Guest guest Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Hi lady. Sounds a lot like Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD). This reminds me that I promised several people a book on it. I will work on getting it out to you guys tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest. Irene, I will add you to my list to send the info to. I was diagnosed with it here at National Jewish. My pulmo says that at least half of all asthmatics have it and don't know it. The symptoms are very similar in many ways. The main differences are that asthma attacks tend to come on over a period of time be it hours or days. Also, with me anyway, it tends to start lower in the chest. The VCD comes on very fast. Almost immediately. Literally within seconds of exposure to a trigger (my big triggers are incense, musk perfumes, menthol, Pine Sol, and some musky or very spicy candles). The vocal cords literally slam shut. They think they are protecting the lungs from something harmful. Practice breathing in through your mouth then hold your lips very tightly (almost like holding a penny between your lips) (all you brass players will have a hard time at first. When I first learned this one I would "buzz" like I was playing.) If it is VCD this will help after a few minutes. Also the relaxed breadhing technique of in throu the nose (counting) and out through pursed lips (like through a straw) for twice the time of the intake is a good one. The third thing thaat is quick and easy is yawning. When this happens again try alternating these three techniques. If they help after several minutes (it takes me as much as 10 - 15 minutes to feel any relief sometimes), it is VCD not asthma.. VCD responds to the breathing exercises. It does not respond to the nebs. Asthma responds to the nebs, not the breathing techniques. I have played with this during episodes and it is true. The relaxed breathing technique is great during an asthma attack as it does several things for the mind and body. However, breathing in and of itself will not resolve a true asthma attack. I have a whole slew of info on VCD. I just wanted to give you something quick. Like I said I promise to get the info to those who asked me for it ASAP. Really sorry. Madeline http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lungs_on_Vacation/ To: asthma Sent: Mon, January 18, 2010 8:52:22 PMSubject: it this panic attack? hi again! been MIA for a while... i was just wondering if anyone else have experience not being able to breath all of a sudden? i don't think it's asthma. it happened to me twice already... first time when i was in the middle of dinner, i didn't choke or anything like that...it's just that, i felt like my throat is closing. and i can't get any air in. it kinda lasted about a minute. i tried to relax and focused on sumthng else then i had air in again. that really scared me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2010 Report Share Posted January 19, 2010 Interesting info, Madeline. Thanks! I have the same triggers as you do except I must add certain florals to it--magnolia, gardenia, night-blooming jasmine. Can still recall a nurse who had asthma telling me that her neighbor's night-blooming jasmine shrub was right outside her bedroom and it was KILLING her--and she didn't know how to ask him to remove it. --marty On Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 12:37 AM, Madeline Ingram wrote: > > > Hi lady. Sounds a lot like Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD). This > reminds me that I promised several people a book on it. I will work > on getting it out to you guys tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest. > Irene, I will add you to my list to send the info to. I was diagnosed > with it here at National Jewish. My pulmo says that at least half of > all asthmatics have it and don't know it. The symptoms are very > similar in many ways. The main differences are that asthma attacks > tend to come on over a period of time be it hours or days. Also, with > me anyway, it tends to start lower in the chest. The VCD comes on > very fast. Almost immediately. Literally within seconds of exposure > to a trigger (my big triggers are incense, musk perfumes, menthol, > Pine Sol, and some musky or very spicy candles). The vocal cords > literally slam shut. They think they are protecting the lungs from > something harmful. Practice breathing in through your mouth then hold > your lips very tightly (almost like holding a penny between your > lips) (all you brass players will have a hard time at first. When I > first learned this one I would " buzz " like I was playing.) If it is > VCD this will help after a few minutes. Also the relaxed breadhing > technique of in throu the nose (counting) and out through pursed lips > (like through a straw) for twice the time of the intake is a good > one. The third thing thaat is quick and easy is yawning. When this > happens again try alternating these three techniques. If they help > after several minutes (it takes me as much as 10 - 15 minutes to feel > any