Waking up after a few minutes, heart racing and a feeling of DOOM!

[Pinkrose1]

It's so weird and been going on about 18 months. I am tired (at night) drop of happily to sleep then 5-10 minutes later wake up, heart racing and feeling awful! Takes about 10 minutes to relax and go back to sleep or I read for a bit. It never happens the second time I fall asleep. Less likely to happen if I feel cool in bed but not always. No other symptoms.

My heart is healthy, had ECGs for other reasons, I am not depressed or anxious. Peri menopausal but been like that 5 years (early onset). Only take thyroxine but been on it years and have regular blood tests which are fine. Nothing else I can think off.

I think I must be the only person in the world with this, but most nights? . Give me a break! Not seeing GP as it's so trivial and what could they do?

Has anybody else got this? What is it? Am I alone?

Could it be sleep apnoea? I think I have it, and I think it may be menopause related.

I once had a feeling of doom and I was actually very poorly, but I had other symptoms.

Could it be a hypnic jerk? Dd suffers with this quite often - especially when stressed with exams etc.

She has the palpitations and feeling of impending doom too.

I go through phases of having the same thing. Not long after I drop off I'll wake up suddenly in the most horrendous state of abject terror. It's awful. For me it tends to happen nightly for a few days/a week or so then it won't happen for ages.

I think it's either a type of or related to sleep paralysis. I've no idea if I just don't happen to have had an episode recently or if it's related but it's not happened to me at all since I started listening to audiobooks to fall asleep to.

I think it's a menopausal symptom isn't it?

I have this, Gp said it was a perimenopause symptom, I am that age!
Cardiologist ( I have mild heart defect ) said it was the brain processing what is saw during the day. He prescribed 25mg of Atenolol a betablocker that I can take at night.

You have my sympathies it is a horrible feeling.

Thank you everyone. . I'm sure it's not sleep apnoea. I'm a nurse so have a good idea or health matters though not on this one ! Pretty sure not a typical hypnic jerk as I don't move in any way and I've had them in the past and there has always been a real feeling of falling, but it's something in that region.

I am overjoyed that it's actually a recognised 'thing' as I thought I was going a bit mad! Not happy with an early menopause so I think get off bum and see dr about some treatment.

Now that I have an actual explanation I don't feel so creeped out with it. It's the doom laden feeling that's the worse, like a feeling of massive depression compressed into a couple of minutes!

I've had that Doom feeling a couple of times just before fainting. A real sense of impending death. I wonder if it's associated with a sudden fall in blood pressure?

Mattie. I used to work in A&E and when we had patients come in with an irregular heartbeat we would give them a drug which would effectively stop their heart for a few seconds in an attempt to jump start a normal rhythm. They would be awake all the time and we always warned them they would get this 'I am dying' emotion! So maybe it is to do with a sudden drop in blood pressure as that's obviously what happens when your heart stops!

This happens to me, wake up a few minutes after I fall asleep, heart is racing and I think I'm going to die, and I think it is POTS. So I chug water or preferably Gatorade, but I always have fluids by my bed, and I have really helped out this situation by increasing my fluid and sodium intake.

I second the glass of water and more water during the day advice. I would still see a doctor if it keeps happening though.

This happened to me with peri. Thank god for HRT.

I had this and it was absolutely horrendous, hated it so much. Tried all sorts of supplements and relaxation techniques but nothing helped. Started hrt and it stopped within about a week and I've not had it since! I was so relieved and happy.