Throat feels like it closes at night and can't breath...

[Lilly007]

Every few days or so after I have been sleeping an hour or two I sit strait up out of a dead sleep (I sleep like a rock!) with my heart racing and It feels I haven't been breathing. I am usually so tired I just breath it out and go back to sleep. It can't be sleep apnea becasue I'm 28, 115 pounds, 5 6, excersize adn eat great.

I have had panic attacks in the past but refuse to take medicine and just try to breath them out and drink water. I have eliminated a lot of stressors in hopes of redusing this including demotiing myself, cutting down sweets and caffeine.

I also have asthma and as a child had severe attaks but as an adult just fine with one flovent inhaler. I get winded when excersizing but never wheeze. It's almost like someone is choking me and my heart speeds up and my throat "feels" as though it closes.

I went to the emergency room last night becasue it was so bad and my oxygen levels read fine but I still felt as though I couldn't breath.

I don't think it's anxietey or asthma, I feel all the doctors are missing something. Any thoughts???

[Lilly007]

Thanks. Will do. Yeah, I did have a doctor tell me (I've been to several) that an anxiety attack can occur while you are sleeping. It's once your body slows down and has a chance to process things I guess. A sleep study sounds like a good idea becasue it's only happening at night.........

[Katijanae]

I have a thought or two.  One is that if I were you I would ask my doctor to order a sleep study.  There are slim, young, vibrant people in this world who still have sleep apnea.  I had similar symptoms and found out after a sleep test that I was only oxygenating my blood at 80%.  I have asthma too, although that isn't the assumed reason for my breathing problems when I am sleeping.  I am interested in hearing if anyone knows if anxiety can cause a panic attack when one is sleeping.  I would think it is possible to have a panic attack while dreaming, since that is a response that you have experienced to anxiety when you are awake.  You might want to ask for feedback on that part of your question on the mental health forun if you get no answers here.  
Katijanae