Re: Choking & Hacking

[Guest guest]

Hi There:

I do beleive it is my first time posting in this

group. I must say you are all a wealth of information.

A little introduction about me. I had decompression

surgery April 3, 2003. I was 20 mm herniated, no syrynx.

Had a lot of symptoms. Many went away after surgery.

Some are ruturning to date. I am 36 years old.

I had a laminectomy of the C1, C2 & C3, Duraplasty, I

have a lining of a cow's heart for my dura patch

(Bovine Graft). My surgery lasted a little of 5 hours.

My recovery after surgery I gave myself almost two years.

I could do this as I didn't have rent, children and

I had alot of support.

Now, I am married to a wnderful man. He understands what

chiari is.

However, there is one annoying symptom I have back.

I had it from childhood and it went away after

decompression surgeey. Now it is back ! It

is hacking, barking, gagging ...

Now I am a little ofver four years post op and doing O.K.

I have pressure headaches. (Weather Related

or when I Laugh to hard)

Need to know does anyone hack .. like a gagging noise ..

It soundns as if I am hacking. I get a choking sensation

and just have to cough,gaggg, hack ... whatever you want

to call this.

Last night I hacked so much my thorat and ears

are sore today. I find it happens after I eat, or when

I get emotinally upset.

I did have a barrium swallow test done and it showed

I was swallowing O.K. Weird ?

I am searching for others who have this or who might

have some answers for me. Is it related to Chiari ?

Thank you for any help.

God Bless,

Debra

Atlantic Canada

[Guest guest]

I figured I'd post my response to the group in case others have this awful

symptom.

Yes, I have the same problem. For many years it was just a constant urge to

clear my throat. But, as my symptoms got worse, so did the sensation that I

have something in my throat and sometimes my chest. At times it causes me to

first start clearing my throat in the morning. Then I start coughing violently

to the point I feel like I'm choking. Sometimes I cough up sputum (if I have

like a sinus infection). Other times, the coughing and choking will stimulate

my malfunctioning gag reflex and cause me to vomit. Afterwards, my head really

hurts, my ears hurt, my throat gets red and raw, and I get little red dots all

over my face. It's horrible.

I have been diagnosed with Craniocervical Instability/Atlantoaxial

Instability/Cranial Settling which can cause the odontoid of C2 to come upwards

thru the foramen magnum and press into the brainstem irritating the vagus nerve

and other cranial nerves that innervate the mouth, throat, lungs, stomach, and

intestines. I also am plagued by a hoarse voice that started about 2 years ago.

Hope this helps.

Hugs,

Cassidy (aka )

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[Guest guest]

I too have what I call coughing fits. It seems like out of no where I can choke

on just air. I too cough until I throw up. I am totally exhausted afterwards

and it gives me a terrible headache. They are much less frequent since my

surgery in Feb 02.

Since my surgery I have NO gag reflex. Some of you have been talking about

gagging when you brush your teeth. I can stick my fingers down my throat and

not gag at all. My dentist did not believe me when I told him. I think he

tried everything in the world to make me gag. Mine is gone. Which can cause

problems also. I don't realize I am choking until I feel it in my neck

(throat).

I also have what I call headache burps. I will not feel well and will start

burping. I know that within an hour or so my head is going to be exploding. We

have been out for the day having a great time and I will start. As soon as my

husband hears me ( they are not loud like a man drinking beer burp) everything

stops and we head for home. He makes me rice I eat a little take all my pills

and try to go to sleep before it hits. Does anyone else experience these?

I also have another question. I am having terrible neck pain. I say it feels

like my neck is jammed together. Like someone is pushing down on the top of my

head. Anyway it is not all the time and I have not noticed that my activity

level has anything to do with it.

My pain doctor is GREAT> He orders anything and everything I ask him to. He is

willing to try anything to help me with my pain. He totally believes me, and

listens to what I say.

We keep taking MRI's and x-rays. He says, " It looks the same, your spine is

turning backwards, your natural curve is going in the wrong direction, but for

you there doesn't appear to be anything wrong. No slipped disc, ect. No

changes since your surgery. "

Any ideas on why this is happening?

Becker in MOdecompressed 2-02 by Dr Oro

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