breathing

[mommalou]

does anyone wake up in the night gasping for breath??

[Hidden]

I do mommalou but I have asthma as well as COPD. I find it helps me to use my ventolin inhaler (the blue one) just before bedtime. I do 2 puffs and haven't woken up since with an asthma attack. I presume it is worse with the COPD. Also you might be laying down too flat. Try another pillow and see if that helps. I am sure others will be in shortly with more advice. x

[mommalou in reply to Hidden]

got three pillows + v pillow dosen t help much

[phillips1]

Hi Mommalou. When I have a chest infection I keep the oxygen alongside me. If I wake up gasping in the dark I just give five clickwise clicks on the valve and get sucking. Luckily I don't usually need to do it and I sleep well.

Bobby xx

[Mocarey]

I did often before I was prescribed oxygen at night. It never happens now unless for some reason the canula has fallen out my nose. M x

[imelda16]

I have asthma and IPF and woke up like that really frightening isn't it? But since I ve been using 02 doesn't happen as much ,but if I do then like Phillips 1 a couple of minutes on 02 and back to sleep.

[Hidden]

Some pursed lip breathing brings things back under control and back to sleep.

Ali

[chrissie53]

Hi mommalou,, i used to wake ever now and again, but take now 3 puffs of ventolin straight in, and that seems to work,,and as coughalot says don,t lay to flat,,i have RA as well so now take Amitryptilyn a hr before bed,,knocks me out generaly,,,

[zaney]

Hi , I have asthma and copd and although i am on oxygen at night i still wake up and need my inhaler , but i dont wake up as often as i did before i had the oxygen .

[Jovi_Lady]

Yes every night about 4/5 times, I have Asthma and COPD, I sleep with my inhaler in my hand, its something I have just had to get used to over the years, I have 4 pillows which does not seem to make any difference, although laying dead flat makes me worse than I would be without the pillows

[Toci]

Maybe you need to speak to your doctor to eliminate obstructive sleep apnoea and for him to check your oxygen saturation levels.

[helingmic in reply to Toci]

I agree with Toci, you may have some sort of sleep apnoea. Best to talk to your doctor.

[dustbunny]

I have had that happen too, and it's scary, so it's hard to get back to sleep sometimes. I use my Ventolin and the next day I went through my entire bedroom (or whatever room you sleep in) and got rid of a lot of things that hold dust or other stuff that makes me wheeze; I switched from curtains to Roman Blinds, threw out some old toss pillows, and vacuumed every nook and cranny I had. I also switched from a feather pillow to a down alternative type, and that also helped. I also prop myself up a bit so I don't lay flat. It helped me quite a bit.

[Offcut]

I have RLD and my lung function drops a further 12.5% when flat and I wake up a lot gasping for breath to such a degree sometimes it even wakes my wife. I had a lung function test and was given a Sleep apnoea machine to test me when I slept. But I was so tired after all my walking to and fro xray and different departments I fell asleep on the settee until the 03:30 and when I went to bed and put the machine on my wrist and finger could not sleep so it failed. But they will not retest me for some reason? still wake up gasping though.

[LesleyAnne]

Hi, yes I do. I have asthma, bronchiectasis and obstructive sleep aponea. However, my waking up gasping is being attributed to sleep panic attacks! Seeing lung consultant soon so going to be chatting with him regarding this matter. All the best, L A

[Ratatouille]

I have been supplied with an adjustable headrest (it looks like a section of deckchair) to put my pillows on to stop me 'bunching up' and slipping down the bed and it has made a big difference to my comfort. Also try using your ventalin through a spacer before you go to bed