Severe breathing changes/gasping/suffocation when trying to fall asleep. Please help.

[ejaji]

While trying to fall asleep (before sleeping...during the transition), my whole breathing pattern changes suddenly upon trying to sleep -- gasping starts/ suffocation/mouth opens/swallowing starts/labored breathing/stomach turning starts -- which itself is so scary n then I just can't proceed ahead. This "breathing problem" has been going on for the last over one month. The breathing problem is so severe that I must necessarily take something like zolpidem/clonazepam, but even with that I will wake up in 1-2 hours max (if I do actually sleep at all). What is this due to? How to proceed to get this resolved? My health is suffering greatly and I need help fast to stop this "breathing problem" (because I am very sleepy, but due to the breathing problem, I can't sleep, whether it's night or day). Could this be central sleep apnea? Chest is also tight 24/7. I don't know if there is an actual problem (xray attached) or if it's anxiety, because I am also under very extreme anxiety due to the lack of sleep and the new fear of sleeping (because every night is dreaded, as I know I will have to struggle to breathe). I did get a chest xray in which the pathology report mentioned "hilar shadows are seen prominent" but doctors did not give it any significance as they told me the xray is clear. (xray attached) Pls give any inputs/suggestions how to resolve this urgently, as every night the struggle to breathe/sleep is a nightmare n my health is deteriorating.

[b1b1b1]

You should first ask your doctor these questions. No one here is qualified to give medical advice. It is possible that it is anxiety, but you need definitive medical advice.

[Marshall64]

I'm surprised that they didn't have you do a sleep study. They monitor many things while you sleep. I have had done it twice. Like B1B1B1 said though, we can't diagnose here. Would hate for you to get the wrong information.

[Marshall64]

Yep. Found out that I had periodic limb movement disorder too which is similar to restless leg syndrome.

[Funkyfaerie]

Hi ejaji,

I suffer with this on occasions, and have put it down to something called Aerophagia! Have you heard of that?

I hadn't, but I was seeming to swallow a lot of air and getting stomach pain and gurgling my throat, like burps.

I didn't equate it with my occasional night time breathing problems, which scared the hell out of me as I felt so weird.

I couldn't take a breath in, my stomach would churn, eventually I found that if I sat up or got up, the trapped wind would work its way out one way or the other for me and the horrible feeling would go, and I was able to lay down and breathe again.

I have only discovered this for my self, and what I do releaves it.

Google Aerophagia and have a read, it can cause breathlessness, tummy pains, and more.... Its about managing it, we don't realise how much air we swallow, especially if we are an anxious person.

But please go back to the doctor anyway, maybe mention this. Good luck.

[pmspaul]

As others mentioned, I would talk to your doctor and do ask about a sleep study too. I experienced some of the same symptoms you described and after a sleep study was diagnosed with a fairly bad case of obstructive sleep apnea. I’ve been treating it with CPAP for almost a year and it’s made a huge difference.