Is this sleep apnoea

[DontLeanOnTheKeyboard]

Every so now and again I wake up with a start to realise that it feels like my airway has stuck together. I keep trying to breathe in but there’s just a faint whistle and it feels like forever to get going. I have to sit up and lean over and sort of push to open it up again. I am overweight and do snore. Snore enough for DH to have moved into spare room (which suits both of us as he’s a duvet hogger!).

was woken up by an episode this morning and it was really scary.

Sounds like it could be. Maybe see your gp about doing a sleep study. My dh did this and now uses a CPAP machine. He no longer snores either

Yes it may well be. Waking up with a headache and excessive daytime tiredness are other signs of Sleep Apnoea. Make an appointment with your GP to check this out.

I had a heart attack in 2019. This episode this morning was REALLY scary, I can still feel where my throat stuck together. I’m shitting myself about sleeping tonight 😞

Can you maybe sleep propped up?

I'd ask for a referral to a sleep clinic tbh. Sleep apnoea can be a cause of heart attacks. This should have been investigated a lot earlier.

@gamerchick my mum said to sleep propped up. I played DH an audio of asleep apnoea episode and he said ‘yes! That’s what you sound like! It kept waking me up so that’s why I sleep in spare room mostly’.

I will call for an appt first thing Monday.

Be prepared for a long wait to be assessed and in the meantime contact Hope2sleep charity for advice. If you can afford it you might want to get a private assessment but don't underestimate this. Sleep apnea is not all about snoring, it's when you stop breathing when you sleep.

I used to stop breathing 32 times an hour for at least 30 secs each time and I was at the lower end of severe. I feel so much better since getting treatment.

I had another episode last night, not as severe but still woke up gasping. I have a cold at the moment so wondering if my breathing is off. I did feel quite breathless all day yesterday.

I’m not underestimating it, it’s the stopping breathing that’s waking me up! It literally feels like my throat has stuck together!

Yes if you have a cold you're probably mouth breathing too which will make it feel worse. Even if it improves after your cold is better I'd still get referred.