Category: Health and Wellness
I will be seeing a pulminologist this wednesday to try to get to the bottom of this issue. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem. I'm sitting here at my desk, minding my own business, (or in general, not doing any strenuous activity at all), and for whatever reason, I'll stop breathing for a few seconds at a time, then inhale sharply and carry on with whatever i was doing. I do not lose consciousness, but this does leave me feeling lightheaded. I've also found I sometimes feel a little short of breath. This does not happen when I'm doing any brisk walking or any other form of exercise.
I have read that curvature of the spine can have an impact on breathing, but the curve has to be very, very severe. an x-ray was taken last month and all they found was the usual wear and tear on my spine and that the curve that is normally there in the lower spine, looks a little bit unusual; none of this requires bracing or surgery, thank goodness. But the shortness of breath and these pauses in breathing are scaring e; I hope doctors can figure out what is going on, that this is not psychological. I'm not trying to hold my breath or doing this deliberately, it just happens.
Oh, and I don't have sleep apnea either.
I didn't know that was not normal. I caught myself doing that too. But, I'm in a really messed up situation. I'm really glad you brought this to my attention that it's not normal. I wake up not breathing too, and don't know why. Kitty wakes me up. And, I'm gasping like I'm under water, or something. It's not like that I snore and stop. Just stop.
If I find out anything, I'll tell you. I have COPD, so that could be part of it.
God Bless!
Sarah/HW
It doesn't seem normal, but I might be told otherwise. I just have a nagging feeling something isn't right. Sleep apnea is common, but I was told it's unusual to have this happen while wide awake and going about one's day.
It happens to me while awake too, and very often. I just never thought anything of it. It's happened that I woke up not breathing until a few seconds later, but only a few times. I don't have any breathing problems while sleeping that I know of, except that I wake up most nights with my nose and ears so clogged up it's very hard to breathe, but I don't have a cold or anything and if I blow my nose nothing comes out. I always have the sensation that my nose is always a bit full, even in the day, but still, if I blow it there's nothing.
Odd. They're going to be doing a sleep study and a thorough breathing test next month.
I probably do it too, never really paid attention. I know I have sleep apnia. Only reason I found is because I was in the ICU once and the nurse woke me up and said something like hey, you stopped breathing.
Now that you mention it, a nurse woke me up while I was in recovery after my follow-up procedure to the sinus surgery and told me to take deeper breaths. Oops, forgot to mention that to the doctor ... Grrr.
so I ended up in the emergency room this morning because the apnea is getting worse. I find it difficult to speak when I stop breatihng now. Sometimes, I notice my speech is a little fragmented too. They did bloodwork, took a chest x-ray, and did an EKG, but it all came back normal. the doctor said he'd only do a CT scan if the chest x-ray revealed anythig abnormal.
I will be going in for a sleep study this Monday evening; hopefully that will yield results along with the breatihng test when I meet with the pulminologist. That, plus the spirometry, lung volume and other component of the breathing test he wants to do. I'll keep you all posted.
So I got the results of the sleep apnea test back, and it turns out I don't have it, according to this sleep lab. But I heard about a sleep lab that does more thorough work, and gives patients the test results the morning after the sleep study, not having them wait for two weeks. So I'm going to see if my primary care doctor can refer me over there. tired of feeling like this all the time. Short of breath right now, so I'm going to go and lie down for a while. still have to go in for the breathing stuff next month on the twenty-first.
I think mine must be getting worse. One of the symptoms is restlessness, which I have a lot of lately, and the other night I was on the brink of drifting off and suddenly, I inhaled with a loud snort without meaning to, which woke me up of course.
Hmmm. Sarah, it sounds like you might be dealing with sleep apnia, if the breathing thing happens in your sleep. Might be a good idea to get a sleep study done. To the original poster, I've never heard of this kind of thing happening while one is awake. I wouldn't have thought it possible, as breathing is one of those involuntary things the brain controls. But based on the posts here, others struggle with this issue. Interesting. Let us know what you find out.
