see any difference, as my asthma was actually ok. But the Omeprazole did wonders! Nearly fine months since I have started the Omeprazole and haven’t had any more laryngospasms! No more hoarse voice and the need to clear my throat every morning. Still on a waiting list for GNT specialist but I am quite sure the reason for my laryngospasm was a silent reflux. It is worth you checking it. Also, there is a lot of advise on the web about different breathing techniques, such as breathing through a straw etc. Hope that helps 😊

[Dianadaca in reply to Dianadaca]

I meant ENT specialist

[Beth_19]

I just saw a Speech and Language Therapist and we did provocative testing for Inducible Larangeal Obstruction (ILO) which is where the vocal chords react to stuff and I had a quick reaction to it, my vocal cords slammed shut with only a milimetric opening at that top. I compensated by coughing and getting them to open but they remained tight and then the my asthma kicked off needing my inhaler in the room with them.

We talked through the difference between ILO and asthma and it was. Dry informative. We went through rescue exercises to do firstly to open up the vocal cords and then if I’m still experiencing asthma symptoms to take my inhaler. She explained that taking my inhaler firstly won’t do much because my vocal cords are closed and the inhaler is hitt8ng then mand not getting into my lungs. Getting the vocal cords to relax means if it is asthma I can get the medicine into my lungs.

she reitered that you can have both conditions simultaneously but ILO is not not life threatening just awful to feel and we can do exercises to help, then we can threat the life threatening asthma. She explained the importance of doing rescue breathes first because sometimes it is the ILO and we just need to get the vocal cords to relax, we went through a lot of stuff and it was educational to understand the difference.

Since then I have had espidodes of ILO which I have treated with the exercises and asthma which has subsequently needed inhaler, but I feel confident being able to identify them.

Ask to see the ENT SALt team, I honestly have found it really helpful.