Waking up with racing heart and sweating

bigcat · Post by **bigcat** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:46 am

I have recently had a few night when I wake up with my heart racing and it feels like it is going to come out of my chest. Also, I will be sweating. I have been on apap for over 5 years with HH and use it every night. Does anyone think this could be apap related?

I talked to the doctor and he said take an ambien every other night. Before I started taking another drug, I thought I would ask here.

I also suffer from severe hay fever. I don't use antihistimines because of high blood pressure. I do use the nasacort and claritin. Also getting allergy shots. Allergies are getting somewhat in control now.

Thanks

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:11 am

That is strange that it has started happing 5 years into cpap!

I had the exact same thing BEFORE the use of cpap and once I got diagnosed and hooked up, the rapid heartbeat/palpatations and sweating diminished!

I did go to see a cardiologist and she heard a slight burr in the artery in my neck and wants to just keep an eye on it, she also did 2 tests...

I highly reccomend that you get a referral (if needed) and go and see a Cardiologist, it's better to be safe than sorry, you would think that your DOCTOR would have reccomended that instead of throwing out the meds....

Keep us posted!

Goodluck!

SleepyNoMore

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:28 am

Bigcat,

Back in April of this year, we had this conversation:

viewtopic.php?p=258115&highlight=#258115

I would suggest filling in your profile so we know approximately what equipment you have and all that other stuff.
The symptoms you describe sound like PRE-therapy OSA. If you're wearing a nasal mask, are you leaking air out your mouth? That's my FIRST guess as to what's causing the problems. If you have your HH cranked up, I'd suggest turning it down or off. Too much humidity can also close up your nasal passages.

Den

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:30 am

bigcat wrote:I have recently had a few night when I wake up with my heart racing and it feels like it is going to come out of my chest. Also, I will be sweating. I have been on apap for over 5 years with HH and use it every night. Does anyone think this could be apap related?

I talked to the doctor and he said take an ambien every other night. Before I started taking another drug, I thought I would ask here.

I also suffer from severe hay fever. I don't use antihistimines because of high blood pressure. I do use the nasacort and claritin. Also getting allergy shots. Allergies are getting somewhat in control now.

Thanks

If you had filled in your profile (inText) we would have some idea of your equiptment and if you could collect useful data with software. the software and data are very useful in sorting out what's happening. Jim

bigcat · Post by **bigcat** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:53 am

I hope my data shows up, if not, M Series Aflex, Encore pro with card reader, activa mask, M series HH.

I have been reading data for the 5.5 years and never had any leak problems. Still don't have leaks. I don't think mouth breathing is a problem, as it has never been. Wife said she has never seen me mouth breath and my leak rates are good.

I was a little put down about throwing meds out. And I do think it is wierd that it is just starting after so many years. I did find out that doctor is leaving and will not be seeing any patients. Maybe time for a new doc. Anyway, all thoughts are always appreciated. I will read of that thread when I get a little time.

Thanks again for the input. If I do go to another doc, I love being prepared. That is how I got me m series with HH

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:09 am

Bigcat,

I know you've been a member of this forum for a bit longer than I have, so I was sure you were aware of mouth breathing/leaking and taping/Polident strips, etc. But, I just wanted to make sure. It's not that uncommon for users who have been on this therapy to come back months or even years later and say that their therapy has been sliding backward......so, sometimes you just gotta ask some of the obvious questions, anyway.

There could probably be any number of other health-related issues that could be cropping up......or it could just be a "fluke"......but it doesn't hurt to be on the safe side and have other options checked out.

Good luck.

Den

SleepGuy · Post by **SleepGuy** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:10 am

Your symptoms describe exactly what happens whenever the body suffocates during sleep. Panic hormones make your heart race like mad, cold sweats, etc.

But if your data rules out the possibility of treatment failure you'd need to look to another cause--possibly meds? Or maybe there's a problem with your data or machine that you're not able to see? Or perhaps your allergies are causing congestion that results in suffocation / blood oxygen desaturation, which triggers the panic hormones. In any event, it really looks to me like this is panic hormone related. Then again, I'm just a very simple minded lawyer....so take it for what it's worth!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:11 am

BigCat,

I'm sorry,

I didn't say or mean to say, "throw out the meds"!!!

What I meant was, your Doctor should have given you a referral to see a cardiologist instead of JUST prescribing meds!~

My doctor sent me to a cardiologist and gave me NO MEDS until they did some testing, however I know that the Ambein is to help you sleep and it is also used for other things as well.

SleepyNoMore

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:22 am

Bigcat,

After reading SleepGuy's post, I had another thought. IF you have a version of the Encore software (Pro or Viewer) to see the night's data and events, I would THINK that something like you experienced......if it were caused by a long-duration apnea would be showing up on your reports. Additionally, software like Encore Pro Analyzer (if you have Encore Pro) would be able to tell you the approximate duration of the apnea.

