Dr. said I'm in deep sleep & dreaming

Hello,

I hope this is on topic, it's sleep related anyway. LOL Once in a while, I think I stop breathing in my sleep. It doesn't seem like anything I've read while researching on the internet. I'll be sound asleep, then I think I wake up, only I can't move or open my eyes. It always happens on an exhale, and I "wake up" because I need to inhale. I lay there, unable to do anything but tell myself to breathe. The last time it happened was really scary because I didn't think I could last any longer without taking a breath. I never remember fully waking up after I finally take that breath. It's not that my throat has closed, it's like my lungs stop working.

I saw the doctor today and explained all this. He says I'm in a really deep sleep and I probably want to wake up but my body isn't ready. (I told him that's different, because that happens to me too, ocassionally) He also said I can't forget to breathe, if that was a problem, I would always have to tell myself to breathe all the time, every second of the day.

I asked him if there was a way my brain could not tell my body to breathe, he said we can breathe without our brain. (I read about Central sleep apnea, and read that there could be a problem with the brain stem and the signal to breathe automatically without thinking about it)

The doctor said he'll do some research and call me if he comes up with anything and not to be afraid to go to sleep.

I should add that I also told him that when I was 25 pounds overweight, I was snoring. Since I lost the weight, I'm told I snore a little but lightly. I also told him there's also times when I'm falling asleep that my throat closes and it wakes me up because it kind of chokes me. (I don't know how to describe it)

I don't snore like I think most people with sleep apnea snore. I know I don't make a bunch of noise etc.

Any help would be appreaciated. I'm going to make an appointment with another doctor. Until they can prove to me that it's a dream, I will be afraid to go to sleep each night. It's happened atleast five times.

Has anyone had these symptoms???

Thanks!

Debbie

It's certainly possible that you are having some sleep apnea. Technically if you are not breathing while you sleep, that's apnea. Central apnea does occur as well, but the brain does kickin and make you breathe eventually.

I would ask for a referral to a sleep specialist. Your primary doctor almost certainly got less than 2 hours of training in med school (all 4 years), so they know very little about sleep medicine.

Dave

Ditto what Dave said,

Gregg

Wow Deb! I think your doc needs to go back to school!! Go get a second opinion from a real doctor!!!

Hi Debbie,

According to a sleep study, I have severe sleep apnea, but my snoring was classified as mild.

Just because you don't snore much, does not mean you do not have sleep apnea.

--Bob

JourneyFan wrote:<snip>
I don't snore like I think most people with sleep apnea snore. I know I don't make a bunch of noise etc.
<snip>
Debbie