relief sometimes), it is VCD not asthma.. VCD responds to the > breathing exercises. It does not respond to the nebs. Asthma > responds to the nebs, not the breathing techniques. I have played > with this during episodes and it is true. The relaxed breathing > technique is great during an asthma attack as it does several things > for the mind and body. However, breathing in and of itself will not > resolve a true asthma attack. I have a whole slew of info on VCD. I > just wanted to give you something quick. Like I said I promise to get > the info to those who asked me for it ASAP. Really sorry. > > Madeline > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lungs_on_Vacation/ > > <image.tiff> > > > To: asthma > Sent: Mon, January 18, 2010 8:52:22 PM > Subject: it this panic attack? > > > hi again! been MIA for a while... i was just wondering if anyone else > have experience not being able to breath all of a sudden? i don't > think it's asthma. it happened to me twice already... first time when > i was in the middle of dinner, i didn't choke or anything like > that...it's just that, i felt like my throat is closing. and i can't > get any air in. it kinda lasted about a minute. i tried to relax and > focused on sumthng else then i had air in again. that really scared > me! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2010 Report Share Posted January 19, 2010 All the triggers you mention cause anaphylaxis for me, is that the same as VSD? Flowers, pine-sol, perfumes/colognes, basically anything with a smell to it whether it be natural or artificial can pretty much put me in an ambulance, the ER, and probably the ICU. Aren't allergies lovely? Anne Interesting info, Madeline. Thanks! I have the same triggers as you do except I must add certain florals to it--magnolia, gardenia, night-blooming jasmine. Can still recall a nurse who had asthma telling me that her neighbor's night-blooming jasmine shrub was right outside her bedroom and it was KILLING her--and she didn't know how to ask him to remove it. --marty On Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 12:37 AM, Madeline Ingram wrote: Hi lady. Sounds a lot like Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD). This reminds me that I promised several people a book on it. I will work on getting it out to you guys tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest. Irene, I will add you to my list to send the info to. I was diagnosed with it here at National Jewish. My pulmo says that at least half of all asthmatics have it and don't know it. The symptoms are very similar in many ways. The main differences are that asthma attacks tend to come on over a period of time be it hours or days. Also, with me anyway, it tends to start lower in the chest. The VCD comes on very fast. Almost immediately. Literally within seconds of exposure to a trigger (my big triggers are incense, musk perfumes, menthol, Pine Sol, and some musky or very spicy candles). The vocal cords literally slam shut. They think they are protecting the lungs from something harmful. Practice breathing in through your mouth then hold your lips very tightly (almost like holding a penny between your lips) (all you brass players will have a hard time at first. When I first learned this one I would " buzz " like I was playing.) If it is VCD this will help after a few minutes. Also the relaxed breadhing technique of in throu the nose (counting) and out through pursed lips (like through a straw) for twice the time of the intake is a good one. The third thing thaat is quick and easy is yawning. When this happens again try alternating these three techniques. If they help after several minutes (it takes me as much as 10 - 15 minutes to feel any relief sometimes), it is VCD not asthma.. VCD responds to the breathing exercises. It does not respond to the nebs. Asthma responds to the nebs, not the breathing techniques. I have played with this during episodes and it is true. The relaxed breathing technique is great during an asthma attack as it does several things for the mind and body. However, breathing in and of itself will not resolve a true asthma attack. I have a whole slew of info on VCD. I just wanted to give you something quick. Like I said I promise to get the info to those who asked me for it ASAP. Really sorry. Madeline http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lungs_on_Vacation/ <image.tiff> To: asthma Sent: Mon, January 18, 2010 8:52:22 PM Subject: it this panic attack? hi again! been MIA for a while... i was just wondering if anyone else have experience not being able to breath all of a sudden? i don't think it's asthma. it happened to me twice already... first time when i was in the middle of dinner, i didn't choke or anything like that...it's just that, i felt like my throat is closing. and i can't get any air in. it kinda lasted about a minute. i tried to relax and focused on sumthng else then i had air in again. that really scared > me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2010 Report Share Posted January 19, 2010  Madeline,, Please