The most frightening experience.
Once again that same weird line of thinking surged through my brain......
Should I call 911? Nah. No one will get here on time to save me anyway.
Where's my ventolin puffer? One attempt and I realize that if I am not able to take a breath in - what's the point?
I try to force myself to breathe out. Nothing. I was told by an MD I dated a dozen years back that doing so might perhaps help to counter the spasm.
I hit my chest against the counter. Nothing.
Try to cough. Nothing.
I finally resign myself that I will die right where I am and I should at least put on a house coat so as not to traumatize anyone coming across my lifeless body lying on the bathroom floor.
I relax, accepting what I thought was the inevitable.
Suddenly....one small breath in.
Relax! Relax! Relax!
I pretend it's not an emergency and that I really don't need oxygen.
Another breath. Then another.....intermingled with a stridor sound.
Whew.
I really wish I knew what triggers these episodes. Nothing worse than not being able to breathe. So far, I have come up with - nothing.
Lucky for me it only happens once every 9 years or so.....
Although, the last time was only 5 years ago....
Reactive airway??? Who knows.
If it happened more frequently, I might be inclined to look into it...
7 comments:
Not to be melodramatic or, anything here.... what if they start occurring more frequently?
We are good at not taking good care of ourselves and better care of those around us.
Oh my goodness what a crazy problem huh? I think I would have pooped all over the floor and then felt embarrassed after I caught my breath. Was your husband home during all of this? I'm sure if you couldn't get air in or out, you probably couldn't yell out for help either. I'm glad to hear you're back on and posting what's happened.
Phiddy: Ya, i thought of that...it's always in the back of my mind. Without any sequelae..no sx to look at post incidence...makes it difficult to figure out. I have mentioned it to my doc in the past but nothing came of it so I dropped it. It doesn't interfere with my day-to-day life - so I will do some watchful waiting unless there is some other suggestion from my doc. Which reminds me....time to make another f/u appt with my "Doc Johnny Depp"!
Zazzy: Ya it's weird. Once I am able to catch my breath, the whole thing passes like nothing happened. No...my husband was at work, I was alone at the time...I think if he were there at the time...he would have been more frightened than me...so I am sort of glad he wasn't.
All i can say is - glad to be alive!
=^@
I'll bet the Heimlech Maneuver would fix you. When I swallowed wrong and could not breathe in or out a friend saw my bulging eyeballs and got behind me, gave me the Heimlech (sharp rapid pressure against the center at lowest ribs) it immediately released the paralysis.
They say you can do it to yourself by using the back of a chair to thrust yourself against violently.
Lo: :) Yes, I was sorta kinda trying to do that by pushing against the counter with my chest...didn't have a chair - I would have had to run downstairs for that...so I was limited as to what I could actually do. I suspect if done properly, it *might* just work. Maybe. Hopefully I won't have to find out.
:^@
Glad your OK, and keep breathing.
So now I can say I thought it kind of funny how you described being worried how they would find you and needing a house coat.
Stay well
NPO: Ya, funny the things that run through the brain and seem important at the time, but really - - I wouldn't care whether my patient had clothes off or on if I found them on the floor - I'd be too busy trying to revive them...
but, now I can appreciate how some of my patients think they have to "get dressed" for the MD or paramedic.....
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