Does anyone suffer with sleep apnea?

[bettyfretty]

I really think I have this. I think I've had it for a long time but it's becoming an issue. I have a GP appointment for next week.

I wake up suddenly in the night gasping for air. It's very loud - to the point where my daughter wakes up and comes running in asking if I'm ok. It happened again last might for around 10 seconds from waking up I would say. I sleep by the window and usually just open it and stick my head out until I'm breathing normally again.

It's like I can't breathe out, I can only breath in. I'm in no pain but when my breathing goes back to normal, my mouth is so dry and my throat is sore. It doesn't matter how much water I drink, it stays like that until the next day. I can still feel it now.

I'm then left too scared to go back to sleep after fear it will happen again.

Is there anything natural I can try while I wait to be seen about this? I'm also exhausted from not sleeping properly.

I'm 37, slightly over weight but not massively. Don't drink or smoke.

Keep your chin up. From experience, sleep clinics tend not to take anywhere near as long as some other departments if you're referred.

In the meantime, hot baths/showers, steam inhalation. Basically try and keep your nasal passages as clear as you can. Have a humidifier in your bedroom which may help with the dry feeling.

Maybe raise your head up whilst you sleep too.

I used to have this. Found out as I had all the monitoring as part of a clinical trial for something completely unrelated.

But honestly I knew already as I had same symptoms as you. Also I d find myself snoring when I was awake which is weird.

It's resolved now I am a healthy BMI. So first step should be lose weight and if you drink or smoke, stop.

If no better get a referral. The treatment is CPAP not meds.

I used to suffer from sleep apnea, after I stopped smoking it went away.

I don't smoke and I am slightly over weight but not by much. I am quite petit though. I've had this since I was a teenager and I was a healthy bmi back then. Will definitely look at losing weight though, thank you

It's good to hear people saying they 'used' to have it though. I thought it was a 'forever' condition

It could be that when you gain weight you get it on your neck. Hopefully weight loss will help.

If you quite petite, it might not take much extra weight on your neck to start it.

However some people it can be their natural anatomy.

I also feel like I have something like this although for me it is only when i am dozing off to sleep that I wake suddenly as though I’ve stopped breathing for a second. I don’t wake through the night.
it started last year when I was off work with stress when a parent was ill.
I also think it’s because I am short and have gotten slightly overweight as my neck is thicker and I think all muscles relax and block my airways a bit. Im trying to lose a bit of weight and the only thing that helps is I always have to lie on my left side.

If you have had it since you were a teenager then you probably had it before that without realising. If it's been that long then it's likely due to your soft palate collapsing and blocking your airway so you can't breathe whilst asleep. The gasping is your body forcing you to wake up because of lack of oxygen. A sleep clinic will do a study on you, ask to be referred by your GP. It sounds serious enough to need CPAD therapy. I have it as well and it's not through obesity, it's just the structure of my mouth/throat.

Actually you are all correct about the weight in my neck - that's absolutely true. I definitely have more of a double chin than ever before.

I have been under so much stress in the last year so no doubt that isn't helping matters too. I know a panic attack and this isn't it.

I used to get it frequently in pregnancy but my doctors prescribed medication for heart burn and said it was GERD.

It's just very scary, i then start thinking 'what if I wake up and I just can't get my breathe back'

Diet starts today, thanks all x

I have had this for years, it is absolutely terrifying. After an incident i sit up and sleep because i am too scared to lie down again. Had it for about 30 years. Told my GP i stop breathing at night and he replied " well you start again don't you" not helpful. Hope your GP is more helpful.

Oh my gosh, that is horrific. Please see another GP x

This will be me tonight, sleeping sat up. It's a horrible feeling. Sending love x

So glad I saw this thread. I too am currently worried I have sleep apnea.
I wake up in the night with my heart racing and my FitBit watch record my heart rate spike up.
I also downloaded an app called Snore Lab and was surprised to hear myself coughing and clearing my throat during the night.
Spoke to my gp today and she wasn't worried, said turning over in the night could cause high heart rate reading on FitBit. Or bad dreams etc. Coughing in my sleep could be down to post nasal drip or acid reflux which I do have.
Can't afford to pay for a private sleep test so stuck in this worry 😟

I am waiting for my sleep study but the first thing my GP did was ask me to fill this form in. I scored quite highly for daytime sleepiness and I also have the same issues as others have mentioned: gasping for breath, feeling choked and very tired. Definitely contact your GP. My sleep study is in two weeks and i've only been waiting for 4 weeks or so

www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-osa/diagnosis/epworth-sleepiness-scale

Its not just the sleep issue.. its all the other risks associated with it
The pressure thats put on your heart for one. Def go and see your gp

if there’s someone who can film you breathing while you sleep that would probably be helpful for your GP.