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I am a speech pathologist and faculty member at Purdue University. What you decribed sounds similar to a laryngospasm. During a laryngospasm the vocal cords close off very tightly which prevents the patient from taking in any air. One frequent cause of laryngospasm is a condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD. Your doctor can evaluation (oops) can evaluate your wife for this condition or refer you to a specialist that could diagnose the problem. GERD occurs when stomach acids enter the esophagus and travel upward. If any irritating substances get on or near the vocal cords the natural protective function of the vocal cords will take over and sometimes a laryngospasm can occur. There certainly may be other causes for what your wife is experiencing, but thought I would share with you one possibility. Good luck in your pursuit of a cause for this very worrisome problem. Vicki Hammen [log in to unmask]