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Original poster

I stop breathing when I fall asleep - it is really frightening

72 replies

NuggetsForTeaAgain · 26/12/2011 09:13

Recently, I have begun to wake after about 10 - 30mins of sleep gasping for air! It is like I have stopped breathing and then my reflexes kick in and I start up again. It is really terrifying and I hate it I barely slept last night for fear of not waking up (though I knew in reality that I would!). I have not previously gone to bed thinking about it but after last night when it happened four times in a row I am worried about it happening again. Sad Has anyone got any experience of this. I am shatttered beyond belief today Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 26/12/2011 13:00

hecate - thanks - I did want to know what it was but i hadn't expected the consequences to be so serious. I had googled apnoea before so was aware of it. I don't fall asleep in the day ( would love to sometimes though) and don't have headaches - apart from occasional stress type headaches. I wil get docs appt as soon as I am able to. It mainly affects my first hour or so of sleep and then I am not aware at any other time during the night. It is not every night either though some days I do wake up feeling quite shattered. I put that down to stress of living the life I have lead and being a lone parent etc. I will check it out as soon as is possible though. As if it is apnoea then I want it fixed! Smile

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nannyj · 26/12/2011 13:09

My mum has sleep apnea (sp) and now wears a mask and she is 100% better. It is dangerous if not treated but she feels great now.

belgo · 26/12/2011 13:50

Yes it occurred to me that it may be anxiety as well. Maybe you should mention the irregular heart rate - again, write down exactly when that happens and exactly how you feel.

Good luck, and try not to worry tonight (easier said then done).

Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 26/12/2011 16:06

i am just hoping that I get some sleep tonight as I am so tired and now worried about tonight. It really does feel frightening waking up gasping for air! Like I said, it is not every night but it is horrid when it happens

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fumblebee · 26/12/2011 16:34

Yeah first thing it looks like is sleep apnea... get someone to sleep in bed with you.. my friend has to boot her mum up the arse to wake her up because shes got it.
You may NOT have it, it could just be nightmares that are causing you to panic and breathe uncontrollably, but do - definately see your gp and get to a sleep clinic!x

Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 26/12/2011 16:37

fumblebees - i always wake up and it seems to be not long aftr I have fallen asleep. It doesn;t seem to affect me after that adn I definitely don't snore (I asked dd today). I hope it isn;t. I feel terrified to go to sleeo now Sad[sad[Sad. I hate this. I wish it would fuck off

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lisad123 · 26/12/2011 16:41

my neighbour has this and sleeps with a machine thingy.
They took a few weeks sorting her out, so not a dnagerous thing in short term as others have said,

Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 26/12/2011 17:09

ok thanks. it does feel so frightening though. Can it just come on like this? from nothing? It does seem a bit random. I don't have a heart condition as far as i know! I hope it is anxiety instead of a long term thing. Oh please god let me sleep tonight!

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DeWe · 26/12/2011 17:42

I would get it checked out, but I'd wonder if it's a recurrent nightmare as I thought generally sleep apnea doesn't wake you. Speak to the experts though.

Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 26/12/2011 17:46

i hope it is not apnoea. Sad It sounds horrid. Sleep machines and breathing equipment! It does feel so terrifying though. It wakes me like a sudden shock and when I wake I have to take a sharp breath in as I am aware that I have not been breathing (or that's how it feels anyway) It is not every night and is fairly recent. I wonder if it is anxiety as I love alone with my children. I hate it whtever it is

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PigletJohn · 26/12/2011 17:55

while waiting to get it seen to, if you are in the habit of sleeping on your back, try to get in the habit of sleeping on your side (you may roll over during the night though, and putting an extra pillow longitudinally may help stop you)

Foxinsocks · 26/12/2011 17:59

I stop breathing in my sleep. It's called a laryngospasm. My larynx closes and I wake up absolutely gasping, sometimes when it's still closed. I've had it happen in the day too. Have you ever had reflux? As this is what triggers mine (and sore throats/laryngitis).

It could also be anxiety. But definitely worth asking doc. Hope you are ok!

Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 26/12/2011 18:02

piglet and fox - thank you. Fox that sounds horrid too. I don;t sleep on my back, i sleep on my front or side. I have never had refulx or any medical condition other than anxiety which comes and goes. This is making me more anxious than ever though and certainly isn't helping that i am exhausted1!± I was fine yesterday - had a great Xmas and was sufficiently tired - as expected. I don;t know why it happened last night. it's so horrible and scary. I will look up laryngospasm. I will be a fully trained medic by this evening!

