In the beginning, we thought little about it. She just couldn't catch her breath during exercise. Gym teachers were puzzled, but no one was overly concerned. Many people offered an explanation. Maybe she had asthma. We would keep an eye on it.

She began to experience stomach aches, unexplained nausea and vomiting for about two years. It did not happen frequently, but it persisted. This was passed off as a nervous stomach. Most doctors we mentioned it to explained it away, one way or another. Again, it was attributed to something else. We simply didn't know.

Active in athletic as well as social activities, both of the above increased when she was in eighth grade and a new problem presented itself as well. She constantly had upper respiratory infections for which she took many medications. Once again, we could not understand why she was ill so much of the time, when her peers were able to withstand the weather and breathe with only the typical cold and flu symptoms occurring occasionally. During one bitterly cold week, she began to experience many of the symptoms described on the Home page. Coughing, choking, difficulty inhaling and exhaling, gasping for air, resulting in panic and more panic. What we learned very soon was that her throat was, in fact, closing off all air. No air would move in or out.

Now we could panic. This was a full blown disorder that was very much real. It was not a mental disorder, it was not a panic attack. She had a real breathing problem. Fortunately, a very caring family physician located two brilliant Pediatric Pulmonologists at Dallas’ Children’s Medical Center who immediately recognized the symptoms as laryngospasms, a partial or complete closure of the vocal cords. They recognized what to do to treat the spasms, yet they could not tell us what to do to prevent them from recurring.

It took several hospital trips locally before we arrived in Denver at National Jewish Medical and Research Center, the greatest place in the USA if you have breathing difficulties. The expert team diagnosed Vocal Cord Dysfunction with laryngospasms. Using the multidisciplinary approach, several things that triggered attacks were identified. We learned that many things could cause laryngospasms, but for this particular patient, problems arose when she experienced acid reflux, post nasal drip, extremely strong fumes or odors. She would also have trouble breathing when under extreme stress or pain, not to be confused with mental panic attacks. It was stressful when she could not breathe. It was stressful when she could not attend school and the work began to pile up.

For three years, a cycle of illnesses continued. Every hospitalization was similar: treatment with Heliox, a helium/oxygen combination, would eliminate symptoms, nothing to eat or drink, followed by liquids then gradual return to a regular diet. Each hospitalization ended the same with detailed instructions sent home. One professional after another outlined a plan of care which would surely rid this teen of the alarming and increasing laryngospasms. VCD specialists from several different states were consulted, with the same treatment given every time. Doctors were sure that if the patient would follow every instruction, the vocal cords would not give her any more problems. Reduce stress, eliminate post nasal drip, follow dietary and lifestyle changes to reduce acid reflux. Within two to four months of dismissal, after carefully following all instructions, each time the laryngospasms would return, and gradually they began to last longer and longer. Something wasn’t working as it was supposed to.

Halfway through her high school career, which was supposed to be enjoyable years full of excitement, this teen was facing homebound school simply because she was sick all the time.  No one could figure it out.  Headaches became more common, and she developed mononucleosis. 

She developed severe chest pains.  Then, shortly before this young lady was to start her senior year, she abruptly had to undergo emergency gall bladder surgery.  No one expected that of a 16 year old, but proper tests revealed a seriously malfunctioning gallbladder.  There were no predictions about how this would affect her other health problems.  Doctors would not predict because they just did not know.  Only time would tell.

It is now well past one year since the surgery and this young lady is settling into college life away from home.   She is as healthy as any other 18 year old with only and occasional cold to slow her down.  Occasionally, she will have a mild laryngospasm which is hardly noticed any more, but she still has 35 hospital bracelets as a reminder.

It is still unknown why all the other treatment plans failed and why the removal of her gallbladder made a dramatic difference in the VCD,  but it has.