Breathing is usually an automatic function, but sometimes, the part of the brain that sends the message to breathe, doesn't always work. This is the difference between obstructive and central sleep apnea.
update. the apnea spells got bad enough I went to a walk-in clinic on Tuesday. after they determined that my heart and lungs looked fine based on the x-ray they were able to look at from the hospital's record, I suggested trying an inhaler to see if that will make a difference. I haven't noticed anything different yet, but am going to give it a little more time since I've only been using the inhaler for less than two days. The vital signs were normal too.
anyway, after the folks at walk-in couldnt' assist, I went up to neurology to see if that doctor could offer any insight. she says she doesn't feel it's neurological, so I went over to my primary care doctor's area of the clinic to let her know what was going on. Now she wants to see me this morning. very nervous right now. i'll keep you posted.
Oh, and the pulminologist won't be in until next week, so even if I could get the lung function test moved back, it won't be much further back than it is at this point, the 21st of nextt month. Grrr.
oh yeah, already posted the date for that, sorry. It's early and I haven't had food yet. lol
So my priary care doctor things that this is all inked to my slep issues. I'm tired al the tie, so y body's tryig to compensate by messing with the breathing. She said stop the inhaler and keep the appointment on the 21st for the lung function test. I'm going to a sleep center on the twelfth to meet with an actual sleep medicine doctor.
Hope you get some answers soon; I can't imagine how frustrating it's got to be for you.
So the sleep specialist recommended something called actigraphy, where you wear a special device on your wrist for two weeks. This looks very much like a watch, but it monitors movement and the sleep wake pattern. plus, it's waterproof. Anyway, once they have the results back from this test, we can proceed with the appropriate treatment. No biPap or supplemental oxygen, thank goodness. I only stopped breathing once every hour, and that's not as bad. They'd only worry if i had stopped breathing at least five times an hour. Oxygen saturation dipped down to 85% a couple times, which still has me concerned, but she said respiration during sleep is different compared to when you're awake, so it's nothing to worry about. I still have to go in for the pulminary function test next Thursday.
Hey. That monitor thing sounds like something I'd benefit from. I go see the breathing specialist, I know the name, but too lazy to spell it. LOL Anyway, it was going to be about the Non24, and still will be. But, I'm going to see what I can do about finding out if I have Sleep Apnia, because, I know I do, and I know it's from that nose surgery.
But, I still wouldn't mind trying to figure out what my sleep paterns are, so I can get the right help.
I think it's cool you post this up here, cause I have no idea some of this stuff is out there, and some doctors won't tell you, if you don't ask.
Blessings!
Hot Wheels
See if your primary care doctor can refer you to a sleep medicine specialist.
The pulminary tests came back normal. My doctor is strongly convinced I have non24 sleep wake disorder, but we have to wait for the actigraphy watch to be looked at next week before he can make an actual diagnosis. no Bipap or CPap is needed at this point.
I have an appointment. I just have to go through the muck, just to get a ride. Department Of Pointless Paperwork. LOL
I know I got more than one problem with sleep. Bet they end up putting me on an EEG, to see if it's seizures. Good idea, at any rate.
Blessings,
Hot Wheels
So I have sent the actigraphy watch back to the clinic. they have the results, but I had to reschedule the appointment from this Thursday afternoon, to two weeks later. It's frustrating, but hey, nothing to do but wait until then. The sleep medicine doctor I'm seeing in this area strongly suspects I have non24, and prescribed elatonin. He doesn't want me to start taking it until I have the actigraphy results and we're sure this is non24. I
don't have the pills yet, but I'll get them once I'm sure of what's going on. I know some folks on here take or have taken melatonin, so would like to hear some of your experiences with the stuff. If that doesn't work, I don't know what to do after that. under no circumstances will I ever, ever take Ambien due to a family history of sleep-driving. Fortunately, noone was hurt, but the family member who took it, has no memory of what happened. vehicles were damaged, though.
I hate sleep aids. and how is taking melatonin supposed to help with feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep? I've heard that stuff helps you get to sleep pretty quick, but is one able to stay asleep, even if they're taking the medicine at the exact same time every night? sorry about the lengthy post, just wanted to voice concerns and give an update. Hope everyone is well.
Joanne, it's not just plain Melatonin, that works. They have to get you this special medicine from a company called Vanda. I was involved with them in a known sleep disorder study. Hence, I'm being evaluated for the same thing. Plus, they have to do a ct scann on my nose, since it was operated on previously. I'll go through old email, to find the name. I'll post some stuff on your board, if you want me to. I think I have the number, and what else you need. But, the plain stuff, over the counter, will not work.
