Has anyone experienced this please? I am 70 with mild Copd. Duringg a severe bout of coughing when i had a lung infection i suddenly and completely stopped breathing and could not get any air. I then started making a loud braying sound, like a donkey. Everything was out of my control. It lasted about 30 second then just as suddenly the air came through. Apart from calling emergency is there anything can be done to help restore breathing. Dr advised to call ambulance if repeated but i am afraid ambulance may take too long. It has left me feeling scared of future exascerbations
Any advise much appreciated. Just learning how to use site.
Written by
Noragriffin
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Yes, this is completely terrifying and 30 seconds is a long time. There's a condition where the muscles tense up and cause the blockage called laryngospasm or it could just be the mucus sticking all round the airway which is what happens with me.
Im the far end of severe and get it regularly though not for quite so long. I think for myself it goes on for less time than i think because it's so awful it feels endless.
It may not be much comfort but when I described it to the hospital respiratory physio she said not to worry as I would just pass out if it continued then things would normalise. I think she was meaning to be reassuring.
You may be hyperventilating and building up more and more trapped air so that all that is left if the tops of the lungs. This can't then produce any force of movement to shift mucus so that it unblocks. So try, hard as it is at such times, to breathe in through your nose and worry less about getting the air in and concentrate on getting it out. Put a hand on your stomach when you're breathing in and this should move outwards with the in-breath. Practice it while you're well so that it becomes a habit and stands you in good stead when you are struggling.
I think you should ask for a referral to a consultant. People don't usually get offered referrals at the mild stage but it's unusual to get this when you're only mild, and I don't think many GPs have the skills to know how to proceed.
I'm not sure if this will help you but at pulmonary rehab we were told:-
1) If you stop breathing you pass out and then breathe,
2) Air will go to the negative area so concentrate on outward breaths when this happens but don't force it, just purse your lips as though blowing out a candle, blow out but not hard enough to snuff the candle but keep going for as long as comfortable.
3) Practice visualising your personal safe place. Do this when you are breathing well (personal well).
Sit comfortably. Not ladylike but knees slightly apart, belly relaxed, for arms along thighs, hands palm up hanging over end of knees.
Now, closing your eyes if this helps, visualise somewhere you like, somewhere you feel safe and relaxed. (Summer day in a field, floating in a boat on a river, sat in the shade by a pool?) It's your place so it could be a total fantasy, like on a cloud.
Now practice breathing in through your nose (smelling the roses) and out through pursed lips (blowing the candle). Do this gently. Take your breath down to your tummy, no top of the lung shallow breaths. Gently does it. Once you master this, it can take a while, it really helps when you are having a flare up or the air is so bad you feel suffocated (like in today's heat).
Meanwhile keep in touch with your doctor, ask about pulmonary rehab, find a Breath Easy group near you.
Hi I call these asthma attacks and I get them too. Mine have been caused by coughing but usually I wake in the night unable to breathe.
The first thing to do is not panic as this makes it worse. Easier said than done but if you panic you are using too much air and it will make it worse. Secondly you can often breathe through your nose instead, but not always. When it's ending use your ventolin up to 10 times. Your breathing should return to normal but if it doesn't after an hour or so then consider calling an ambulance.
If not sure always ring for an ambulance and don't take chances with your lungs. I have never had to call one yet if that's a comfort to you. x
Hi Nora griffin don’t worry when you have an infection on your lung even if you do not have Copd it blocks your small airways with mucus and makes breathing difficult .try and get antibiotics has soon has you get an infection same thing happened to me last January when I had chest infection very scary
Try joining a singing for lung health group to help you learn to control your breathing and breathe from the right place. The British Lung Foundation has a list of them on its website and you can check out the one nearest you.
This is like I had a couple of weeks ago. I had woken up though and couldn’t take more than a shallow breath. I’d walked or nearly crawled to the loo and because I couldn’t get a proper breath and I I passed out luckily after I’d been. I must admit it is very scary when you can’t breathe. I went to hospital for a couple of days. They did a scan and have found something at the bottom of my lungs. They took a blood test and I may know more in a week or so. I tried to get someone advice on what to do if it happens again but they didn’t have any apart from call an ambulance and come back in.
Sorry to hear of your bad experience. It is the lack of advise of how to deal with it if it recurs that bothers me. I am worried an ambulance might be to late
It felt as if a muscle had convulsed and closed my windpipe.
Yes I sure know the feeling. Very scary! Try to breathe through your nose & out of your mouth. Also do nebulizer treatments. Try to relax. I find it easier to breath when I lean forward also. Please do not take any chances. Call for help!!
Hi I've got this. It's called Cough Syncope and is a bit more complicated than some people have reported it Look it up, I start what I call my Speaking In Tongues/Wobbling, talking gibberish while feeling like I'm going to pass out and my body goes numb and it feels like I'm floating off the bed.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Breathing 
flutter device used to improve breathing
No breath 
Breathing anxiety when travelling on buses
is this cough normal with copd//emphysema
