<p>I know, not exactly a fun topic, but-- any other CC’ers ever have trouble with this?</p>
<p>I have had the rare episode where I get ‘gaspy,’ (usually in reaction to a little splash of drink heading down the wrong pipe), but the other day had a spasm (while eating a single Raisinet, of all things) where my windpipe closed COMPLETELY. No air in or out. It was extremely scary, because for more than a few seconds (seemed an eternity) I had no air. Have never had it happen before.</p>
<p>These spasms seldom happen, so I never really thought much of them, but this was truly alarming. After a time it stopped (obviously!) and I was able to gasp in some air. Anyone else ever deal with this problem? Any tricks to ending a spasm when it occurs?</p>
<p>See a physician and get it evaluated; be sure to make a list of times, circumstances, etc to hand to your doctor. No matter how infrequent it has been, it is not enough to just treat symptoms, try to find the underlying cause.</p>
<p>I probably should. It never occurred until after I’d had some minor surgery about 9 years ago, and had more than normal throat irritation from intubation (especially frustrating, because I’d wanted local anesthesia). From what I’ve read, it can be can be caused by damage to vocal chords (likely), and is aggravated by acid reflux (which I don’t have). Just read tonight that saliva produced while eating sweets (even a raisinet) can also trigger it. The wheezing kind I’ve had maybe a few times a year, but this was the first time I just could not breathe at all.</p>