Stopping breathing in sleep

[SheilaTakeABow]

Hi. I was just wondering if anyone with suspected or confirmed Covid19 has felt like they're stopping breathing in their sleep?
I've had vague symptoms for nearly two weeks now, but no cough, and over the past week I'm having nights where I wake up at 2am and I'm not gasping or coughing or wheezing, I literally feel I've stopped breathing.
I have an oximeter and my sats will drop to about 92, rising to 95 once I'm sitting up and calm.
I'm on the My Lungs.... threads, which are invaluable, but I wanted to start a specific post for this specific symptom as I'm terrified that one night I won't wake up.
111 have just said it might be down to the virus, might not, and just to get DH to check on me throughout the night

[JoeBidensDisintegratingBrain]

I had an instance where I woke up gasping for breath. It crossed my mind that it might be coronavirus related. I had had diarrhea in previous days and had felt hot too. But my symptoms seemed to mild to be covid-19. I still think it was unlikely to be the virus, but apparently we have a milder strain than that of Europe and America.

[longearedbat]

Do you suffer from sleep apnea? I did (until I got it treated) and I used to dream I was underwater holding my breath, and sometimes wake up gasping. If you have got a respiratory infection it might be exacerbating the condition. Just a thought.
Have you tried sleep propped up a bit? Might help with the breathing.

[SheilaTakeABow]

I don't @longearedbat, but, from what I understand, it sounds very much the same phenomenon. It's absolutely terrifying me that I won't wake up in time and, due to current circumstances, it's not easy to speak to someone in real life to reassure you - hence me posting here!

[Wingedharpy]

Are you overweight?

[booboo24]

I've had this for years, and have wondered about sleep apnea. I usually dream i've swallowed something that should get stuck and then I wake up just as it happens heart pounding and I'm gasping for breath, it does feel like i've stopped breathing and it happens a lot. Most of the time i don't remember it, bit I'm told I've woken my husband up and my kids and now my fiance! I'm a nightmare to sleep by! So possibly more that than covid, or Gastric reflux or even anxiety I would say

[SheilaTakeABow]

@Wingedharpy, no, low end of healthy BMI. And @booboo24, that's exactly it - last night I was dreaming I was eating bubbles when it happened . So odd, but it's helpful to know that you've always woken up!

[RickyBooth]

@SheilaTakeABow Yes for sure I did about 4am on around 4 nights I woke up feeling like id stopped breathing when I was at my worst with this bloody virus. But I put it down to panic and anxiety before I fell asleep and well the nightmares I was having.

[GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit]

Yes I had it. Kept dreaming I was underwater swimming and had to hold my breath. Very unpleasant! Made me scared to go to sleep.

Six weeks since I first got I'll with a temp. Well into recovery now. My lungs are still not quite right but I have no temp and that particular ghastly symptom is ling gone.

[SheilaTakeABow]

Thanks @RickyBooth and @GraperfuitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit. It's very reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one, as it's terrifying.
I'll fashion myself some sort of pillow for to allow me to sleep upright!

[Mintypylonsfryingsurplus]

Yes I had this on several occasions when I had shortness of breath in days.
Woke up with a start feeling like I was frozen or winded?
Very very scary and strange, as soon as breathing kicked in palpitations and adrenaline rushes like my body kick starting up again.
Dont think it was dream/ nightmare related as once it happened 20 mins after falling asleep as checked time, no way could I have been in REM sleep and was not particularly anxious that day.
I was worried going back to sleep after though. Deep breathing seemed to help.

[ofwarren]

Are you suffering with acid reflux as a symptom?
It caused awful reflux for me and a month later I still have it. If I lie on my back I can't breathe.
It's the acid in my case. It doesn't burn, it just makes me gasp for air.

[SheilaTakeABow]

@Mintypylonsfryingsurplus, thank you, it's so reassuring to know that this seems to be relatively common with this bloody thing, and that everyone comes through it.
@ofwarren, a bit of acid, so that could well have exacerbated it.
For anyone else who may have the same thing, I did drag the humidifier out last night and that seems to have helped, along with sleeping sitting up, although may well be coincidence; it's becoming clear that one of the hallmarks of this bloody thing is its inconsistency.
Thanks all

[kingkuta]

I've had this before and I'm pretty sure its anxiety related

[kingkuta]

Although what ofwarren posted is really interesting as I do have acid reflux and it only happens when I'm lying on my back

[MitziK]

The one uh-oh symptom I had was that on a couple of occasions, a huge amount of clear thin but bubbly mucus (reminded me of glycerine and Fairy liquid/bubble mixture) drained from seemingly nowhere (no sinus pain, no cold symptoms) into my throat in an instant.

The one that happened first was whilst I was feeling very tired and was laying on my side, but was awake enough to already be getting up and blowing my nose for ages as soon as I felt it start; the volume of stuff was ridiculous. The second time, I felt it happen at night as I turned over.


I slept on my front hugging a fat pillow after these because I could tell that getting it out before it travelled down was really important.


I've been left with a pretty rotten post nasal drip for the last couple of weeks and I'm needing to take Sudafed occasionally (last night, I went to sleep with a cold pack on my face), but what makes it different to a cold or sinus infection was the thinness, the bubbles and the sheer speed at it going from everything clear to 'Shit, get it out before it drowns me'.

[NordSjoen]

Yes I did one night last week. Really frightening as I live with my 9yo DS who had decided to bring his mattress into my room so he could look after me. I was terrified he would find me dead. Stayed awake as long as I could and eventually slept propped right up in my bedroom chair. Hasn’t happened again though, fingers crossed.

[Starrynightsabove]

Sounds like classic night time panic symptoms. I get this when I have underlying anxiety. It is horrible.

[CoronaLonaNameChange]

We've all had coronavirus in my family. DH had it pretty bad but no breathing probs. However, one night he did really loud, deep, v strange breathing noises in the night. I was reaaally worried, but the next day marked the first day of his recovery and he's fine now.

I think the likelihood of you stopping breathing in the night is very low. And if you did, your body would probably wake you up to get you breathing again. Pretty sure your DH would notice if your breathing went weird. But if you r very worried, call the gp

[SheilaTakeABow]

Once again, thanks so much for replying.
That's interesting about panic @Starrynightsabove, my anxiety has been through the roof!
I've banished DH to another room @CoronaLonaNameChange so he can't be my saviour, although he sleeps so heavily not sure he'd notice anyway!

[Babyroobs]

I get this a lot and have considered it may be sleep apnoea, I am overweight. I also have acid reflux so could be that as well.