Breathing problems

[Jane__0__0]

  I have a question concerning a breathing problem I have had.  years ago I woke up suddenly in the night, I could get air in my lungs.  I had been soundly asleep until I woke up and I gasped trying to get air. After I was able to get air tried to talk to my wife and I had a hard time I slurred my words.  But with the other episdoes I haven't had this problem.  But I have had strangely enough a numb face before the next episode happened. I didn't have another episode of this for about 3 years, then it happened for 4 days in a row,my hand went numb and I had absolutely no feeling in it. Then 2 years later it happened for 2 days,the breathing problem only and then not again for 3 years, and I had 2 nights in a row where it happened.  I am not obese, in fact I am considered in good shape, I don't snore, I wake easily in the morning, I don't jerk in my sleep.  Is this possible sleep apnea? If so why is it I have so few episodes of breathing problems. My medical history is I am a possible with MS, my mri is clear, and so is my spinal tap.  I have had definite attacks that are seperated over time that fit MS.  I also want to add the I was fine healthwise up until 3 years ago when I had surgery . After that I started having MS symptoms. I guess my concern is the breathing problem, if it is apnea?  Or is it related to something else?  Some of the problems I have had with the breathing problem could be related to MS, but if that were true I would have had possible MS for 10 years..I read here that the MRI can't be clear for that long and still be MS?  So is it possible there is soemthing else going on?  I have been checked for everything else and they have been ruled out.  When I have an exacerbation, steroids work and I get my strength back on whatever side has been weakened.  I am trying to figure thing sout and I would greatly appreciate your answer.
  Jordan
Dear Jordan:
Sorry to hear about your problem.  Sleep apnea is a curious thing, most people are obese but not is not always the case.  I think the best thing would be to discuss this with a sleep expert.  It is likely that they want a sleep study called a PSG or another type of study MSLT (they will likely not want this test).  What you discribe could be sleep apnea, soemthing called central apnea.  But it could also be reflux.  Without examining you and getting a good history it is impossible to determine.  There are things in your history that might suggest that it is not sleep apnea.  If you do in fact have MS, certainly this could be symptom (usually not a common symptom).  However, a clear MRI would suggest that this isn't.  There are medications that can induce sleep problems.  Usually, with a sleep problem, it is the wife or significant other that makes the diagnosis.  They tell us that the patient snores so loud that they leave the room, or that the patient kicks so hard that they move out of the way.  Infrequent episodes like you have is a difficult question.  Sorry I can be more definitive.  I hope that your MRI and CSF are forever clear.  Best of luck with the sleep problem.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro[P] MD