Are some people aware of their own apneas?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
sleepinow
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Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by sleepinow » Wed Aug 27, 2014 4:12 am

Do some people that sleep know that they are not breathing? Like in a sleep study or something or even at home. Like has anyone came to the terms that they are not breathing at night and know it is an issue

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by archangle » Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:03 am

sleepinow wrote:Do some people that sleep know that they are not breathing? Like in a sleep study or something or even at home. Like has anyone came to the terms that they are not breathing at night and know it is an issue
If I sleep without CPAP (or sometimes with), I'll sometimes jolt myself awake from not breathing as I'm dozing off. I do sometimes remember not breathing to some extent. Sometimes I'll wake from a dream of not breathing or being suffocated, usually with the suffocation being part of the dream. Some people just know that something woke them up, but don't know what. Or they'll awaken panting, with chills, rapid heartbeat, a feel of terror.

Most people are unaware they were choking.

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by chunkyfrog » Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:09 am

It is quite unpleasant, but it really drives the fact home.
Denial becomes completely ridiculous in the face of evidence.
In a way, awareness of apnea, though stressful, can be a blessing.

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Last edited by chunkyfrog on Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

sleepinow
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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by sleepinow » Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:13 am

Julie wrote:Hi - I'm not sure what you're referring to - do you mean are they awake enough to register that they're having an 'event', or do you mean they believe their system is not inhaling automatically when necessary? The first case would be a matter of an obstructive apnea so strong or prolonged that they have some sense of arousal from it, and it occasionally does happen, but not often... most of the time people may awaken due to an apnea, but are not aware once awake that it was an apnea that caused it - because the fact they wake up means their body jerked awake in response to lack of 02, and by the time they're 'up', are most definitely breathing, if not gasping for air. And what Archangel said about possibly dreaming that you're not breathing happens as well sometimes.

So you can't be awake and aware you're not breathing... except if you're having clear airway, or central apneas, which are very different things. You may, e.g. when falling asleep, or when you're just half awake, be aware that you're just not breathing on your own, which is what a central apnea is about, but that won't happen with an obstructive event.
Yes that is what I meant. If they are awake to know if they had an event. Because don't the muscles also relax when your awake and just laying there? I understand REM is probably the best opportunity to have an event but sometimes when I lay down and close my eyes for a nap or some rest on my back I can feel it sometimes a bit more difficult to breathe and feel as if sometimes I cannot breathe

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by Julie » Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:45 am

Well the worst position for provoking apneas is on your back, and we all try hard not to sleep that way if possible, by putting something behind us (foam wedge, tennis ball sews in PJ's, etc.) if we can help it. So if you can help it, try to not do it.

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by JDS74 » Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:51 am

sleepinow wrote:Do some people that sleep know that they are not breathing? Like in a sleep study or something or even at home. Like has anyone came to the terms that they are not breathing at night and know it is an issue
As your question if stated, I never was aware of not breathing while asleep. OTOH, while I have been relaxing and watching TV in the evening, I have been aware of both central apnea and Cheyne-Stokes Respirations. When I mentioned it to the doctors up at the Mayo Clinic (I was there for a very different reason), they sent me for a sleep study where all of that was part of the diagnosis of Complex Sleep Apnea.

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by sleepinow » Wed Aug 27, 2014 7:56 am

@above

wow, my sleep study even shows events in the wake stage so it cant just be me heh. But yeah that was very interesting to read your comment

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by BlackSpinner » Wed Aug 27, 2014 8:55 am

sleepinow wrote:@above

wow, my sleep study even shows events in the wake stage so it cant just be me heh. But yeah that was very interesting to read your comment
Events while awake are holding your breath while turning over, watching something startling on TV and stuff like that.

I have been shocked to wake up in a panic state but before the diagnosis I didn't recognize what it was.

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by Denial Dave » Wed Aug 27, 2014 9:22 am

I knew about mine for 17 years before I did something about it.

I can clearly recall waking up during the night and not being able to breathe. it was like all the air had been knocked out of me 7 my lungs were empty. I'd relax a bit and go back to sleep.

thats why I chose the name DENIAL Dave

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by Krelvin » Wed Aug 27, 2014 9:49 pm

I knew for years that I had a sleeping problem. My wife knew something was wrong as she would hear me stop breathing and hit me to wake me up to start breathing again. I would many time sit on the edge of the bed for hours actually falling asleep sitting up. Driving any distance on straight roads was hard to keep awake, falling asleep while with family sitting at events, snoring when I fell asleep sitting up with people around that actually woke me up from the snoring. Always falling asleep at my desk at work, long meetings etc...

For a long time, I didn't know there were any solutions wasn't really aware of the problem. When I started hearing about it from a co-working, I forced my PCP to get me a sleep study, he wanted me to use sleep aids...

Totally wide open... when I took my sleep study and got the mask test part, I fell asleep within minutes that it started. When I woke up with a start, I had no idea where I was, how to get the mask off etc... the tech came running in. I asked how much time I had to keep sleeping and he said it was time to go home...

Did I know I had a sleeping problem, yes, but I cant say I really understood what would happen when I got it treated. Did I know I was having Apneas, specifically no... but I wasn't getting sleep was tired all the time and had other health issues due to it.
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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by Drowsy Dancer » Wed Aug 27, 2014 11:43 pm

Before diagnosis I had recurrent nightmares about drowning. Recurrent as in weekly.

Once I started using CPAP, the nightmares about drowning ceased.

Really obvious in retrospect.

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by Seawind36 » Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:07 am

I was not aware of them while I slept in the bed, but I did sometimes notice them. That is way I went to the doctor finally. I would fall asleep and wake up as I felt my throat open up. I had a few times when I felt my throat close while awake. I don't think that is a typical thing though, but it is possible.
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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by JQLewis » Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:58 am

I never was aware. I went to the beach yesterday and lay in the sun, which I assume was causing some apneas, but I couldn't detect them. How long after you lie down do apneas begin?

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by chunkyfrog » Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:38 am

JQLewis wrote: . . . How long after you lie down do apneas begin?
It is different for everyone.
Some have apneas only during REM, or supine sleeping.
Others have them in different sleep stages, and different positions.

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Re: Are some people aware of their own apneas?

Post by Semily » Sat Aug 30, 2014 9:06 pm

I'm only a little over a month into treatment. Over the last year, I am aware of 2-3 times when I was dozing or just falling asleep and suddenly woke up gasping for air, feeling like I was choking. But at the time I didn't give it that much thought. My doctor wanted me to have a sleep study because I'm so overweight, and have lately been struggling to wake up and get out of bed in the morning.

During my first sleep study they didn't do the titration. I didn't sleep much, because every time I started to doze off I woke up gasping for air. At the time I attributed it to the sensors on my nose and all of the leads and straps everywhere. In hindsight I realized they must have been apnea episodes, but I woke up more than usual because of the uncomfortable circumstances.