Wakeing up in the middle of the night gasping for air?

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Replies

  • Yes, I definitely have this. But I have asthma and 2 dogs that I'm allergic to (didn't find out I was allergic until after we got them). I have an inhaler, which is a godsend. But my Dr. also put me in singulair, which works wonders. As long as I take the singulair, I don't need the inhaler nearly as much, although I do take it occasionally and its comforting to know it's there. Maybe have an allergy test done? It could also be the sleep apnea thing, like someone else said. Best to get it checked out. Good luck!
  • Yes, definately sounds like sleep apnea. I have it and have a sleep apnea mask now. It sure helps with the sleep though it isn't pretty...
  • see a doc, get a sleep study done then you will know for sure JMO
  • Crystal_R84
    Crystal_R84 Posts: 88 Member
    Could be Sleep apnea...happened to my mom and she has it. go see a doctor asap
  • BobbyClerici
    BobbyClerici Posts: 813 Member
    I was on a C PAP machine due to the throat blubber clogging my breathing while I slept. I was choking and waking up 30 times each hour. But after I went from 262 down to 225, suddenly the issue vanished.

    I am now 199 lbs - no problems sleeping.
  • HisPathDaily
    HisPathDaily Posts: 672 Member
    Yes, but also could simply be reflux ... I occasionally have it (but it's been a while thank goodness as it's not exactly a fun experience) but I started to notice that it was when I ate (or drank something acidic) before bed ... a couple times in a row it happened when I enjoyed a nice big margarita and shortly went to bed (some would call it passed out but let's not go there) ;) ... but anyway, yes it could be apnea, but also reflux ... give yourself a good amount of time before you eat/drink before heading to bed .... since I've been more conscious of that it hasn't happened ... but again, I'm not a doctor, but for me that's what it was.

    ~Matt
    could it really be sleep apnoea when its really rare that it happens
  • MayMaydoesntrun
    MayMaydoesntrun Posts: 805 Member
    Go see your doctor.


    ^^^^THIS a thousand times THIS^^^^
  • twooliver
    twooliver Posts: 450 Member
    Besides apnea it could also be related to gastric reflux...

    They thought I had apnea...but what I had was gastric reflux - the acids were jumping up into my esophagus causing gagging in the middle of the night...

    bottom line - go to the doctor!
  • Z_I_L_L_A
    Z_I_L_L_A Posts: 2,399 Member
    SLEEP APNEA, GO GET CHECKED OUT!....................Please.
  • CJK1959
    CJK1959 Posts: 279 Member
    This used to happen to me...at first only sporadically, then more and more often. It turned out to be obstructive sleep apnea and after a sleep study, it was discovered that I stopped breathing on average 20 times a night. I now sleep with a CPAP machine and mask and sleep better and feel better than I had for a long time. Whatever is going on with you, please seek medical attention as soon as you can Good luck to you!
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    Sounds like apnea to me. Unchecked can lead to heart disease. Know this from experience. May want to let your doctor know.

    I agree with this - go see your doctor. it's not an uncommon problem. You may be stopping breathing in your sleep - which (fortunately) wakes you up. I'm not sure about the link to heart disease.

    If you are waking up with difficulty breathing then it is more likely to be asthma or similar. Either way, you need to go and see your doctor.

    I agree.GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR. (you might think it's rare but maybe it's just rare that it woke you up). My sis-in-law's uncle died from sleep apnea. He went to sleep and never woke up. It is a very, very serious condition.
  • nehtaeh
    nehtaeh Posts: 2,849 Member
    My dad will stop breathing but he still makes the motions of breathing, just no actually air going in and out. Then he'll all of a sudden breath in and you realize he wasn't actually breathing. He doesn't wake up though.

    So, could be apnea, it could be anxiety, it could be a number of things. It is something that you should get checked out though. Good luck and I hope it a simple fix.
  • cmbrysonussery
    cmbrysonussery Posts: 55 Member
    Sounds like sleep apnea. My wife suffers from it and sleeps with a CPAP machine which forces air to keep the passage ways open. It can definitely be weight related as extra weight around your neck making it more difficult for the passages to remain open when you lie down to sleep. A doctor can diagnose sleep apnea by doing a sleep study. Definitely see a doctor, undiagnosed sleep apnea increases your risks for stroke, heart attack, and more because you are depriving your body of oxygen. You are actually stopping breathing, sometime hundreds of time per night with sleep apnea.
  • LivLovLrn
    LivLovLrn Posts: 580 Member
    could it really be sleep apnoea when its really rare that it happens

    every few nights is not rare. I agree see a Dr.
  • dzilobommo
    dzilobommo Posts: 73 Member
    could it really be sleep apnoea when its really rare that it happens

    If it happens only rarely, I wonder if it could be an attack of laryngospasm brought on by acid reflux - the vocal cords get irritated by the rising acid and go into a spasm, blocking the airways and causing a harsh whistling sound when trying to breathe (stridor). After 30-60 seconds, the vocal chords relax again and allow air to flow. I've seen this happen and it is a terrifying experience both to live through and to watch! Also, apparently there is such a thing as 'silent reflux' which is not accompanied by the typical heartburn etc., so this could happen without any warning signs, usually in the middle of the night.

