Throat constriction

[Jagman]

I started my CPAP therapy after many tests due to a constriction that I have in my throat. The tests revealed an inflammation in my throat supposedly brought on by a bout of whooping cough then exacerbated by my snoring so that my throat was just not healing.

My lung capacity is normal but I have serious breathing problems when I exert myself in any slight way. I am also constantly using a forced cough to clear my throat. Very annoying.

CPAP was supposed to relieve the inflammation in my throat and I was advised that it might take 3 months or so. I think that there has been a slight improvement but 3 weeks ago I went on holiday to China and I just could not believe the pollution that existed there. In Beijing visibility was about 1 kilometre, and it improved only marginally in the rural areas.

If there was a slight improvement in my breathing previously it has definitely reverted back to its former glory now.

My questions are these,

Does anyone else have a similar problem as me?
If so, have you found a way to relieve the inflammation/constriction in your throat?

Cheers,

Dave

[Lukie]

I started my CPAP therapy after many tests due to a constriction that I have in my throat. The tests revealed an inflammation in my throat supposedly brought on by a bout of whooping cough then exacerbated by my snoring so that my throat was just not healing.

My lung capacity is normal but I have serious breathing problems when I exert myself in any slight way. I am also constantly using a forced cough to clear my throat. Very annoying.

CPAP was supposed to relieve the inflammation in my throat and I was advised that it might take 3 months or so. I think that there has been a slight improvement but 3 weeks ago I went on holiday to China and I just could not believe the pollution that existed there. In Beijing visibility was about 1 kilometre, and it improved only marginally in the rural areas.

If there was a slight improvement in my breathing previously it has definitely reverted back to its former glory now.

My questions are these,

Does anyone else have a similar problem as me?
If so, have you found a way to relieve the inflammation/constriction in your throat?

Cheers,

Dave

Did they check you for Acid Reflux? That can cause inflammation/constriction in your throat as well.

[Jagman]

Thanks for your reply Lukie,

Yes, I took a series of tablets that were supposed to suppress acid reflux. I think the name of them was Salpraz. No effect really.

The other tests/meds etc that I had were;
X-Ray
CT Scan
Renal Artery ultrasound
Symbicort turbuhaler
Alvesco inhaler
Ventalin inhaler
Lung function test
Saline challenge test
Some tablets that were supposed to help me clear my throat, I can't recall the name. Oh yes, Bisolvin. That's it.

I think that's it. The best test that I had was an ENT Specialist stuck a camera down my schnoz into my throat and actually had a look. Red and inflamed! After that I was advised to have a sleep study and the CPAP therapy started from that.

Since those tests I have lost weight (105 kilos to 97), lowered my cholesterol (it wasn't too bad anyway) and tried to generally improve my fitness.

I'm still wheezing but hopefully it will get better. I suppose I'm looking for a 'magic' pill.

Cheers,

Dave

[Jagman]

Success! Well sort of. Finally have had a positive diagnosis of subglottic stenosis. A band of scar tissue caused by who-knows-what just below my vocal chords. Approximately 60% of my larynx is blocked. I am now booked in for surgery to remove it. I'm not sure how this will affect my CPAP therapy but hopefully it will be for the better.

I'm just posting this in case anyone else has similar symptoms to me as this was a very long and laborious process to diagnose. I suppose it would have been a lot quicker if just one of the doctors had looked at where I continuously pointed at where the problem was.

[trish6hundred]

Success! Well sort of. Finally have had a positive diagnosis of subglottic stenosis. A band of scar tissue caused by who-knows-what just below my vocal chords. Approximately 60% of my larynx is blocked. I am now booked in for surgery to remove it. I'm not sure how this will affect my CPAP therapy but hopefully it will be for the better.

I'm just posting this in case anyone else has similar symptoms to me as this was a very long and laborious process to diagnose. I suppose it would have been a lot quicker if just one of the doctors had looked at where I continuously pointed at where the problem was.

Hi Jagman,
I hope your upcoming surgery goes well and hopefully, you will have better success with your CPAP therapy after it.

[jaycee]

You may be lucky and find yourself not needing CPAP after fully recovering from surgery.

The good news is that throat surgery is good weight loss plan (it hurts too much to eat).

[Jagman]

You may be lucky and find yourself not needing CPAP after fully recovering from surgery.

The good news is that throat surgery is good weight loss plan (it hurts too much to eat).

Gee, thanks for that, and here was I getting all worried about it...

Just kidding, according to the ENT specialist the part of the throat that gives us the gift of apnea is a bit higher up than the sub glottis so probably won't affect it at all. The losing of weight probably will though as the throat is one of the first areas that stores fat but it just doesn't show as obviously as other parts of the body. So maybe you're right.

As a bit of history, it was because I was having trouble breathing that I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. So finally the cause of the original complaint has been found. Hopefully with it removed I can then address the apnea.