hold myself up in air while a sleep

I have been having this sleeping problem. I wake up in the middle of the night and I am holding my head up about 4 or 5 inches in the air. I have my elbows locked and arms straight. I fall back to sleep like that. I have done it so much my elbows are sore. Why am I doing that do you think?

I have woke up (before cpap) from a sleep in tetany(shaking) and a cold sweat and very tense.A very scary uncomfortable feeling.( I suppose from Apnea. Have you had your Oxygen checked during a night of sleep.

Mid Air Sleeper - this may be totally unrelated, but just in case, here is an excerpt of something I wrote to someone who said they woke up exhaling forcefully. My experience with that was accompanied by waking in a similar position as you describe.

"when you exhale forcefully: 1) Is there any leg movement going on? 2) Is it only when on your back? 3) Is it every time you exhale or sometimes? The only reason I bring up those questions is because I have PLMD, and when laying on my back, the periodic strong leg contractions involved my stomach muscles and I would occasionally awaken lurching to a "crunch" or semi-sitting postion while exhaling forcefully."

Best wishes as you search for an answer to your question.

Kathy

Do you think you are having trouble breathing-feeling like you can't get enough air? Does sleeping with several pillows help? Do you get up to urinate frequently at night? Any heart problems? More tired than usual? Tell your doc about it.

The elbows-cut the toes off a pair of socks with the soft thick loop inside put them over your arms with your elbows resting in the heel cup. Or you can get elbow protectors at a medical supply place, DME, some drug stores. Some also have a foam pad in them.