I've had some breathing difficulty for the past few months, like something partially closes my airways in my throat temporarily, but then it goes away and I can breathe fine, yet then comes back again later and so on back/forth. I have some problems with acid reflux as well, and at first thought the breathing difficulty was related to that, so I took Prilosec for 14 days. It got rid of the reflux, but had no effect on the breathing symptoms. At that point I was ready to go to the doctor, but then I came across something called cricopharyngeal spasms, which described all of my symptoms to a tee. It also said the main cause was stress/anxiety and when I first started having symptoms 2 months ago my Grandma was very sick and ending up passing away. It was a very stressful/anxious time for me and I think that is what triggered the spasms. I've also noticed that its during times of relaxtion when the symptoms go away, and times of stress that they return, which is in line with all of the reports I've read about
cricopharyngeal spasms. I can even physically feel my adams apple occasionally spasm if I put my fingers on it.
So I sort of self-diagnosed myself that the spasms are all it was, and if it were something serious and something physically obstructing my airways, that it wouldn't come and go. It would be constant and/or get worse, which it hasn't. And once I felt at ease that was the problem and nothing more serious, it relaxed me more often and the spasms were fewer and far between, though still come back during stress.
My only other concern I still have though is if I force myself to cough it produces a wheezing sound. And that is something that happens everytime I do it, and does not come and go. I don't have an actual cough, and never feel the need to cough, its just if I voluntarily cough, I'll hear the wheeze. I've read about
wheezing and that a wheeze is cause by an obstruction in the airway in the throat. So this has me concerned still that there might be an actual obstruction of some sort. Though it doesn't make sense why the breathing difficulties come and go if there was an actual obstruction. So I was just wondering if anyone who has had cricopharyngeal spasms has had the wheezing when coughing symptom? As I haven't found it listed in any of the symptoms for it.
I'm thinking the wheezing could be cause by the spasms partially closing the airways, causing the whistling sound. Also could be a byproduct of the acid reflux. My acid reflux went while taking the Prilosec, but since I finished the 14 day treatment a week ago I've had acid reflux again periodically. I'm wondering if my maybe my esphogus is inflammed causing the wheezing, and needed more than 14 days on the medicine to heal. Any advice/ideas you have is appreciated.
Thanks
Post Edited (jgk381) : 7/22/2012 10:21:20 AM (GMT-6)