morning breathing-newbie

Hi,
I am so glad that I found this forum. I am going to my doctor and Friday and assume he will order a sleep study, but I wanted to ask the forum some questions. Lately in the morning I have been waking up feeling like I am holding my breath, and my chest hurts. But then it takes a couple of hours to feel normal again. The feeling of holding my breath lasts for a couple of hours. I was wondering if maybe I have some lung issues as well as sleep apnea. Or maybe no apnea/ but lung problems. I ask because I like many people have terrible insurance and I am trying to avoid going for a sleep atudy as well as breathing tests. So.......bottom line if you can remember pre-treatment days did your breathing problems persist for a couple of hours after waking??? Any advice would be appreciated.

I didn't notice breathing problems after waking. Would wake in the night gasping for air.

What you have sounds like it might be a lung thing to me. eg Asthma is worse in the mornings. See what your doc says.

Di

It seems like I had some heaviness in my chest at times but not all the time but it sure didn't last for a couple of hours, you need to see a cardiologist as well, I still have to see one as I used to get very rapid heart palpatations that would keep me in bed all day but I haven't had any since i've been on cpap for a month now (amazing) but still, it will be my next appointment.. I think you should tell your primary Doctor and ask for a referral to see a sleep Doctor and ask for a sleep study and also a pulmonogist/lung doctor referral as well.. It may not be much of anything but u need it checked.. I know it's none of my business but, Do you smoke? If so, That can also attribute to the heaviness in the lungs -- I know that for a fact because i'm a smoker and I have the accasional heaviness in my lungs ..........Oh yea, my doctor won't give me any "stop smoking pills" until I see a cardiologist and he sends him the report, all I can say is "WHATEVER"! Oh well, Please keep us posted on what you find out & goodluck on everything

Welcome to the forum. I am one who has sleep apnea as well as cardiac and lung issues, but have not experienced symptoms exactly as you describe. You are in a difficult situation because you need quite a bit of specialized medical attention, and it would be a shame for your health to deteriorate due to poor insurance.

What I'm wondering is what would be your best strategy, and how the most could be determined with the fewest visits and tests. Most of the tests can be ordered by the general practitioner, and then see a specialist if any abnormalities show up. As far as the not breathing goes, a good starting point would be to ask the doc to order an overnight oxygen monitor to wear at home. If you stop breathing during sleep, the monitor will likely pick that up.

I was uninsured for a while and neglected my health for several months out of necessity. Cost me in the long run healthwise. Good luck finding answers.

Kathy

HI,
Thanks for all the responses. To answer a couple of questions, I quit smoking about 3 years ago, thank god. I guess I should make an appointment with my primary physician and she can refer me for a breathing test, and maybe a stress test, and get an overnoght oximetry test. I just found out about a clinical trial for insomnia-which I also have and they are giving a 2 night sleep study to monitor my sleeping. So that should save me lots of money. Thanks again!

Not to scare you, but I think it's possible that these could be warning signs of a heart attack. Here are the warning signs from the American Heart Association. They say

Heart Attack Warning Signs

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
  
  Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
  
  Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. [Emphasis mine]
  
  Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtm ... art_Attack

Heart attacks can develop over several days, but damage is being done while they develop. If you think it might be a heart attack, please go to the ER right away. Don't wait to see your doctor.

If it's not a heart attack, The overnight oximetry tests are inexpensive from what I hear. If you can get one right away that might be a good place to start. Someone I'm working with to get started on cpap had the initial sleep study and her primary care physician put her on oxygen during the night even before she had the titration study. I'm assuming that she had low desats and he felt she needed the oxygen, not waiting for the titration study to see if the cpap helped her. This is because it can be quite a long wait to get the second, titration study and to get the equipment while the sleep doctor is interpreting the tests and writing the report.

In other words, while you are waiting for all the other tests and diagnosis, it might be important to be on oxygen if you have low oxygen levels during the night.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Titration, CPAP