Gasping?

[patdart]

I have for years had a 'gasping' reflex and my pulmonolgist had no idea what I meant by it. I do it multiple times a day...just an unplanned sudden 'gasp' and then It goes away for a bit. It has no pattern, no warning, just happens. I don't understand it...Has anyone else had it and can explain?

[oscar98]

By any chance do you have any anxiety problems? Could it be a subconscious startle reflex?

[elena88]

I have not had that, but just tossing this out there..

maybe it could be a response to an awake apnea?

I know I forget to inhale while I am awake sometimes.. if I had let it go too long, perhaps I would gasp, as one does when they are asleep
from an apnea..

[kteague]

I used to do that pretty often, never knew why. I tend to be a breath-holder, and just figured maybe I'd been holding my breath and the sudden intake was my body realizing I needed to breathe. But I haven't done it for a few years.

[Madalot]

I have for years had a 'gasping' reflex and my pulmonolgist had no idea what I meant by it. I do it multiple times a day...just an unplanned sudden 'gasp' and then It goes away for a bit. It has no pattern, no warning, just happens. I don't understand it...Has anyone else had it and can explain?

Yep -- I know exactly what you're talking about. And I think the others are right -- it could be an awake apnea thing and/or you're holding your breath without even realizing it. Mine has been better after being treated several months with the ventilator (my situation is a neuromuscular disease rather than straight sleep apnea), but that was one of the biggest complaints for the first couple months on treatment. I'd be sitting at my kitchen table and suddenly just let out a huge gasp for air!

Do you have a pulmonary doctor that can evaluate it?

[DreamDiver]

I do this. Except I'm not holding my breath -- my lungs are simply in a relaxed state.. I just forget to breathe. People often mistake it for some sort of emotional response. I agree that it's likely a waking apnea, but for me there is no obstruction.

[Madalot]

I do this. Except I'm not holding my breath -- my lungs are simply in a relaxed state.. I just forget to breathe. People often mistake it for some sort of emotional response. I agree that it's likely a waking apnea, but for me there is no obstruction.

Yeah -- I think mine is like that sometimes too. I'm not really holding my breath -- I just don't breathe. I've noticed it a lot on the vent. It kicks in on me because I just haven't inhaled. I'm not really holding my breath -- just not breathing.

[jazzer4]

I did this when I first started on C-pap. It happened while on the machine. I thought it was my airway collasping and began to distrust my machine, which caused many sleepless nights. My DR. said it was anxiety not Apnea. Once on something for the anxiety it went away. Don't know if yours is the same thing, but maybe someone new to c-pap has this happening to them too and will read this and check with their Dr.

[patdart]

I have not had that, but just tossing this out there..

maybe it could be a response to an awake apnea?

I know I forget to inhale while I am awake sometimes.. if I had let it go too long, perhaps I would gasp, as one does when they are asleep
from an apnea..

I don't know what an awake apnea this is, can someone explain please.

I don't think this is from holding my breath, altho' I do that when I'm really concentrating sometimes. This seems to just pop up out of nowhere even if I'm breathing pretty normally.

My pulmonologist said he had no idea what it was and would not be concerned about it. I'm just very curious. I haven't noticed it when I'm on CPAP though.

[elena88]

hi there..

I was using the term "awake apnea" to explain the function of what might be happening..

simply not breathing for a period of time while you are awake.. ..

I do it when Im awake and asleep... or just trying to get to sleep.. if I am relaxed and thinking about something.. I sometimes dont
inhale after I exhale... Im not really holding a breath IN, i just finished one, and didnt replace it..

I was surmising that if you did this without knowing it, as most of us do, the longer you went without an inhale, the bigger your gasp might
be..

just a guess..

[Madalot]

hi there..

I was using the term "awake apnea" to explain the function of what might be happening..

simply not breathing for a period of time while you are awake.. ..

I do it when Im awake and asleep... or just trying to get to sleep.. if I am relaxed and thinking about something.. I sometimes dont
inhale after I exhale... Im not really holding a breath IN, i just finished one, and didnt replace it..

I was surmising that if you did this without knowing it, as most of us do, the longer you went without an inhale, the bigger your gasp might
be..

just a guess..

Thank you for explaining this in this way. This is EXACTLY what happens with me, but I couldn't figure out the best way to describe it.

I do this a lot -- exhale, but don't inhale for a while and sometimes when I finally do inhale, I'm gasping for that air. There's nothing stopping me from breathing, I just "forget" to inhale.

[patdart]

hi there..

I was using the term "awake apnea" to explain the function of what might be happening..

simply not breathing for a period of time while you are awake.. ..

I do it when Im awake and asleep... or just trying to get to sleep.. if I am relaxed and thinking about something.. I sometimes dont
inhale after I exhale... Im not really holding a breath IN, i just finished one, and didnt replace it..

I was surmising that if you did this without knowing it, as most of us do, the longer you went without an inhale, the bigger your gasp might
be..

just a guess..

I'll watch it and see if that's the case. I'm of the opinion that they are just not that, but thanks for the guess and the others telling me I'm not as weird as I thought!