Gasping for air after surgery

[Jack2000x]

Hello, thank you for your help in advance.  I recently had my nose broken and needed it fixed.  

After surgery, both of my nostrils were massively blocked for several days (no air came in or out through them).  I had to breathe only through my mouth.  

The problem is, I began the first night after surgery waking up and gasping for air several times a night, unable to sleep more than 1-2 hours at best, constantly getting up, pacing, trying to lie back down and get comfortable to fall asleep and breathe.  I'd gasp for air while trying to fall asleep as well.  This went on for about 1 week until everything as taken out of my nose by my ENT.  

Even though my nostrils are both clear now I still continue to gasp for air all the time: while falling asleep, waking up, and now even sitting during the day.  I feel like I can never get a good breath.

I never had any problems like this before and have no history of any medical or physical conditions.  I'm worried that surgery ruined me somehow.

What is this and how can I go back to being normal again?  I've been without sleep for almost 2 weeks now and can barely take it.

I've tried sleep aids, but while they put me to sleep, they don't keep me from waking up and gasping for air during the night.

Thank you.

[Tsumaura]

Hi did you figure out what this was??? I am going through the EXACT same thing post nasal surgery septoplasty

[Tsumaura]

Hi did you figure out what this was??? I am going through the EXACT same thing post nasal surgery septoplasty

[Jerry_NJ]

I have never had any nasal surgery, but I suffer from chronic plugged sinus when lying down, sometimes from just sitting for a hour or more.  I found the I ofter felt that I was suffocating, even thought I seemed to be able to breath through my mouth, and have suffered from "dry mouth" discomfort especially at night, sleep period.  I'm an old guy too, that doesn't help, but whatever the reason I wake up at least three times a night.

The good news is I was diagnosed with mild obstructive sleep apnea, so the suffocation sensation was not psychotic.  I am not using the usual CPAP mask, rather I lost about 20 pounds (on a 6' 5" frame - so most off the stomach and it seems the throat) and the apnea symptoms are gone.  I still have to undergo an over night Oximeter test to be sure, but I think the weight loss opened my throat enough that it no longer has periodic closures - suffocation.

Much of what you describe sounds like sleep apnea, but as said I know nothing about the surgery you underwent and which seems to be related in time to your current issue/problem.