5 answers

Sleep Apnea - Oneonta,AL

Okay, I know that I'm always asking health questions...What can I say, I'm falling apart. Anyway, in the last few months, when I try to go to sleep, I wake myself up not breathing. As far as I know, I don't do it after I GET to sleep, it's just the drifting off to sleep that's giving me problems. For a while, I was on Topamax for my migraines, then sometimes I would take bynadryl for my allergies with it..so, I thought it was just the combanation of meds, but I've quit taking the Topamx, and I'm still doing it. I have also tried quitting taking the bynadryl, and that doesn't help either. I know that I need to go to the Dr. about this, but my insurance won't take effect until August, so, I have to wait until then unless it's an emergency. I've tried researching on the internet about sleep apnea, because that's what it sounded like to me..but I don't think that I have any of the other symptoms of sleep apnea..so, I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem or if you know someone who has..and if there is anything that I can do to help until I can get to the Dr. It's very frightening. I wake up scared to death, my heart pounding...I also think that whatever this is might have trigger my migraines to get worse. I've always had the headaches, but they've gotten worse in the past month or so along with the breathing thing. Any help would be greatly appriciated.

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More Answers

If your Doc wants you to have a sleep study done, and you are not comfortable going in to have it done, you should mention Stardust monitoring. You can do it at home.

It does not sound like sleep apnea. My husband has apnea and he snores horribly he quits breathing all night long from the time he is drifting off to sleep untill he wakes in the morning. He now uses a c-pap at night. I would think it is more medicine related and anxiety. I would definitely see the doctor as soon as possible.

It sounds like you may have anxiety or even panic attacks. I experienced the same thing and it scared me to death. It was only when I was sleeping. When I went to the doctor they told me it was anxiety and gave me medication which helped. I definitely would get it checked out by a doctor, but it sounds very similar to what I had. My ex had sleep apnea and he snored so loud and was always extremely tired from sleep deprivation. Good luck and take care!

I had sleep apnea for several years and did not know it. I didn't have the classic symptoms of apnea, but I did find out that I had a deviated septum, and extra tissue in the back of my throat that constricted my breathing at night when my tongue would relax. I had some minor surgery on my throat and nose to give me some relief, but I still have to get the deviated septum done. I am going to wait until my little boy is around 1 before I undergo surgery. I used the breathe right strips and vaporizers to help me breathe at night. My husband said I was worse when I was on my back. Lying on my side would help.
I hope this gives you a little insight to what I went through.
Good Luck!

My husband has sleep apnea. Likely your Dr will want you to go to a sleep clinic for an overnight sleep study. They'll monitor you all night and be able to tell IF it's apnea and how severe it is. I don't think there is a med for it. For apnea, you have to be hooked up to a home ventilator type machine at night called a C-PAP.

Until then, try to find the common denominator. Is it when you sleep on your back? That can cause the tongue to fall back in some ppl.

My husband's apnea gets better when he loses weight, so that might be a factor as well.

I would call your dr or pharm if you think there is a drug interaction. It's not a good idea to stop and start meds suddenly.

Good luck!

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