    With reflux, the general advice is to avoid over-eating or eating acidic food within 2-3 hours before bed, and to sleep on propped-up pillows (as some others have already pointed out). I think this is probably good advice in any case, whether it's reflux or apnoea (or even if you just want to ensure a good night's sleep)!

    But as everyone wisely says - If it keeps happening, go and see the doctor!!
  • Sounds a bit like obstructive sleep apnoea.

    I have that condition and one of the symptoms I had was like you described. (I am OK now thanks to a CPAP machine)

    You need to get this checked out by a doctor (try googling sleep apnoea / apnea)

    For sure sounds like sleep apnoea.
  • mcanavan05
    mcanavan05 Posts: 210 Member
    I've had this as well. But also have the reflux symptoms which have dramatically dropped since joining MFP (down 12 lbs since sept 13th). I was 224lbs and I'm 6ft.. highest weight I've ever been, was tired and would get the reflux
    symptoms every other day.. rarely get it now at all, may only flare up based on what i last ate..will monitor.

    I may still go see a doctor. You probably should too.
  • empc
    empc Posts: 88 Member
    Agree with sleep apnea. Try sleeping on your side (not on ur back) until u can see your Doc.
  • We are not physicians. Well, some of us may be, but most of us aren't and most of us have not gone to school for 8 years so that we can devote our lives to figuring out what is wrong with you. Go see your doctor; don't ask us to diagnose you.
  • Elisirmon
    Elisirmon Posts: 273 Member
    Asthma and you might need a sleep ap machine. I have asthma and every night I wake up because I feel like I am suffocating. Try not to sleep on your sides because that presses your lungs into each other and causes constriction.
  • Maybe your boyfriend dutch-ovened you while you were sleeping and you didn't know?

    Ok kidding aside, I've had this happen to me a few times too. It's crazy when it happens. You should get it checked out. Then let me know what the doc says because I am too lazy (or stupid) to go see a doctor about it.
  • chocolateandvodka
    chocolateandvodka Posts: 1,850 Member
    sleep apnea - see a family dr about a sleep study.
  • Aviendha_RJ
    Aviendha_RJ Posts: 600 Member
    I just wanted to see if anyone else has the problem were they wake up in the middle of the night and they struggle to breahte then your heart raceses for a bit? Its like ur asleep then all of a sudden you jump half put of ur bed because you feel like your chocking or something?

    Waking up & struggling to breathe: several things it could be.

    1) Panic Attacks: are you under a lot of stress?
    2) Athsma: the choking part leads me to think this....
    3) Allergy: Bedbugs? Dustmites? There's a lot of allergies that would do this.

    You should see a doctor, & discuss your symptoms. This is NOT normal, nor is it safe. You don't know how bad it'll get before it gets better.
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    Have you considered that you may possibly be experiencing demon possession? I mean, really, considering the fact that you haven't seen a doctor yet, the prospect of demonic interface is just as likely as apneoa.
  • _Timmeh_
    _Timmeh_ Posts: 2,096 Member
    Yes, it happened to me a few times. Did a sleep study and like half the posts in this topic it was sleep apnea.
    I now have a cpap machine. Hardest thing to get used to but now I sleep great.

    BTW sleep studies can be done at home.
  • AriannaTiyen42
    AriannaTiyen42 Posts: 86 Member
    Sounds like sleep apnea.
  • lucysposaro
    lucysposaro Posts: 132 Member
    Thank you all so much for your kind advice ill get it checked out and see what happens.
  • lucysposaro
    lucysposaro Posts: 132 Member
    Is that meant to be some sort or joke or what?
  • madameduffay
    madameduffay Posts: 166 Member
    That's happened to me twice. I went to the emergency room and it turned out to be acid reflux.
  • calliope_music
    calliope_music Posts: 1,242 Member
    sleep apnea or maybe a really bad dream? i don't have sleep apnea but every now and then i have a nightmare where i wake up like that.
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