Does anyone else experience chest heaviness or possibility of suffocating?

[Tjoceans]

Mine mostly happens when I lay down, but I feel I can no longer carry my body around. It's all very strange, because I run, but I swam a couple days ago, well waded, and was motion sick and my legs almost buckled when getting out. I'm afraid they will tell me I can't go anymore, because I'm a liability.

[Judithdalston]

swimming is the only exercise I can do as I also have postural hypotension making in a five minute walk a liability, but yes even though I am a good and regular swimmer (5x a week) I sometimes get that odd feeling like I am suddenly in a very heavy wavy sea! One of the areas I often get fibro pain in is my sternum like an elephant, ok a small one, is sitting on it, sometimes between the ribs too… fortunately I can tell it’s the muscles etc and not heart. I am a great believer in trying to exercise, and keep convincing myself it must be doing me some good!

[Tjoceans in reply to Judithdalston]

I wonder sometimes if it's something I've eaten, like greasy food. Last night I decided to take some Claritin and that helped and I've been taking a pump of oxygen from one of those canisters you buy at a sports store.Do you ever think about sleeping in a chair or something that doesn't lay all the way down?

It's a scary feeling. Sometimes I think I'm gonna die in my sleep. My chest gets heavy and so hard to breathe. I think sometimes I stop breathing a long time when I sleep and then gasp.

My father had that and then he got dementia. I wonder if that will happen to me. For him it started in his 50s. I'm 46.

What kind of doctor do I see. So far no one believes me. It's been more than a decade.

[Judithdalston in reply to Tjoceans]

Have you thought about getting a test for sleep apnoea…the thinking you have stopped breathing might be a link. During Covid, when GPs doing very little I arranged a private 2 day test thru the charity Hope 2 Sleep, so did it within a month or two of applying, but you could get your Gp to refer you too. I have mild, therefore non treatable, SA. No I need to lie down, if I slept propped up I’d never get to sleep I’d get too distracted, as it is I normally don’t get to sleep till 2am ish.

[ALKT in reply to Tjoceans]

possible sleep apnea not sure of spelling should see your gp mention your symptoms and family history . best wishes. did not see the post below /now above this one.

[Debsdelight72]

Hi Tjoceans

I like the others have suggested with the sleep apnea, Would it be paid for with your insurance? I was having very similar problems like yours, It turns out at night I only use 80% of my oxygen, Now they say I don't need any further treatment,

This makes it a tadge worrying, I try not to think too much about it,

I don't know too much about your countries system when it comes to your health, I hope you get some answers soon

Take care

Debs