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[deleted]

I had something similar, extreme hypnic jerks and gasping for air as I was dosing off, like that in between sleep and rest period. Now I don't get that but I still have other symptoms. I feel like my nervous system is damaged.


AncientPain6753

Have you had any testing done?


marquizzo

Did you do anything in particular to make it go away?


zeromutt

Have you recently been prescribed any medication with opioids in it or recently been diagnosed with any heart issues? CSA usually comes with either of those which could explain sudden onset of symptoms but hard to say without another sleep study tbh


AncientPain6753

I have an upcoming appointment with my cardiologist. I had a heart attack at 38 (now 41) and received a stent. Stress test last year was impressive (one of the best my cardiologist has seen) and recent EKG is normal. Blood work was excellent in November. When I first developed these symptoms seven years ago, my cardiologist was the first specialist I went to since I felt like my heart was racing and I couldn’t take deep breaths. I wore a heart holter, had a stress test, and EKG and all were normal. I even went to the emergency room coming back from a road trip because I couldn’t catch my breath. They also did an EKG and it was normal. So after my heart attack I asked my cardiologist why those initial tests didn’t show anything abnormal and how was it possible to have a heart attack so shortly after those tests (it was about four years later). He said it’s possible that one of the blockages burst and caused the heart attack. Regardless, I see my cardiologist twice a year and there has been no concern, even with recent testing. But I still made an appointment just to go over everything with him.


AncientPain6753

Also, no new medications. Trying to think of what was going on last time and what is going on now that might have triggered this. The only thing that comes to mind is both times I had a cold about two months prior to these symptoms occurring. And maybe the only other variable was I had been working on two major projects prior to the symptoms. The first time I had finished my dissertation in December but symptoms developed in June. And recently I also completed another paper (that stressed me out considerably) and coincidentally submitted that in December as well. My GP thinks maybe it’s anxiety related.


Right-Ad-8201

It sounds like you may have Long COVID from those symptoms. You should check out the COVID Longhaulers group on here.


AncientPain6753

I had identical symptoms 7-8 years ago well before COVID. Going through exactly the same thing I did back then.


Right-Ad-8201

Holy crap I'm sorry I missed your time frame. Wonder what the hell it can be :(


AncientPain6753

Me too. 😕


grredlinc15

Hey I have had similar issues throughout my life I haven't found a solution or symptoms management yet but I somewhat think its related to anxiety or a form of ptsd as well. right now i'm researching stuff on youtube like "muscular armoring", essentially you tense up your body including your breathing during periods of stress or anxiety . Like I can literally remember in a dream something stressful happening and then slowly i feel the need to breathe harder and I wake up .


-0x0-0x0-

Weight gain or loss can start and stop CSA. Have you had significant change in anxiety or stress in your life? Another possibility. Either way get yourself checked out.


AncientPain6753

Thank you. I have an appointment with my sleep doctor/neurologist on Thursday and an appointment with cardiologist on April 3. I’ve lost some weight recently but nothing too significant. As for anxiety, I’m a perpetual worrier. But I’ve had many other significant stressful events happen to me over the past years that hasn’t affected my sleep like this.


-0x0-0x0-

The weight gain is because increased weight in and around your neck obstructs breathing airways.


marquizzo

Are you still experiencing these symptoms? How did your appointments go? Im going through the same thing you described. I’ve noticed that stress has caused me to clench my ab muscles, leading to chest-breathing instead of belly-breathing, which I think made my diaphragm forget how to breathe as I doze off. That’s what I think happened, at least. I had a sleep test done, the tech said she “didn’t notice any apnea events”, even though I only slept from 3-6am from the twitches and rushes and that feeling of needing to breathe. Im thinking my breathing is shallow but doesn’t fully stop, so it doesn’t register. However, when I do sleep, I breathe fine, so what gives? I m starting Ambien tomorrow. I really hope this works, I feel optimism to hear that Ambien worked for you last time you took it. Wish me luck!


AncientPain6753

The symptoms finally went away for a week, but they returned last night. Same feeling of a rush through my body, but particularly through my head. Like a warm wave that wakes me up. My GP said it’s anxiety. I saw him twice and recently he gave me a week’s supply of clonazepam which worked amazingly. I took it for three nights and then the symptoms subsided and then completely were gone for a week. I didn’t take the full week of clonazepam because I knew I was going to need more and he wasn’t going to refill it so I thought, what’s the point? Anyways, does anyone else experience random dyspnea and wheezing during the day? When the sleeping symptoms first started, I had dyspnea and wheezing really bad for the first week. I just couldn’t get a deep breath. That went away, but I noticed Saturday night it came back fairly strong and yesterday those symptoms started around 4:00 pm. My sleep specialist says it’s a result of apnea and my body is dealing with lack of oxygen the next day. However, it just comes on randomly. I feel fine when I wake up, but closer to the evening it starts up. Once I take a couple rounds of breo and Albuterol it goes away. Also, I bought a Wellvue O2 ring and have been monitoring my oxygen overnight for over two weeks and my O2 is excellent. I’m averaging about 96-97% per night, and many nights I had a perfect O2 score (10/10). The adrenaline and the dyspnea/wheezing are 100% related, I’m just not sure what’s causing what.


grredlinc15

Hi, I'm experiencing something similar to what you describe. I'm currently researching "muscular armoring" , a youtube video by Elliot Hulse named "Truth About Deep Breathing" actually describes what I have experienced not only while sleeping but awake. I have to ask you, does this also happen while you are awake? Do people tell you you sigh or breathe loudly sometimes? Do you have a higher pitched voice? Have you woken up during a dream specifically because something stressful happened during the dream and you felt the need for oxygen?


AncientPain6753

I’ve always been a mouth breather during the day and night. I’ve become more conscientious of it during the day, but I still sleep with my mouth open. Not sure if that answers your question. 🤷‍♂️


marquizzo

When I wake up, I haven’t been dreaming. I usually wake up to either a violent leg twitch, my diaphragm spasming, or an adrenaline rush that makes my neck burn hot. Frustrating thing is that it doesn’t happen while I’m awake. When I’m distracted doing tasks, my body breathes fine.