snoring, choking sensation when trying to sleep, trouble swallowing

07-29-2009, 02:27 PM

Hi,
I am new to this Health Board and am hoping someone can help me figure this out and so I can find the right kind of help.

My partner who is 66 just had two episodes in two days of choking sensation when drifting off to sleep. He said it felt like his throat closed and that all the saliva had no where to go and he woke up terrified because he thought he couldn't breathe.
He snores heavily and sometimes it sounds like his breathing is very shallow, somes it sounds like gurgling noises but he has never had a "choking" episode in his sleep before.
During the day he has to be careful how he eats, has to cut up food really small and drink lots of water or he starts to choke. He says he has had this problem for about 20 years! We've been together a year.
I always notice that he has to clear his throat alot because it sounds like he has a lot of phlegm in his throat.

I can't get him to call a Dr. about this so I am trying to find answers here.
Does this sound like Sleep Apnea, Acid Reflux, or esophogeal stricture?

Comments Please!!

07-29-2009, 09:37 PM

It sounds very much like sleep apnea AND acid reflux. However, if he will not see a dr. there is nothing you can do about it. Both of these conditions can be VERY serious, if not dealt with.

He should see a sleep specialist and a gastro man.

08-11-2009, 07:22 AM

I agree with the previous poster. It sounds like SA, and Acid reflux.

If he absolutly refuses to call a doctor (which he really should) perhaps he could sleep with a backpack on and place a tennis ball in it. That way if he were to roll on his back, he'd wake up enough to roll over. That's an old school treatment for stuborn people like my ex husband, lol

As for the Acid reflux issue.. he should really see a GP but maybe you could put him on some Prednasozen or some other type of over the counter. Maybe if that isn't enough it will make him realise that he really needs a doctor.

Best of luck! Keep us posted

08-14-2010, 10:36 PM

I'am 31 years old and had the same experience last night, I woke up all of sudden and couldnt breathe! It was so scary I think it lasted for a minute, and I started coughing. I was so scared to fall asleep so I stayed up as much as I can. I have a feeling that I have SA and Iam looking to make an appointment ASAP to get this issue resolved. BTW Iam brand new here and Iam really glad to find this message board. I wish everyone well!

08-17-2010, 09:25 PM

That happened to me years ago-waking up and having trouble catching my breath! I had NO idea as to what it was and brushed it off. It would happen every now and then and I thought nothing of it. Years later, I woke up one morning and had NO energy. It was all due to sleep apnea, which I had never heard of years ago. Yes, it would be a good idea to have a sleep study done.

snoring, choking sensation when trying to sleep, trouble swallowing

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