In the last 10 -15 years I would occasional wake up with a burning sensation in my throat do to acid reflux. Breathing was difficult yet controllable. I would tell myself to relax breathe easy and take a small sip of water. Trying to clear my throat or coughing seemed to just disturb the acid and make the problem linger. Once all was good it was back to bed. The whole experience is somewhat frightening.
about a year ago I woke up from my face in the pillow position taking in a huge gasp of air and then went into what I believe is something like an asthma attack. I had no control over my breathing. It was just a rapid in-out-in-out breathing spasm of some kind. And it lasted a good minute plus. The whole time this was happening I was thinking that I would probably pass out and hopefully my body would take over and I'd start breathing normally. When it was all over I could sense that burning sensation of acid in my throat. I wondered if while sleeping the acid came up blocked my air and when I took that awakening gasp for air I may have aspirated some of the acid which caused the asthma like attack.
Since then I have had test done for GERD and nothing. The only thing my Dr. did was to give me an inhaler ( Albuterol ). I wasn't sure if that was a pacifier or what.
Last night it happened again. I leaped out of bed after I had been sleeping for an hour. My wife followed me down the hall. She was so frightened and doing everything she could to calm me down. I appreciate her love very much, but it seemed as if nothing would help except that it runs it's course. My wife then disappeared for a few seconds and then out of nowhere I got a blast in the ear with the inhaler.... 
I took the inhaler from her and gave myself 2 shots and seemed to notice a slight improvement almost instantly. I never thought of the inhaler.
Does anyone know if this is an aspiration of acid that causes this, for the lack of a better word, spasm or something else?
Before I forget, I'm a 53 year old male with no major problems of any kind.... I hope.
Thanks