I thought I was going to choke to death last night. I choked on my on saliva in the car. I kept coughing and gasping for breath and could not talk. My son was driving he told me to get out of the car at a stop light and did the Heimlich maneuver. I don't know if that helped are I was just getting over it. I was still wheezing for air. Then a policeman stopped and to see if he could help. This is not the first time this has happened. It has happened when I am asleep. I have woken up before choking on my on saliva. Very scary. The next day my throat will be dry and scratchy.