menstruation -suffocating pls help

[Lyn__0__0]

  :   I'm having a problem that my physicians seem to think
  : cannot be true and will not listen to me.  
  :   I awaken several times each month gasping for air, sometimes these symptoms are accompanied by extreme nausea and dizziness as though I will faint and the symptoms go away after a few minutes; however, usually
  : approx. the time of ovulation and the first day of menstruation, I awaken all night suffocating and when I try to fall back to sleep it is as though I start suffocating immediately and cannot get back to sleep.  I'm so fatigued during these episodes that I cannot stay awake, yet each time I start to doze, the suffocation starts.  I tried to schedule a sleep study during the time of menstruation, but I never know exactly what day my menstruation will come and no sleep clinic wants to accomodate me.  After my last really bad episode I called and the sleep clinic and they had a cancellation, they let me come in, but that night I only stopped breathing approx. 7 times an hour for no more than approx 11 seconds.  I told the physician during my follow-up that if I'd had the study the next night it would have been perfectly normal and the previous night prior to the study it probably would have showed hundreds of episodes.  
  :   I've also been experiencing terrible pains in my upper back, tightening sensation and shortness of breath upon exertion.  The other night I went to the ER and my EKG was normal at the time.
  :   Last night was the worst episode ever.  I suffocated all night.  Today I have those terrible tight pains in my upper back.  I have no idea what to do.  The sleep study physician asked me about anxiety.  Prior to this happening last night, I'd just had an incredibly wonderful evening.  I don't think I'm the type to manifest illness through bodily sensations.  Today I could be on my way to Mexico, but I'm so sick I cannot go.  
  :   I had an EEG which showed "presence of left parietal temporal slowing and epileptiform activity."  I also had another one that was abnormal but a different neurologist gave a different interpretation, something about right temporal lobe,,,yada yada yada...more med jargon. I also had one episode of atrial fibrillation.  The only thing I can think that brings these on is it usually occurs on days when I've been the most active and the first day of menstruation and near ovulation or middle of my cycle. I'm willing to go anywhere to get well.  I'm not going back to the ER because they look at me like I'm nuts, so instead I'll sit in this house and be miserable because I get so short of breath when I try to do anything.  Can someone please help me? My life is incredibly frustrating at the moment.  I'd rather be drinking sangria in Mexico.  
  Hi Lynn,
  I'm having similar symptoms, except it's constant, just worse around
  ovulation.  Want to write to me, so we can talk more about this?
  If so, I'm at ***@****
  Hopefully, you'll get some good info when the doctors here on this
  forum respond.  They usually have some really good comments/ideas about
  things.
  Good luck to you,
  Ellen
=
Symptoms that occur around the time of a menstrual period are not unprecedented. Hormonal changes affect the brain in ways that are well described and also in ways that are not understood yet at all. We even have a term for that - "catamenial" - and the occurrence of seizures or migraines is a common example of peri-menstrual related neurologic problems.
That said, I am no sleep expert. However, I think that consultation with our sleep disorders center here is a good idea. Even if you don't repeat the sleep study (I can't predict what tests they'll want), being evaluated by an experienced clinician who has seen a variety of syndromes should begin to point you in the direction of an answer.
Sorry about taking so long to reply. Looks like we got a big backlog, and a few of us are trying to dig our way out.
You are welcome to call 800 223-2273 and ask for neurology appointments. Specify you want to be seen by a sleep disorders specialist. CCF MD mdf.