SUDDEN CHOKING IN SLEEP ?

Last night I dosed off to sleep without my apap machine, my wife said that I was was snoring a little bit than she said all of a sudden I jump up out out bed with a real freaked out look on my face and reaching for my chest to feel for my heartbeat, after a minute or two I felt awake and then put my mask on and turned my machine on and went to bed. What happen to me last night ? Why did I jump out of bed like I was choking ? I am new as a cpap user and recently just found out a couple of weeks ago that I had serve sleep apnea.

Please Advise..
Bluetocker

Bluetocker - you most likely had an apnea. Many OSA patients report doing that exact thing, with those exact symptoms, when they have an apnea. Never doze without your APAP. As you're learning, it's dangerous to do so.

bluetocker:
Do you have any history with panic attacks/panic disorder? Sorry to be so personal with the question but, a panic attack might be a possibility as well.

what CollegeGirl said, a typical obstructive apnea and demonstration of a recovery from one afterward.