Den

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:43 pm

-that is happening due to untreated OSA.
-your doctor is a quack, find another
-take the money you are wasting on that doctor and sleep tests and get the software for your autopap so you can see what is happening.

if you are waking during the night like that it means the pressure is "limited" and cannot increase due to leaks or pressure limit, bump the Max to 20.

could also be a mask interface problem where the delivery mode is not ideal for your condition. Activa mask bellows cushion can "cushion" and/or soften any pressure response to an apnea event (like when the tongue lodges in the throat), this may be adverse to your particular condition, try another nasal mask if you have one.

I would also try to get off or reduce those meds, all those for allergies already take the place of ambien. When do you take them? Morning Evening? Try and reduce dust, use a HEPA filter etc. I would NOT use ambien.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:09 pm

First, thanks for all the responses.
SleepyNoMore, I just read my post again, and I am sorry. I didn't communicate that correctly. I was not put off by your comment at all, I totally agree with you. I was put off by the doctor. Thanks for your input, I agree!

Wulfman, thanks for the obvious questions. We need to be reminded of many things, that is why I started the thread. Throwing out questions can always lead to new thoughts and ideas which can lead to solutions.\

SleepGuy, I have used two machines, Respironics and Resmed APAPs recently and used autoscan to check numbers. I also thought it might be machine related, but I believe that test ruled it out as I had the same results with both machines. However you said "Or perhaps your allergies are causing congestion that results in suffocation / blood oxygen desaturation, which triggers the panic hormones. " I think you are really on to something here. My allergies have been horrible this year and I started the shots during the worst time of the year. I did the breathing test at the allergist and he said my lungs were about 65% of where they should be of a person my size and age. I am inhaling pulmicort, a steroid to try and clear the lungs. 5.5 years ago, I didn't even have allergies. I developed them the same time my dad devloped them when he was my age(yea, he is on cpap too)...Thanks Dad Anyway, I think there could be something to this and I might try my xopenex inhaler before bed.

I have all the software, no AHI ever above 2. I do have all the filters in the machine and a stand alone in my room. Just got the stand alone.

Again, thanks for all the responses.

roster · Post by **roster** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:26 pm

It sounds like you are now thinking about the roots of your problem: allergies and diminished lung capacity.

I just have to go back to the original post and comment on this:

bigcat wrote:I have recently had a few night when I wake up with my heart racing and it feels like it is going to come out of my chest. Also, I will be sweating. ..............
I talked to the doctor and he said take an ambien every other night. ........

What the heck does a doctor have in mind when he prescribes Ambien to treat these symptoms??? Ambien would most likely only make it much worse.

I am so disappointed with the medical profession from my own personal experience and from what I read here.

Good luck.

pjwalman · Post by **pjwalman** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:44 pm

Have to agree with Rooster about the Ambien. I took only one half pill after my doctor prescribed it and wouldn't touch it after that. It made me feel as if I'd taken speed, agitated, racing heart, not a pleasant feeling at all, and sleep was totally out of the question at that point.

Your description sounds so much like what sent me to the doctor in the first place to prompt a sleep study, but it sounds like you've eliminated all possibility that it's event related. I at first thought my night panics might be related to blood sugar issues. I don't know if that's something you deal with. Also, forgive me for not knowing if you are male or female, but someone once suggested to me that some of those kinds of symptoms might be related to menopause, so I'll throw that out and hope you forgive me if you are, A, a male or, B, too young to be dealing with anything hormonal in that respect. Just trying to think of all possibilities here.

I hope you can get it figured out soon, because I know how horrible those panic attacks are and how long it takes to recover from them in the middle of the night! Take care, and please keep us posted!!

Peggy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:04 pm

Rooster, that is why I came here, I thought ambien could make it worse. I didn't want to get the do what your doctor says and I am glad I got a lot of alternative advice.

I will keep you posted. I am a 40 year old male, so that rules some things out. Thanks for the words of encouragement. A lot of anxiety can stem from worrying, and I am not going to worry about my thearpy. I even tried a 10 foot hose.

I am going to try turning down the humidifier, as this is about the only thing I don't think I have tried.

Again, thanks and I will keep you all posted.

Bigcat

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:25 pm

Get you heart checked, the same thing happens when I go into AFIB. You may have an undiagnosed problem, I got by for years before it almost killed me by putting me into congestive heart failure.

Waking up with racing heart and sweating

Waking up with racing heart and sweating

Re: Waking up with racing heart and sweating

Re: Waking up with racing heart and sweating