Did your melattonin come from a pharmacy? That's important. I tried the regular the pill you buy, and nothing. You get the prescription, it's got a good success rate. Some places put a lot of fillers in OTC meds, and some generic ones, which is why you will not see me with generic Tegratol. Not if I got ten cents to put in!
Hope I don't sound like a boss. I'm talking from experience, and I don't want to see you lose hope, because you got given the wrong pill.
Blessings,
Auntie Hot Wheels
Ah, I misspoke, he said get it over the counter. Either way, i'm uneasy about taking melatonin because from the reading I've done, the stuff you buy over the counter does not come from factories that are monitored by the FDA, so what it says you're getting on the label, doesn't always match up to what is in the pills themselves. wonder if that applies to the prescription stuff. I have also read up on the medication available through vanda pharmaseuticals. That's, like $9000 a month just to cover the cost of a 30-day supply of hetlios. How in the world am I going to convince insurance to cover that when they most likely see non24 as just a sleep condition, not something that impacts everything else too?
They never told us it would cost that much! I'm kind of disgusted. Mine won't cover it either.
I know that over the counter stuff isn't all that good, either. I'm actually curious to find out how we are suppposed to get the stuff from Vanda. Not like most of the population that needs it can afford it, so what's the point?
If I find something out, I'll let you know.
Blessings,
Auntie Hot Wheels
I tried melatonin for what's probably non24 myself. guess what? It didn't do squat for me. I might have fallen asleep much quicker the first couple of days, but the stuff wears off soon after. It's pretty inaffective for me nowadays so I don't even bother anymore. I have terrible ensomnia and I haven't been diagnosed, but I'm pretty sure I have sleep apnea as well.
Well, to let you all know, looks like blood work, and probably another Catt Scan, so they can tell what's going on with my nose. My COPD has probably got stuff to do with it. I'm getting a full physical next month. Thank God!
So, hope you all find out what's wrong and can get help.
Blessings,
Auntie Hot Wheels
Ever jerk awake for no particular reason and utter this weird startled sound?
the sleep medicine specialist has no explanation for my strange breathing pattern. It turns out I do have non24. Tonight, I will start taking a new medicine for me called Rosaerum. Forgive the misspelling. I'm a bit nervous because the pharmacist warned me I'd get really sleepy after I take it, so I should probably take it right before lying down. don't want to collapse; this floor is not carpeted in the kitchen area, but even the carpet in the bedroom is not soft.
The drug you're thinking of from Vanda is called Hetlioz, they run programs that will pay for it for you. I'm on it, have been for about a year now and have never had to pay a dime for it.
Do you find it has helped you?
It has majorly helped me, it's made my sleeping pattern nearly completely stable again.
Nearly completely stable? Like, are you going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time every day? what kinds of hoops did you have to jump through, if any, to receive assistance with covering the cost of this medication?
I'm sorry for the duplicate posts. The site is running slower than molasses, and I ended up hitting the post reply button three times. lol
I know I'm a bit late to this topic but I have something to add:
I've heard that technically, most people don't even breathe correctly. I was really shocked to learn that getting the true rhythm down takes focus. It sounds strange to me...I thought that something like breathing would be the most natural thing in the world. When I think about it, I will sometimes stop for a second or two and I don't have asthma, C O P D, or any other lung problem. Hmmm.
I will once in a while have a bad night of sleep, but generally once I take my meds I'll be out within an hour and sleep through almost all the night without disruption. If you were to call the hetlioz foundation and talk to them they might be able to help you discover if it's right for you and give you suggestions on how to approach your doctor about it.
Just a heads-up: Melatonin isn't supposed to be a heavy-duty sleep aid. It's a naturally occurring chemical that's just supposed to nudge you toward sleep. Your body creates it anyway when you're trying to sleep, so if you take melatonin, you're just increasing that natural response. I know of one person who has taken it and reports that sometimes she gets more tired, but still can't necessarily fall asleep. Depends on the person and the situation, but it's definitely not a catch-all and not a pure sleep aid. If you're taking it and expecting it to completely sort you out, you'd probably be let down.
I do hope your new medication is working for you though. I've definitely jerked awake randomly before, but I can't say I've ever caught myself simply not breathing at random while awake.