Wake Up Attack - Pounding Chest

[axis1970]

Woke up last night with an attack where I felt like my heart had stopped and was pounding my chest and trying to breath. It was extremely unnerving and THE WORST wake up attack I've ever had. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea 2 years ago, but haven't been using my CPAP very much. Needless to say it scared the hell out of me and I'm still getting very minor chest discomfort this morning. My heart is strong and I've had numerous cardiac tests which all came back normal. I don't get tired when I dont use my CPAP, so this has never been a problem for me.

Has anyone had really bad wake up attacks like this before?

I've been in denial about my sleep apnea diagnosis for over 2 years now. I lost 50lbs last year and felt like I didn't need the CPAP machine, so I stopped using it. Recently in the last 6 months my weight has all come back again.

[KorbenD]

Sounds very much like you woke up because you weren't breathing. Pounding pulse is a common symptom of that.

Have you woken up with headaches too?

I'd strongly recommend getting back on your CPAP.

[axis1970]

Thanks, I had it beside my bed and used it for the rest of the night.

[palerider]

I've been in denial about my sleep apnea diagnosis for over 2 years now. I lost 50lbs last year and felt like I didn't need the CPAP machine, so I stopped using it. Recently in the last 6 months my weight has all come back again.

likely because of your sleep apnea.

Denial=Death.

[Julie]

And whether or not anyone else has had similar symptoms should be irrelevant - YOU had them and you DO know why, so I guess all you're looking for here is confirmation?

[Goofproof]

Think of your choice like a revolver with one bullet, you spun the cylinder by not using your CPAP (As you need to use every time you sleep), pulled the trigger, got lucky! (If was on a empty Cylinder.) Keep playing your luck will run out, odd's are not in your favor if you keep playing! Jim

It's a game of chance, but in reality if you keep playing, you don't have a chance.

[linuxman]

Sans an occasional waking in a panic out of breath (which I attributed to nightmares/dreams), and snoring, I was seemingly asymptomatic as well pre-cpap. I felt great and energetic at all times. I'm not overweight, and I get a ton of exercise. Only the snoring, which was seriously affecting my wife's sleep as well as just about getting me kicked out of my bunk on the last couple elk hunting trips drove me to get checked out. Sure enough, moderate to severe apnia - 30-40 AHI. In hindsight, I also was apparently experiencing excess bathroom trips at night (nocturia), that resolved once on cpap. You need to take it seriously. It can be a not so silent killer, at least if you snore .

[chunkyfrog]

I had this same experience BC (before cpap); several times a week, sometimes more than once a night.
It stopped completely as soon as I started sleeping with cpap.
It has NEVER occurred in the seven years since I started.
I know what will happen if I cheat---and I don't like it.

[palerider]

I had this same experience BC (before cpap); several times a week, sometimes more than once a night.
It stopped completely as soon as I started sleeping with cpap.
It has NEVER occurred in the seven years since I started.
I know what will happen if I cheat---and I don't like it.

ya know? me too... I remember waking up one time from a ghastly nightmare, terrified, and I couldn't breath or move for what seemed like a minute.

I'm quite glad those nights are behind me.

[Arlene1963]

I used to wake up several times a week with horrible acid reflux (even had my gallbladder removed due to this, and now wonder if this was actually necessary), a pounding heart (pulse over 90 often close to 100) sweating profusely, and feeling absolutely horrible.

Once or twice prior to my diagnosis I woke up utterly terrified, unable to breathe, feeling like I was dying.

CPAP has resolved all of this.

And the odd thing is that I would have sworn I had "no symptoms" prior to being on CPAP! Only in retrospect do I realize just how bad things were.

[D.H.]

The implication was that you were not using your CPAP when this happened. This sounds very much like my symptoms pre-CPAP. I suggest that you start using your CPAP asap!

[chunkyfrog]

" . . . CPAP asap"

[Rob K]

It can also happen if your pressure is inadequate. Many times I've woken with racing heart, rapid respiratory rate, entire body feeling numb/achy and feeling like you can't move or at least very afraid to move out of fear of dying. Would take up to 15 minutes before symptoms subsided where I felt it was safe to move. Hasn't happened since with proper pressure settings.

[D.H.]

It can also happen if your pressure is inadequate. Many times I've woken with racing heart, rapid respiratory rate, entire body feeling numb/achy and feeling like you can't move or at least very afraid to move out of fear of dying. Would take up to 15 minutes before symptoms subsided where I felt it was safe to move. Hasn't happened since with proper pressure settings.

Of course, this can't happen if one is not using CPAP at all! However, it's a good point, as it was not 100% clear whether the original poster was using CPAP when it happened.

[TASmart]

I think his wife was pissed and trying to wake him by beating on his chest.