Does anyone have problems with throat closing up while sleeping?

I stopped practicing 6 years ago due to asthma and would encourage you to speak to your doctor about this. I personally did not recommend splints for severe apnea and looked at the Cpap as the gold standard. You are correct about the sterilization issue but I’m not sure how much of a problem it actually causes. However, Untreated severe apnea is known to cause a variety of health problems so follow through on testing your results. Good luck to you.

@drsharon
Hi there...I just checked my sleep studies and I originally had AHI of 43.9/hr and 76.9/hr when supine, 15.3 in REM.
I tried mouth taping and then had AHI of 21.8/hr, 38.7/hr when supine, 90 apnoeas and 44 hypopneas , with the longest apnoea being 75.4 secs...but now need to do a sleep study with the dental splint in to check how much difference that is making! All this to avoid using a CPap machine, which can't be sterilised.
Thank you for your input.

@drsharon
I have had sleep studies done: severe Sleep apnoea but I have been trying to avoid Cpap machines because you can't sterilise them. Tried splint as an alternative. Last few nights back using splint I have managed to sleep so fingers crossed. Will check for hypopnea.

Thank you so much for your reply. 🙏

@kndaustin71
I have had sleep studies done: severe Sleep apnoea but I have been trying to avoid Cpap machines because you can't sterilise them. Last few nights back using splint I have managed to sleep so fingers crossed. 🙏

@narelled23 Actually you should be going to a pulmonologist and sleep medicine practice. What you are describing sounds very much like sleep apnea. They will be more appropriate than ENT, who will probably refer you to a pulmonologist anyway. Being breathless is a very scary feeling. Do you sleep with the head of the bed slightly elevated. Not a cure but may help more than laying flat. Best of luck finding a solution.

@narelled23 I would mention to your dentist and pulmonologist that you have a combination of sleep apnoea and asthma. I’m not sure if the dental splints are good in this combination or not. When I was a practising dentist, I only recommended splints for mild and moderate cases of apnea. They might recommend a CPAP machine instead. Your sleep study should have shown any hypopnea. Good luck to you, it’s hard going through all this and being exhausted at the same time.

@scoop
I usually cough to clear, take Ventolin, sip warm water...so far. That seems to ease it to the point I can eventually get back to sleep. Am thinking it might be a combination of sleep apnoea (now back using dental splint) and the thickening of the mucus with Symbicort use.
I have not considered taking the new drug at this point, however with the volume of mucus I expel (around 3 cups per day) I am not sure how long I can continue doing all this work. Have you noticed a reduction in volume yet, Scoop? Do hope it is working for you with no side effects. 🙏

@lafieldeparunu
Thank you...I am planning an ENT appointment to get the area checked out.
Much appreciated.

@drsharon
Thank you. I had severe Sleep apnoea diagnosed last year and had a dental splint made which I used for a while...am now back to using in case the Sleep apnoea is combining with thicker phlegm (with the Symbicort). I think this may be the problem.
I must follow up on the hypopnea ... presumably that information should have come from the Sleep study. 🙏

I have Vocal Cord dysfunction and Silent Reflux and that sometimes makes me wake up gasping at night, especially when I’m facing up. An Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor or Laryngologist can examine your throat to make sure there’s no damage or nodules.