add me to the list. Thanks a bunch Donna (moderator) it this panic attack? hi again! been MIA for a while... i was just wondering if anyone else have experience not being able to breath all of a sudden? i don't think it's asthma. it happened to me twice already... first time when i was in the middle of dinner, i didn't choke or anything like that...it's just that, i felt like my throat is closing. and i can't get any air in. it kinda lasted about a minute. i tried to relax and focused on sumthng else then i had air in again. that really scared me! No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.432 / Virus Database: 270.14.149/2630 - Release Date: 01/18/10 07:35:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2010 Report Share Posted January 19, 2010 No. VCD has nothing to do with allergies. Those things just trigger my vocal cords. VCD is purely a physical thing with the vocal cords. The breathing exercises should be done several times a day to help retrain the vocal cords. They should also be done during an attack to loosen them. Madeline http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lungs_on_Vacation/ To: asthma Sent: Tue, January 19, 2010 7:52:18 AMSubject: Re: it this panic attack? All the triggers you mention cause anaphylaxis for me, is that the same as VSD? Flowers, pine-sol, perfumes/colognes, basically anything with a smell to it whether it be natural or artificial can pretty much put me in an ambulance, the ER, and probably the ICU. Aren't allergies lovely? Anne On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 5:31 AM, Martha <del-maratlantic (DOT) net> wrote: Interesting info, Madeline. Thanks! I have the same triggers as you do except I must add certain florals to it--magnolia, gardenia, night-blooming jasmine. Can still recall a nurse who had asthma telling me that her neighbor's night-blooming jasmine shrub was right outside her bedroom and it was KILLING her--and she didn't know how to ask him to remove it. --marty On Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 12:37 AM, Madeline Ingram wrote: Hi lady. Sounds a lot like Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD). This reminds me that I promised several people a book on it. I will work on getting it out to you guys tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest. Irene, I will add you to my list to send the info to. I was diagnosed with it here at National Jewish. My pulmo says that at least half of all asthmatics have it and don't know it. The symptoms are very similar in many ways. The main differences are that asthma attacks tend to come on over a period of time be it hours or days. Also, with me anyway, it tends to start lower in the chest. The VCD comes on very fast. Almost immediately. Literally within seconds of exposure to a trigger (my big triggers are incense, musk perfumes, menthol, Pine Sol, and some musky or very spicy candles). The vocal cords literally slam shut. They think they are protecting the lungs from something harmful. Practice breathing in through your mouth then hold your lips very tightly (almost like holding a penny between your lips) (all you brass players will have a hard time at first. When I first learned this one I would "buzz" like I was playing.) If it is VCD this will help after a few minutes. Also the relaxed breadhing technique of in throu the nose (counting) and out through pursed lips (like through a straw) for twice the time of the intake is a good one. The third thing thaat is quick and easy is yawning. When this happens again try alternating these three techniques. If they help after several minutes (it takes me as much as 10 - 15 minutes to feel any relief sometimes), it is VCD not asthma.. VCD responds to the breathing exercises. It does not respond to the nebs. Asthma responds to the nebs, not the breathing techniques. I have played with this during episodes and it is true. The relaxed breathing technique is great during an asthma attack as it does several things for the mind and body. However, breathing in and of itself will not resolve a true asthma attack. I have a whole slew of info on VCD. I just wanted to give you something quick. Like I said I promise to get the info to those who asked me for it ASAP. Really sorry. Madelinehttp://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ Lungs_on_ Vacation/<image.tiff> From: Irene <i_mac141yahoo (DOT) com>To: asthmayahoogroups (DOT) comSent: Mon, January 18, 2010 8:52:22 PMSubject: it this panic attack? hi again! been MIA for a while... i was just wondering if anyone else have experience not being able to breath all of a sudden? i don't think it's asthma. it happened to me twice already... first time when i was in the middle of dinner, i didn't choke or anything like that...it's just that, i felt like my throat is closing. and i can't get any air in. it kinda lasted about a minute. i tried to relax and focused on sumthng else then i had air in again. that really scared > me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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