Breathing difficulties whilst asleep

[Scific]

My wife says I make strange noises when I sleep, not snoring but my breathing is out of sink and doesn't have a regular rhythm. This is every night but not all through the night, for periods my breathing is regular and normal. I have also had two occasions when I could not breathe, it was like there was an obstruction across the top of my trachea. I sat up quickly and after several seconds trying to clear my throat was able to breathe again. Has anyone else experienced breathing problems or have advice on what to do to help.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

You could have sleep apnoea. I suggest you research this and if any of the symptoms are a good match and are causing you concern consider a discussion with your GP.

[Scific in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thanks for your reply, I have looked into sleep apnoea and the symptoms don't really match but I appreciate the thought.

[Pouchielou1972]

I haven't had irregular snoring, but I did have like a rattling in my throat whilst sleeping that I couldn't clear when trying to clear my throat. It turned out it was fluid on my lungs and heart failure.

[Silvertail]

Have you been tested for obstructed sleep apnoea? My husband sounds like you describe when he is not using his CPAP machine. He stops breathing for a couple of seconds then makes a gasping noise as he starts to breathe again. Obstructed sleep apnoea closes off your throat as your tongue falls back. I also have it mainly because my oxygen levels go too low. We both have machines. If we have procedures where sedation is needed they take extra care.

As we were told, OSA is a collapse or partial collapse of the airways leading to oxygen levels dropping and causing us to arouse from sleep several times a night. The worse OSA is the more likely we are at risk of heart disease, heart attack, heart failure and stroke.

So you see, it is a serious problem. Our heart and lung hospital here has a specialised sleep clinic which tests people overnight and advises on machines and strength of flow.

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[lisburb]

I would get an appointment up with your GP. I had an episode several years ago and my GP sent me for tests. I was half awake and unable to breathe, my partner was trying to wake me up. It turned out to be fine in the end but please go to your GP and get checked.

[CyclingTime]

Worth getting your doctor to get you checked out for sleep apnea. My son has it and being diagnosed was really important

[Larneybuds]

Good morning....totally agree with other replies....sounds like sleep apnoea, though I'm not medically trained but I do know people with it. Reading things generalises on symptoms but they are usually common symptoms so not everyone is the same. If you haven't already been to see the doctor I would definitely recommend going just to get checked out or hopefully to be told you are all clear and it's nothing to worry about. All the best x

[Scific]

Thank you all for replying, I will definitely go to the GP and get it checked. Hope you all have a great Christmas and healthy new year.

[yellowren]

I don’t want to alarm you but this sounds similar to the atrial fibrillation symptoms my husband had before his cardioversion procedure. A GP visit is definitely needed to check the causes.

[DJK99]

I do this.. apparently... sleep apnea maybe? I dream I am drowning/can't breathe.. and wake up.. but I live alone now and no one to bother that with. My married friend has it really badly and has been wearing prescribed apparatus at night and now sleeps/breathes normally her hubs says.. It's so important to get it sorted for our brains and energy in the day etc. Get it checked out.. your GP can made recommendations/referrals to the sleep apnoea teams.. Good luck.. D

[Scific in reply to DJK99]

Thanks for the input, will do with the GP. Have a great Christmas.

[DJK99 in reply to Scific]

oh and I have congenital aortic regurgitation and AF.. always have.. but had ablation in 2017 which helped tremendously.. but stil have the (albeit professional undiagnosed) sleep apnoea.. and was first remarked on by a partner when I was 20yrs old.. I'm now 60.. so hope you can get it sorted out.. and correctly identified. All the best to you and happy xmas!