can't catch my breath, or sleep

sunman · Post by **sunman** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:31 am

Help, I am a newby,hvenot had my study yet but is scld.

What my problem is how do you cope with comming out of a dead sleep like a rocket gasping for air, and then this has been going on for so long I basically do anthing not to sleep. I have developed a mental problem about sleep now and cannot break the cycle. I seem to get claustrafobic(sp)and quite anxious about sleep almost to the point that I am scared of sleep or the idea of sleep, meanwhile I am driving my wife nuts with all of this.

Has this happened to anyone, and if so how did you manage to overcome and deal with this, I need to get some sleep somehow!!!!

Thanks Roger

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:46 am

sunman wrote:Help, I am a newby,hvenot had my study yet but is scld.

What my problem is how do you cope with comming out of a dead sleep like a rocket gasping for air, and then this has been going on for so long I basically do anthing not to sleep. I have developed a mental problem about sleep now and cannot break the cycle. I seem to get claustrafobic(sp)and quite anxious about sleep almost to the point that I am scared of sleep or the idea of sleep, meanwhile I am driving my wife nuts with all of this.

Has this happened to anyone, and if so how did you manage to overcome and deal with this, I need to get some sleep somehow!!!!

Thanks Roger

Roger, you came to the right place.
Although, we're not Doctor's here, many folks will gladly share their own personal experiences.
You should feel a LOT more confident about this once you complete your sleep study, and are prescribed a therapy, for what most likely is sleep apnea.
I'm relatively new at this myself, but I have gone through some of the things you mentioned. Believe me, If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you WILL overcome this! In the meantime, I would try to sleep on your side whenever possible. Laying on your back can increase the likelyhood(sp.?) of the events you described.
I'm quite sure others will chime in with their thoughts and suggestions.
Hang in there, and keep browsing this forum.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:48 am

First of all, if your sleep study indicates sleep apnea as the cause of your gasping for air (sounds like apnea to me but I'm no doctor) ... then you need to take care fo that ASAP by going on CPAP treatment (it's what this site is all about).

As for the mental issues ... they may very well pass once you take care of the apnea problem -- but if not, they do make drugs to help you ease back into normal (although many would not consider sleeping with an air mask as normal) sleeping.

Good luck and get the sleep study done ASAP.

- r

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:11 am

When the dreaded OSA came back, after a 3 year vacation, my symptoms
were exactly as you described. Probably all you can do, while you are waiting
for your sleep study is use BreatheRite strips and sleep on your side.

However, that is not what I did. I bought a xPAP machine, a mask, and
started my own treatment. Then went to the sleep study. I know my case is not your case. Furthermore I was an experienced xPAP user, with a history
of A-Fib. Therefore, I was probably in more danger than you.

Sleep apnea is a very serious ailment, and you need to try and make it
through the sleep study ASAP.

Welcome to the forum, and good luck. When is your sleep study?

curtcurt46 · Post by **curtcurt46** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:27 am

When is your sleep study scheduled?
Probably should have been yesterday based on what you have said. I wish I had found this site before I had my sleep study. Getting educated on what to expect really puts you ahead of the power curse. One important question you need to answer prior to any study. Can you bread well through your nose while sleeping? When you have you titration study many labs will give you a nose mask with no consideration of whether you can breath through your nose. This happened to me and I was miserable. After the RX, I had to ask for a full face mask from the DME because the sleep lab did not document my breathing difficulty. I told them, but they missed it in the final report.
Believe me you are miles ahead having found this forum and are asking the questions up front. Best of luck.
Curtcurt46

frapilu · Post by **frapilu** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 1:49 pm

After I was first diagnosed with apnea and started CPAP, I thought my sleep problems would go away. NOT! I had insomnia similar to what you're saying. It was like my brain wouldn't let me go to sleep or stay asleep very long for fear that I would stop breathing and die.

I did about 10 sessions with a psychologist who specializes in sleep problems. She taught me about getting rid of insomnia without drugs. There are a lot of things to do (keep a sleep log, and follow "sleep hygiene" like as described here:
http://www.illnesscuring.com/disordersleep.html).

I don't completely follow proper sleep hygiene (I read in bed and refuse to go read somewhere else) but I've managed to get better sleep without perfectly following everything.

Good luck.
France

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 2:58 pm

until you have your study,

sleep on your side or stomach, this will prevent the tongue from falling into the back of the throat and blocking off the airway. Try to keep your tongue planted in your hard palate (hard to do when your asleep in REM).

If you have OSA, it is the most severe sleeping on your back or in supine position.

Reducing nasal congestion with a saline rinse and using BreatheRight strips can also help.

Sleeping in a recliner elevating the upper body also helps. You may also feel like you have stopped breathing, heart has stopped momentarily, with a jolt or shock (not to be confused with a hypnic jerk which is normal when going from wake to sleep state).

bsil · Post by **bsil** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:25 pm

I agree with all of the above suggestions. I will also add that any alcohol will increase the OSA. In my experience, muscle relaxers (Flexeril) and anti-anxiety drugs also made my apnea worse. My MD offered to get me started on APAP before my sleep study because I had to wait a month for my appointment and then wait another month for the interpretation! Perhaps you can explain your situation to your MD and ask for them to call the DME and phone in a prescription to get you started on the auto PAP.
Good Luck
Barb

mild6 · Post by **mild6** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:53 am

sunman,
do you get thick mucus around your throat when waking up gasping for air?

can't catch my breath, or sleep

can't catch my breath, or sleep

Re: can't catch my breath, or sleep

Sleep study?

Mask