Waking gasping for air

[Murphysmum]

I know I’ve read about this in previous posts but I can’t find any now!

I posted a couple of weeks back about breathlessness and after a dose reduction it is a bit better. However, sorry my still finding myself wakening at night knowing I’ve just taken a huge gulp of air, like I’ve stopped breathing, and sometimes during the day now too I feel like it’s going to happen. Almost like my bra is too tight!

I had an iron panel done a few weeks back which I’ll try to post but there was nothing stand out on it. Everything could do with being optimal, but none were bad.

My husband has sleep apnoea, so I’m aware that it could possibly be this but my gut feeling is it’s not. I’m struggling with hormone fluctuations just now which are making my thyroid levels go a bit wobbly so I’m inclined to think it’s related to this.

Any ideas? I don’t like it, it’s scary

[shaws]

This is a link with the same query you have. I am sorry as it must be awful to feel you cannot get sufficient air into your lungs.

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

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Hey, I think I have commented on your previous post of breathlessness. It is good to hear that reduction did help. How much did you reduce by? Did you do a test before reducing? I am currently at my ft3 being over range and get this again from time to time.

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Almost like my bra is too tight!

I had this feeling for years and had been getting worse. Dr diagnosed Asthma because I felt like I couldn't fill my lungs but inhalers did nothing. Got to the point where I couldn't do anything with the slightest bit of exertion without having to stop and do some conscious breathing.

Mid April my iron panel was:

Ferritin - 18 - (13 - 150)

Iron -13.2 - (10 - 30)

UIBC - 45.5 - (24.2 - 70.1)

TIBC - 59 -(41 - 77)

Transferrin saturation - 22 (20 - 55)

Had an iron transfusion privately and tested again 6 weeks later.

Ferritin - 205 - (13 - 150) (expected to be over range!)

Iron - 18.6 - (10 - 30)

UIBC - 26.6 - (24.2 - 70.1)

TIBC - 45 - (41 - 77)

Transferrin saturation - 41 - (20 - 55)

Now, 11 weeks later, I finally don't have that feeling anymore. I think it's due to my ferritin being higher now.

I don't know if this is helpful or not but hopefully it will be! 🤣

[Mamapea1]

I had this horrible disordered breathing during sleep for the last 10 years of the 25 years I was on Levo and suffering from severe hypo symptoms. I had to sleep sitting up, but would never be able to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time. It can make you extremely ill because of the awful sleep deprivation. I ended up in the apnea clinic, despite my tiny frame. I felt so out of place with all the overweight men! A passing nurse asked me if I was in the right waiting room!

There is a connection to thyroid issues and mine was definitely caused by being hypo. The apnea vanished when I reached an optimal level of T3, and ditched the Levo. I do test each year, but I don't go by blood results when dosing, as I can't be healthy and fit into the ranges. I need more T3 than what is 'allowed'!

There's a theory that states muscular issues related to thyroid problems cause the diaphragm to weaken and relax too much when sleeping, and I believe this was my problem.

If you search TUK for sleep apnea there are many posts to read. Also look up Dr Stasha Gominak for helpful videos and info on sleep/gut issues/vitamins... very interesting stuff! She helped me put myself back together afterwards.

I can really sympathise, and I hope you find the answer soon. x

[noteboo]

I've been struggling with the same for months now. Had a thyriod scan so all looks ok there but no idea why i keep waking up gasping for air and daytime it feels like that bursting feeling. Since scan is normal, no one is looking into the actual problem sadly...

[WhyAmISoTired]

I've had this for a few months. It is a horrible feeling indeed. For me, I think it is linked to my digestion and to gastric reflux somehow. When it was really bad I also had it during the day, I felt like I had to take a big gasp of air to "catch up". Then it became only a night problem. After increasing my dose of Levo slightly and also (re)starting a magnesium supplement, I am 80% better and don't wake up gasping for air any more.

[Murphysmum in reply to WhyAmISoTired]

Interesting. I restarted supplements a couple of weeks ago - magnesium included which I hadn’t taken for a while - and it seems to have stopped. Noted for future!!

[WhyAmISoTired in reply to Murphysmum]

So interesting! I also re-started my magnesium some 10 days ago. Hope to be rid of this for good. Can I ask which other supplements are you taking?

[Murphysmum in reply to WhyAmISoTired]

Currently I’m taking magnesium, iron, b complex, selenium/zinc and an extra b12.

Oh, and vit D.

Tbh I’m quite good at taking the vit D, but the others I take well for ages then get out of the habit. So I’ve just recently started most of these. My levels last time I checked weren’t disastrous but they could do with optimising.

[marigold22 in reply to Murphysmum]

Are your B vitamins Methylated? I think taking the methylated version of multi B's helped my sleep.

[Mamapea1 in reply to Murphysmum]

It's so hard to keep on top of all the supplements sometimes, and it's great that you're managing to keep on top of the vit D, but try to remember magnesium and vit K2 need taking regularly too, as they are essential cofactors, and do make a huge difference. I had no idea when I started on vit D (Dr's didn't say) and I didn't benefit at all until I had good levels of all of them, in fact I felt worse, if that's possible!

[Mamapea1 in reply to WhyAmISoTired]

Yes, gastric reflex can also be a hypo problem (and often caused by low acid, rather than high) the sphincter muscle doesn't close efficiently, and fails to keep acid low down in the stomach. Also when hypo, peristalsis tends to be very slow, and food doesn't move through at the normal rate, causing acid to be nearer the top of the stomach, digesting food. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable could explain it better than this! 🤔

[ranga]

I have reflex problem in throat but it affects lung , coughing ,o2 reduce it is choking to life threatening, breathing heavily , can some one give me some suggestion