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Apnea or not - LinasCH - 10-22-2019
Hi guys, I need some help. I am waking up at night Just seconds before before I falling a sleep with some anxiety and gasping for air. This can happen 5 times in a row. My body want to sleep but my mind telling for my body to fight or flight. This is so annoying. I have those nights not on regular basis one week once other twice or more times per week. This morning I thought that this is just my anxiety (I have anxiety disorder). Maybe I have spleen apnea? It is so scary those moments it feels that I forgetting to breathe. Strange that I have those moment only first minute after I falling a sleep never in the morgen of middle of the sleep. Yesterday there was 3 episodes in a row and today none. Or it is just my anxiety disorder fight or flight? My GP told me not worry it is just micro panic attacks. I read about sleep apnea but usually people having lot of episodes all night long and me only first minutes of my sleep.
RE: Apnea or not - C0mbe - 10-22-2019
Welcome to AB! It’s interesting that you only seem to have the episodes at the onset of sleep and not during sleep. I have also struggled off and on with anxiety (controlled now), and I think it’s very possible for that to be the cause. If that’s the case, you needn’t necessarily worry about Apnea, but should certainly take steps to minimize anxiety so you can get more restful sleep.
Would you describe it as anxiety or as a panic attack? Breathing exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation can be very effective at helping combat those, particularly when they occur quickly and with a known trigger (sleep onset).
That said, if you are experiencing daytime sleepiness, I would want to rule out apnea as a potential cause. There is a relationship between Sleep disordered breathing and anxiety, and treating apnea can positively impact anxiety.
The least invasive method of determining if you have sleep apnea would be to toss on an APAP with wide open settings for a few nights, or do an at home study.
Good luck!
RE: Apnea or not - DeepBreathing - 10-22-2019
Hi LinasCH. Welcome to Apnea Board.
It's very common for many (most?) apneacs to have multiple events through the night and not know about it. The fact that you only remember the events as you drop off to sleep does not rule out other events happening later during the night.
A rough screening tool is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, a simple questionnaire which will give you a score based on how you feel through the day. If you score 10 or higher you should take steps to have the sleepiness investigated. Especially if you snore - which again you might not be aware of but your bed partner will no doubt let you know.
Epworth questionnaire: https://www.apneaboard.com/sleep-apnea-information/daytime-sleepiness-test
RE: Apnea or not - LinasCH - 10-22-2019
(10-22-2019, 08:00 AM)DeepBreathing Wrote: Hi LinasCH. Welcome to Apnea Board.Hello,
It's very common for many (most?) apneacs to have multiple events through the night and not know about it. The fact that you only remember the events as you drop off to sleep does not rule out other events happening later during the night.
A rough screening tool is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, a simple questionnaire which will give you a score based on how you feel through the day. If you score 10 or higher you should take steps to have the sleepiness investigated. Especially if you snore - which again you might not be aware of but your bed partner will no doubt let you know.
Epworth questionnaire: https://www.apneaboard.com/sleep-apnea-information/daytime-sleepiness-test
Thank you very much my score is 4. Strange I have those events not every night. Maybe it is just my anxiety panic disorder. I don’t snore my partner never mentioned this. Next week I have appointment with my GP we will see what I can do further