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Kewcumber · 26/12/2011 21:08

If you are not sleepy during the day I find it very hard to beleive that its sleep apnoea. They will either refer you to a sleep centre or if you have a more switched on GP they may do an Epworth questionniare (you can do one here) www.britishsnoring.co.uk/sleep_apnoea/epworth_sleepiness_scale.php which is the first thing to do to assess whether you are likely to have sleep apnoea.

Otherwise they will look at other causes.

Kewcumber · 26/12/2011 21:10

all sorts of other symptoms of sleep apnoea (waking several times a night for a wee, high blood pressure, confusion, inability to concentrate,low oxygen saturation, snoring) but sleepiness during the day is the giveaway

ThatVikRinA22 · 26/12/2011 21:12

just a thought but this used to happen to me - i do not have apnoea - i had something caused LPR - caused by stomach acid burning my airway.

i used to wake up choking and gasping for air.

it is easily treated. just chucking it in for info OP....but you do need to see your GP

Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 26/12/2011 21:33

thank you again. I did that test Kewcumber - I got a score of 1 which rated as normal. Some days I am really really tired but that is because of actual insomnia and I know when i have had a bad night because of that. This is something different though, and I can still cope in the day but if I had repeated nights like last night i could not. The nights of breatlessness are irregular. Do you think it would be every night if it were apnea?

vicar - I will look that up but that doesn't sound ike me. I'll look it up. I hope it is anxiety with me. It's horrible isn't it Sad

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Kewcumber · 26/12/2011 21:53

My score (pre treatment) was 19! I'm sure your GP will be looking in other areas if your score was 1... I don't think you can have apnoea for one night or two, I get better and worse days but it doesn't go away at all.

TheLightPassenger · 26/12/2011 22:09

Go to the GP and get checked out, but as others have said, since you are a very healthy weight, which makes it unlikely it's sleep apnoea. I went to the GP earlier in the year for a similar reason, and got sent away with instructions to take hayfever medication regularly (both tablets and nose spray), as the GP felt it was my allergies causing me difficulties breathing when asleep, a combination of hayfever meds and exercise (I am unfortunately v overweight) has, touch wood, sorted it out. I didn't fall asleep during the day btw but was going to bed 2 hours earlier than normal. (10 pm rather than 12, so not ridiculously early, but early for me iyswim).The GP did a number of blood tests to check any medical reason for my tiredness, but these found nothing significant.

Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 26/12/2011 22:27

Kew and TLP - I really hope it is not apnoea. It scares me to death (literally!), I do, of course, get very tired after a night like that but I thinkg it is probably more anxiety related thought it is absolutelyu real when it happens and very very scary. I am so grateful for all of you taking time to respond. I will get a docs appt as it is definitely something that needs addressing. Sleep well all , NFTA x

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Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 27/12/2011 09:04

So no gasping for air last night but the most horrid anxious insomnia. Soooo exhausted

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Elibean · 27/12/2011 10:30

dh gets this sometimes - its not sleep apnoea, in his case, but reflux.

The stomach acid starts to seep out of the stomach valve - after about 10 to 30 minutes of lying down, as you say - and the windpipe closes automatically to prevent acid going in. Very very scary, he wakes up in a cold sweat gasping. He now takes Zantac after a heavy meal, or if he feels 'acid-y', and no more episodes.

Might be worth buying some over the counter Zantac to take until you see your GP - see if it helps!

ThatVikRinA22 · 27/12/2011 10:37

same as me elibean - but i would still advise seeing a gp. i was referred to a specialist clinic, they prescribed a couple of things that i now take daily and it stopped the symptoms within 2 weeks. I had also got where i didnt dare fall asleep.

i think you need to see a gp nuggets, so you can find out for sure what causes it.

Original poster
NuggetsForTeaAgain · 27/12/2011 10:38

Morning elibean - how did he discover it was that? I did eat a lot yesterday, including goose for dinner and lots of chocs and christmas pudding and stuff and drank champagne. It could have been that. Does he get any other symptoms? I didn't feel sicky or anything. I'll google it. thank you

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McQueasy · 27/12/2011 10:38

Could be adult sleep paralysis particularly given your associated anxiety symptoms

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