HOUSTON -- A Beaumont man felt like someone was choking the life out of him. But his wife's persistence found a cure to his severe case of whooping cough in Galveston, Local 2 reported Tuesday.

For five months, Al Barton Jr. suffered from severe symptoms.

"You wake up one morning and you can't breathe. You're choking and struggling to breathe and wondering whether you are going to live," he said.

Doctors tried everything -- breathing treatments and antibiotics. But, in the end, his wife found a solution online.

"Out of the entire world, the answer to our prayer was right here in Galveston, 45 minutes from our home," Barton said.

His wife pulled up research by Dr. John Peterson, with the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Barton gave him a call.

"The first thing out of his mouth, 'How did you find me?'" Barton said.

"Patients today are very well educated. They go in and find things about their own symptoms from the Internet," Peterson said.

Two years ago, Peterson published a report that included research involving the pertussis toxin, better known as whooping cough, and the effects Celebrex could have on treating symptoms.

The results were intriguing.

"It might be possible to use it as an adjunct in the treatment of pertussis patients," Peterson said.

Barton took the research to Dr. Mila McManus, with the Alden Health Center in The Woodlands.

"Mr. Barton had the worst case I have seen. He probably could not get two words out before he would have a coughing spell," she said.

McManus prescribed Celebrex. Barton felt better in just 20 minutes.

"It lowered the frequency of choking spells that I went through and it also lessened the severity," McManus said.

"The patients notice a difference immediately," McManus said.

"I am delighted that this drug may have given them some type of relief. It is certainly not a cure," Peterson said.

"I'm looking forward to getting over this," Barton said.

Celebrex is an anti-inflammatory drug. It is typically used for arthritis.

Whooping cough is also an inflammation, which is how Celebrex may help relieve symptoms.

Before Celebrex could be considered a treatment option, the drug would have to be tested in a clinical trial.

For more information on pertussis, visit www.metrokc.gov/health/prevcont/pertussis.htm.