Took a nap - woke up choking

[Jason S.]

I fell asleep on the sofa, on my side. I woke up gasping with the feeling I was going to vomit, the gastric juices were right in the back of my throat. I didn't vomit, and I am not sick otherwise. Took me 10 minutes of mouthwash and rinsing to get the taste out. I am sure this is related to OSA. It happened one other time in the middle of the night when I fell asleep on my back. Its never happened with CPAP. Its like gastric juices are working their way all the way back up the esophagus. Has anyone else experienced something like this? Its no picnic.

[CollegeGirl]

That's GERD. Reflux. I'm sure you've seen the million threads on GERD around here - your CPAP perhaps helps keep it in check. Yet another good reason to never nap without your cpap.

[Hawthorne]

You should NEVER sleep at night or take a nap without your cpap on if you have sleep apnea.

If you have to sleep or nap without your cpap, because of illness or power outage and no backup power, you should be in a recliner chair or your head or the head of your bed should be well elevated.

[mars]

Hi

It appears you probably have a serious problem with Acid Reflux, I suggest you take a 24 hour Ph test to confirm this, and see how serious it is.

You need to be aware that acid reflux can act as you describe no matter what position you are in, in some people, such as myself, it can get up to the mouth even though my body is erect. I hope you are not like me. Acid Reflux can cause problems up to and including cancer of the esophagus, so urgent attention is probably warranted.

If you are going to nap maybe something like Gaviscon would form a temporary barrier to the stomach acid, but I am not sure of the efficacy of Gaviscon.

Whatever, it is a more serious problem than generally understood, and needs attention.

cheers

Mars

[kteague]

My reflux has GREATLY improved since using cpap. Tried to find the old thread with the descriptions of what happens within the chest and abdominal cavities pressurewise during apnea events, but had no luck. But there's a lot of pushin' and shovin' going on in there when struggling to breathe, so it makes sense it could force fluids upward. Especially if someone already has the tendency toward reflux.

Kathy

[Jason S.]

My reflux has GREATLY improved since using cpap. Tried to find the old thread with the descriptions of what happens within the chest and abdominal cavities pressurewise during apnea events, but had no luck. But there's a lot of pushin' and shovin' going on in there when struggling to breathe, so it makes sense it could force fluids upward. Especially if someone already has the tendency toward reflux.

Kathy

I do not have any issues with acid reflux, heartburn, GERD, serious or otherwise. This was why I posed my original question. I believe it is the apnea event which causes some kind of pressure change and moves the contents upwards, almost like a vacuum. Your response came the closet to answering. Thanks.

[Hawthorne]

But were you napping without your cpap on? You tell us you have no GERD or related problems. I can only conclude you had an apnea while napping without your cpap, causing what Kathy describes.

[BeanMeScot]

You are exactly describing GERD. Stomach acid NEVER belongs in the back of your throat. If it is getting there, regardless of the circumstances, you have GERD.

[Jason S.]

But were you napping without your cpap on? You tell us you have no GERD or related problems. I can only conclude you had an apnea while napping without your cpap, causing what Kathy describes.

Obviously what I experienced was a GERD incident, but I am saying I have no chronic history issues with GERD. It was brought on suddenly because of the apnea event. If I didn't fall asleep without CPAP, it wouldn't have happened. Now that I've been on CPAP for 6 months my body has acclimated, and if I don't use CPAP I slip into apnea almost immediately. It is sage advice to use CPAP when napping although sometimes "naps happen".

[Insulation Tim]

I have found after 8 months on CPAP that if I remove the mask during the night (I have no clue as to why) I will be awakened with that choking sensation. I suspect that as the body acclimates to CPAP it doesn't fight as hard against apnea as it once did.

As for GERD and this may be a little off track, I take a Prilosec OTC every day prior to lunch. Now, I never had GERD symptoms (I thought) but mentioned to my brother, an MD, that I have always had this problem that after eating I get really choked up and pflegmy. I assumed that it was a food allergy. He suggested GERD and the Prilosec has taken all of the "gurgling" away. The point is, one can have GERD and be asymptomatic.

[Hawthorne]

Yes, naps sometimes just happen and you don't have your mask on! The ones that "just happen" for me are when I am sitting in a recliner usually, so I am "inclined" and don't have much of a problem.

You said you were on your side, on the sofa. I would assume that you were lying down. If I did that I would know that I would probably fall asleep so would not do it without my mask and machine.

It's just the way it is with sleep apnea.

I agree you had an apnea that caused some gerd, falling asleep without your mask and machine.

[mr_azrad]

My reflux has GREATLY improved since using cpap.

This was my experience as well. Before CPAP I took antacids pretty much every day. After CPAP, well honestly I can't remember the last time I took an antacid, but lets say once every few months.

On the very rare occasion I can't use my CPAP, sure enough I will need to take antacids the next day.

[BeanMeScot]

I've noticed no change in my GERD before and after CPAP. My GERD did get worse when I started taking cholesterol lowering medication and it continues to be troublesome.

[Lee Lee]

The incident you describe used to happen to me all the time. The reflux began to get into my lungs, and I ended up with pnuemonia. I had no problems with heartburn at all.
I had an Endoscopy, which showed the problem.
I still have to sleep with my head elevated and I take Proton Pump Inhibitors every day.
It's very interesting to me how many of us have GERD! GERD and OSA are definitley related.
Lee Lee

[Jason S.]

The incident you describe used to happen to me all the time. The reflux began to get into my lungs, and I ended up with pnuemonia. I had no problems with heartburn at all.
I had an Endoscopy, which showed the problem.
I still have to sleep with my head elevated and I take Proton Pump Inhibitors every day.
It's very interesting to me how many of us have GERD! GERD and OSA are definitley related.
Lee Lee

That's pretty scary, but hopefully that fear will keep me from napping without my CPAP. It really sucks that sleeping naturally can be so dangerous.