Why do I just stop breathing in mid-sleep?

Posted by chuckvrshek @chuckvrshek, May 4 9:21am

I’ve been treated for sleep apnea for 10 years now, resulting in a minor improvement in sleep. All my physicians state that I do not have obstructive sleep apnea. My sleep problem is one where I simply stop breathing after 3-4 hours of sleep, awaking suddenly with an adrenaline rush, to restart breathing and to bring my oxy level back to normal. My pulmonologist has no clue why I just stop breathing just saying my cpap machine stats are really good. Ahhhhh!!! I’ve caught myself a few times awake in the middle of the night and just not breathing, and suddenly the adrenaline rush smacks me, heart exploding, BP soaring and only long slow deep breathing brings me back down. So, where do I get help? ///

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covidstinks2023 | @covidstinks2023 | May 4 10:00am

Bless you. How scary that must be. I would personally go to a Pulmonologist.

Praying for you.

gloaming | @gloaming | May 4 10:32pm

If you really do this, it is possible it is a brain malfunction that causes what is called 'central sleep apnea'. The other type of apnea is 'obstructive', where the person's epiglottal, pharyngeal, or tongue masses lose tone and obstruct the normal flow of air during sleep. With central apnea, the brain simply forgets to make you breathe in response to increase levels of CO2 which your cells all produce and exchange for oxygen with properly oxygenated blood. We don't breathe in response to low O2, but to elevated levels of CO2.

You must consult your GP or a respiration therapist and have that person give you either a home kit or go to a sleep lab for an overnight polysomnography. They'll hook you up with multiple leads and sensors to detect breathing, brain waves, heart function, and even leg movement for unusual twitching during sleep (restless leg syndrome).

Do this soon, please. Your heart will be distinctly unhappy ramping itself up multiple times each hour trying to keep you oxygenated. Happened to me, and I ended up with atrial fibrillation. Do not delay. Call Monday!!

aviswalton123 | @aviswalton123 | May 6 9:14pm

Hi I am Avis
I was so surprised to hear from someone with the adrenal rushes..
I have been having adrenaline rushes at night when I fall asleep and they wake me up every 2 or 3 hrs…
It raises my heart rate and goes through my whole body and makes me very nauseous and my ears start ringing and pain in chest etc. and it takes awhile for this to pass only to have again in a couple hours or so.
I can’t find a dr who can help me and I feel they are going to wreck my body..
I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and use a cpac machine but I still have the rushes
I have a referral to see a heart specialist but it will take a few months
I hope we can find help soon!
Thanks

chuckvrshek | @chuckvrshek | May 6 11:53pm

In reply to @aviswalton123 "Hi I am Avis I was so surprised to hear from someone with the adrenal rushes....." + (show)

Hey Avis, yes you and I are in the same medical situation. I’ve been treated for ten years now, but it’s been somewhat of a maintenance effort. I have a pulmonologist who has monitored my sleep thru 3 sleep studies, and 3 different cpap machines. My cardiologist has me taking Metropole 150 mgs (beta blocker) nightly, to stop the heart from excessive pounding and excessive pressure from the adrenaline rushes. I take a 100 mg Losartan BP tablet each morning all to maintain a stable low BP number during the day. Yes, I too just stop breathing 3-4 hours into sleeping, and am awakened by the adrenaline rush. But it’s been somewhat better in the past year, as I’ve added deep full breathing exercising for 10-15 minutes before going to sleep, and also just after forced waking from the mid sleep adrenaline rush. This puts my oxy percent back up to 98 or 99 % and I can feel an immediate warmth as the highly oxygenated blood hits my fingers and toes almost immediately. It is so important to get your cardiologist on board with your situation. The 150 mg Metropole does help in keeping the heart from excessive racing, but I’ve got heart problems resulting from this breathing/ oxy loss problem after 10 years of this problem. The cpap does help, but does not come close to keep me fully breathing without stopping. My chest/rib muscles that are responsible for automatic breathing while I sleep, just don’t work or the nerves don’t prompt the muscles to fully work. See if you can get a cancelled appointment to get on this problem earlier than your current appointment. Keep in touch thru this site as I will too, sharing medical info to challenge the doctors but find a specific solution to our shared problem. God bless your efforts to find the right answers. CV ///