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Breathing ending prior to falling asleep
I have had this issue for 60 years. Every 6 or 7 years or so, my breathing essentially stops as I try and fall asleep. After many different diagnoses we finally settled on anxiety as the culprit, although lung infections contributed as well. Apnea has been ruled out once.
I currently am back on Busparon and guaifenesin to try and get back on track. I have xanax as needed til the buspar kicks in. I exercise daily, do deep breathing exercises, and try to live in the now. I also put a little Vicks under my nose.
I've also tried melatonin, NyQuil, and lavender.
Has anyone else had this and is there anything that works for you?
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Hello, @mileshenry - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'd imagine that having your breathing essentially stop as you try and fall asleep every 6-7 years would be startling and you'd be looking for some answers. Since anxiety was determined to be the culprit, with lung infection contributing as well, I especially wanted you to meet @merpreb. Hoping she and others like @christinelouise @grandmar @smilie @trellg132 who have posted about anxiety and/or depression can let you know if this may have happened to them, and if so, if anything works for them to stop this effect.
Have the medications you have taken thus far, mileshenry, helped at all with this breathing effect?
I haven't had this happen to me in a while
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1 ReactionThe Buspar works toward my anxiety really well. The guaifenesin is great for lung clearing, along with amoxicillin. But honestly i just very slowly improve over time. It's frustrating that it isn't a well-known malady with a straightforward fix, and having been through many tests and never getting a great answer.
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1 ReactionHello @mileshenry
I can only imagine how disturbing this disorder would be and how it would affect your sleep. I'm glad to hear that you have come up with some meds that seem to help. Is the amoxicillin being used for infection of the lungs? If so, do you know the name of the lung infection?
If you do have chronic lung infections I would encourage you to look at our discussions on MAC/Bronchiectasis. Here is the link to those discussions, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/mac-bronchiectasis/. The mentor of that group, Teri, @windwalker, would be happy to have you join the discussion.
I suppose you have done sleep studies and they have not shown sleep apnea?
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1 ReactionNo, but the issue is prior to falling asleep and it didn't really fit the normal criteria. One doctor ruled it out decades ago but it may be worth a revisit.
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1 ReactionAlso, cortical steroids seem to help. I've been on one for a couple days and last night was better.
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1 ReactionWondering if a CPAP or BiPap would address the issue. I have obstructive sleep apnea, and have used a BiPap for over ten years. You might wish to see if sleep apnea may be a contributing factor.
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1 ReactionI absolutely would, but anxiety and lung treatments are effective, and I'm not sure they would be if apnea was the issue?
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1 ReactionHi @mileshenry, I've been continuing to follow your posts on the sleep-related breathing problems you have had. As you mentioned, cortical steroids have helped, I'm wondering if you have been following up with a pulmonologist? Steroids tend to help with inflammation. Have you consulted with a pulmonologist and also a sleep specialist recently? What type of doctor is prescribing the steroids and the amoxicillin?
A GP for both. I've done 3 sets of allergy testing, EKG, various x-rays, ER visits, etc. No sleep tests since the issue is pre-sleep. If I wake up after sleeping for an hour or two, my breathing becomes normal. It's before I go on auto that there's an issue.