It now seemed that I was on my own and that no cure or help was in sight.
So began my long search for information and possible help on the internet.
I first learnt that a very large depletion of body Calcium (hypocalcaemia) can cause muscle spasms and also Larygospasms which is the spasm of the muscle associated with the vocal chords.
I went to my GP again to have my body Calcium levels checked.
This was found to be OK, but I decided to start taking a calcium supplement anyway. As I am getting on in years this seemed to have additional possible benefits against Ostereoporosis as the years went by.
The supplement I took also contained Magnesium, zinc, boron and copper and Vitamin D. All these apparently help the body to absorb the Calcium.
Nearly three years passed by without any further attacks of Laryngospasm and I began to buy my calcium supplements from supermarkets, where the calcium tablets only had Vit D added. No Magnesium etc. I did take tablets with magnesium etc too in but not regularly as I had done in the previous two years.
After a further six months or so I had a very short attack whilst standing up, which I dismissed as phlegm going down the wrong way. A fortnight later another short attack. Stupidly, I ignored these warning signs because five days later I had a full blown attack, the same as those in previous years.
I was so frightened that I wet myself....that gives some indication how terrifying a Laryngospasm can be. I have also read that breathing in through the nose helps.
I immediately returned to taking my original calcium supplement. In addition I asked a doctor if there was any danger in breathing in pure Oxygen if I suffered any further attacks. I was assured that this was OK so I now have a very small canister of Oxygen in the house. This may/may not assist me when trying to get breath as the vocal chords begin to relax towards the end of an attack.
Further searching revealed that magnesium depletion (hypomagnesemia) can also cause muscle spasms in the body. There are many references on the internet
linking magnesium deficiency with muscle spasms and cramp. Here is one.
A doctor who operated on children with tonsilitist found that some had Laryngospasms caused by the ....So he did a study. He divided children into two groups. One was treated as normal for the operation, the other he gave a Magnesium supplement. Those on Magnesium had no attacks whilst some others
who were not given magnesium did. Also here.
Although these children didn’t have attacks in normal life as I do it did reinforce my gathering belief that if one has a sensitive vocal chord, then additional supplements of those minerals may help.
I now think that if hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesemia can cause muscle spasms in normal people than might it be possible that small additional supplements would help those whose vocal chord muscles might be more sensitive than is usual?
Certainly the 2 year plus remission I had from further attacks was during the period when I was taking all these supplements, having had two attacks within six weeks of each other prior to taking the supplements.
See this for details of RDA for magnesium. It is 420mg for a man aged over 31.
The foods which provide the most magnesium are not those eaten each day.
Is it not at all possible then, that many may have a magnesium deficiency as they get older? Here is more on Magnesium requirements/food/muscles etc. Also here
Yet another site about Magnesium is here.
Here is a doctor Hyman on utube extolling the virtues of Magnesiium.
Since going back to my supplement containing Magnesium I have not suffered from any more Laryngospasms at all. I now take over 300mg
Of Mg each day as it not only cured me but is good for the heart and lungs too. Read Dr. Carolyn Dean’s book, The Magnesium Miracle.
There is a technique to end attacks quickly but it doesn’t look suitable for a layman to attempt.. Know as the ‘Laryngospasm Notch Technique.’
Another very excellent site about Vocal Chord Dysfunction is here.
I do hope that if you suffer from laryngospasms, no matter what the cause, that you have found my experience of some interest and help and something to discuss with your GP if you have further attacks.
Now why not cheer yourself up with a visit to my original indoor photographs?
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