About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery North American Skull Base Society American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001 Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 1/24/2008 Subject: Laryngeal spasm
Question After having a horrific incident in my home today, I got on the Internet to research what seems to be an inherited condition. I simply inhaled my own saliva and was soon gasping for breath, my larynx going into spasm and my abdominal muscles or diaphragm soon seemed to follow to the point of nearly vomiting. Tears were pouring down my face and my husband ran into the room when he heard what was happening through his closed office door. This episodes seem to happen 3 or 4 times in a row within a couple of weeks and then go away for several months only to reoccur. My father as well as his mother have all suffered from the same condition which seems to worsen with age. I remember as a kid, watching my grandmother in horror, thinking she was dying in front of me. Now, I'm the one who feels like I'm dying. Is this some sort of syndrome or condition and are there any answers for it other than to relax as best as possible which is quite difficult to do when you cannot breath.
Thank you much, I would appreciate an kind of information that is out there!
Answer This has been called "paradoxical vocal cord motion" or "functional laryngeal dyskinesia." Exacerbating factors are gastroesophageal reflux disease and anxiety. See an ENT specialist who specializes in laryngology and voice disorders.
