Ok, This Was Really Strange

Updated on May 23, 2010
J.F. asks from Oregon, OH
18 answers

While I was sleeping last night, I woke up, not once, but TWICE gasping for air and choking. Once I was able to take in a breath (after about 20 seconds of being awake) I could not stop coughing and still felt like I was choking. I tried to swallow and realized that my throat was swollen! I am really worried about this. The only thing I can think of is a possible allergic reaction to something. My first thought was peanuts...My 2 year old is allergic, so we don't have much exposure to peanut products (though I've never had trouble in the past), and I ate a Nutty Bar before going to bed. Any thoughts?

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M.R.

answers from Columbus on

I think, what ever the cause, that you should see a doctor today. When ever you have a breathing issue, it is something that should be seen right away just in case this is only the begining of a problem that could get bigger. I would try not to suggest what it could be, and just tell the doctor what happened, and let them ask the quesitons so that you get an unbiased opionion and you don't over influence what they consider, just in case it has nothing to do with the peanuts, and what you have instead really needs attention.

M.

1 mom found this helpful

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A.H.

answers from Chicago on

Call your doctor. Three things come to mind. First an allergy, however my experience with allergies is that you usually can't fall back asleep in the middle of a reaction so severe your throat swells. Second, you may have GERD- or reflux disease that is caused by your stomach acids coming up your throat and burning sensitive tissues and sometimes comes up so far that you choke on it esp. when sleeping. Third, you could have sleep apnea. All three ailments should be checked out by your doctor.

5 moms found this helpful
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M.F.

answers from Sioux Falls on

I feel like I am choking when I have an asthma attack. Also, waking up gasping for air is a sleep apnea symptom. Either way, it would be a good idea to discuss with your medical doctor.

3 moms found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

I would definitely get tested for allergies to foods including nuts. When my husband turned 39 he suddenly had an allergic reaction to peanuts (he used to eat reese’s cups daily)

other thoughts for choking = apnea, swollen tonsils (I know an adult that needed to get her tonsils removed because she was choking at night), other allergic reactions (insects, latex, etc).

see http://www.foodallergy.org/page/anaphylaxis for more info on food reactions

Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

.

2 moms found this helpful

S.K.

answers from Kansas City on

This happens to me when I reflux. But I can taste the stomach acid and feel myself trying to swallow it back down. The coughing gets real bad and hurts if it's aspirated in the lungs which I have done as well.

Before I was diagnosed with acid reflux disease, I was coughing and clearing my throat all the time. I thought I had a cold that wouldn't go away. I went to the ER when I woke up dizzy, nauseous, and throwing up blood in the toilet. My throat had a lot of damage from the disease. That was years ago and after taking the pills forever, I don't need them often. Careful eating, eating less before bed, losing a few pounds, and staying away from spicy foods helps a great deal for me.

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L.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

My dad has this problem. He has sleep apnea due to being overweight. (not saying you are..but my dad is)
I think it could be an allergic reaction, thyroid, or sleep apnea....either way you really need to see a doctor to get it checked out.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Sounds like it could be acid reflux. I had that severely for awhile and it would choke me at night and eventually during the day as well. It went away after a few weeks and I just make sure not to eat near bedtime. The other thing that can do this is enlarged thyroid. If it continues to happen, keep water by the bed and see if you can get any water down. If the attack subsides it is probably reflux, once that is ruled out you can move on to a thyroid possibility.

Hope it gets better. My reflux responded well to drinking 7up during an attack but that is unusual from what my doctor said. Also, I used mints and that seemed to help.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

My vote is acid reflux, which can cause irritation and swelling in the throat. But it is only a guess, only your doctor may be ablet o let you know for sure. Reflux can block your airway, causing you to cough to try to clear it.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from Portland on

If your throat was swollen, it is very possibly a reaction to an allergen. This could be dangerous – avoid the nuts for now and get yourself to the doctor.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.W.

answers from Cleveland on

Goiters of the thyroid can also course this. Certain medications caused me to have those same symptoms. When I told the doctors that they ignored me. Now I know my allergies and thyroid cause pressure on my airways. Medicines that dehydrate me also were causing that. Obstructive sleep apnea is a symptom of something else so you need to see a doctor to see what is causing your symptoms. He needs to feel your thyroid and possibly do an ultrasound of it. He should also do blood tests to check your thyroid hormones.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.B.

answers from Toledo on

Wow! That exact thing happens to me if I eat dairy too late in the day (after 3 pm)! 1 1/2 hour after I fall asleep I wake up not being able to breathe and get sick! I am sorry I do not have an answer for you, but I am glad I am not the only one!

1 mom found this helpful
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B.S.

answers from Houston on

Could be sleep apnea. I started waking up gasping for air. Told the doctor and did a sleep study. Turns out I have severe sleep apnea (55 episodes in one hour). See if it happens again or have your husband watch you while you sleep. If you stop breathing for more than 10 seconds then that counts as an episode.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Tulsa on

get to the hospital. allergy reaction or asthma

1 mom found this helpful

L.C.

answers from Kansas City on

it sounds exactly like sleep apnea, make sure that you are not sleeping on your back! that will make it worse! also get in to a doctor, you may need a breathing machine at night.

1 mom found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Detroit on

you nay have developed a nut allergy or it also sounds a little like sleep apnea. you do need to go to the doctor and get checked out because both could be fatal. good luck

1 mom found this helpful
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T.G.

answers from St. Louis on

OH my gosh!! About 12 years ago this happened to me. It was happening in the day as well as the night for about 2 weeks. The scary part was that I was able to breath in small amounts, but I could not exale. It would go to the point of my vision blurring and on the verge of passing out.

Call your doctor and ask to be seen immediately. If you don't have Saturday appointments you may want to consider the ER.

I did got ot the ER but because I didn't have an episode in front of them, they ran tests but could not determine what was wrong.

They never did find what was wrong and it has never happened since. I really think it was an environmental allergy.

I hope they find out what is causing it.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.M.

answers from Detroit on

Call your doctor and set up an app't. It might be allergies, or maybe sleep apnea. But it doesn't sound like anything to mess around with. In the meantime, I'd stay clear of any nut products. Please let us know how this turns out. Good luck

1 mom found this helpful
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