Reflux? Asthma? Apnea? Dust allergies?

[Beefull8]

I know this is a hard question to ask without testing and eliminating symptoms. But I’ve done a sleep test once which was void because the battery was dead and I never retook it. Sleep specialist say I’m young and not overweight and no real snoring so they don’t think I have it. My son recently slept with me however and said he heard me make a noise that sounds like I’m taking a deep breath and I do hear myself snore at least once a night. I took an allergy test I was in the high category for dust and it’s the only real thing I’m allergic too. Anyway it only happens when I fall asleep and sometimes it happens all night and by morning it finally goes away. Sometimes taking tums stops the pain I get in my chest and I have air filters everywhere. I can’t figure out what it is and wondering if it’s asthma and/or apnea, but I’m hoping it’s not. Basically it feels like electrical shocks to my chest and a rush of an adrenaline. It’s so painful I actually wake up and feel my chest but it goes away when I’m awake. I tried sitting upright and not eating close to bed but nothing helps. I haven’t tried my inhaler but I guess I could try that too.

[d2read]

Hi, Bee! Glad y’all are riding out the pandemic in beautiful HI .

This may sound overly simplistic, but what kind of pillows do you have, how often and how do you clean them, and how often do you replace them?

Best - Debbie

[Beefull8 in reply to d2read]

Thanks Debbie! Nice to see you again. I do use pillow covers and have been throwing away old pillows. I do wonder if my yoga bolsters are causing it though. I wonder if yoga bolsters can keep dust mites? Hope you’re well!

[d2read in reply to Beefull8]

Busy painting away in DC -- mostly of the sea (since I can't go).

Anything upholstered or with fabric coverings can harbor dust mites. That's why the best furniture is high-quality (read "expensive") leather, or furniture without padding etc. Which makes for uncomfortable furniture for most of us. I keep my good upholstered furniture (sofa and a few chairs) covered with thick canvas drop-cloths most of the time, and only take them off when someone visits. Pillow covers etc help, but the pillows still need to be laundered, dried on high heat and replaced at least annually.

I would imagine your yoga bolsters would fall into the upholstered category -- are they firm foam with a covering?

One way to check is to stop using them for two weeks. Seal them in a big garbage bag (literally seal it with packing tape) and stick them out of the way. Use rolled towels or something else you can launder easily for the two weeks. See if your symptoms improve. If they do, you have one answer. You may have other problems, but trials where you eliminate one thing at a time, while slow and sometimes frustrating, work pretty effectively.

Have a good summer!

[KyinUsederes in reply to d2read]

I am hoping that you managed to figure it out. I have had a profession-related asthma and it stink. Asthma in general is not something that is easy to live with, with the constant fear of an attack and the crippling panic if you forgot your inhaler, not to mention that it is expensive (but most chronic diseases are, especially in the US)

I used to work at a factory with a lot of dust and different particles flying around and that was always okay but at some point I started experiencing shortness of breath and a tightness in my chest that freaked me out. I went to the doctor and he said that I had asthma, and that I needed a change of career. Since I had no options I went to my supervisor and asked for advice. He said that the only thing he could do in this case was transfer me to a work station that has a dust collector in the room. They actually only recently got a new one so it is top notch. If you guys are interested you can check them out here: mitersawjudge.com/best-dust...

I have been feeling better ever since I got transferred so it is important to keep an eye on dust levels. Stay safe and healthy everyone

[d2read]

Happy New Year, Bee (and everyone else) — just wanted to check in and see if you ever got any answers to the environmental triggers you were trying to figure out.

I’m doing well here in DC — despite the news.(We are actually quite good at dealing with protests etc, it’s insurrections that are problematic, but we hunker down at home and let the officials get on with it.) I’m trying to get on the list for the next round of vaccine appointments, but at this rate, it may be May.

Hope you and your family are well.