waking up unable to breathe

[kfrb]

I have been waking up gasping for air during the night and unable to inhale or exhale. I have an acid taste during and after this spell.  I normally jump out of bed and struggle until it passes.  This happened several years ago, but since December, I've had three spells.

I'm afraid to lay down and fall asleep....

What could be causing this....

[National Jewish]

This sounds like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  This is the back flow of stomach contents, including digestive juices, into the esophagus or food tube.  This is most commonly called acid reflux or heartburn.

This reflux can come all the way up into the mouth and nose.  When this happens the material can be aspirated, dribbling into the windpipe and lungs.  This would explain the “acid taste”.  This can cause the vocal cords to spasm.  That would explain your inability to inhale or exhale.  Please check with your doctor about this possibility.

GERD can cause the following symptoms:
· Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth;
· Pain occurring in the middle of the chest;
· Coughing and/or choking while lying down;
· Increased trouble breathing while asleep; and
· Even no symptoms at all.  This is called “silent reflux” and it is common.

You will need to check with your doctor to know for sure what is causing your symptoms.  A pH probe is the best test to find out if you truly have GERD.  This test measures the acid in your esophagus to see if digestive juices are coming up from your stomach.

GERD can often be controlled by avoiding food and drink 2 to 3 hours before bedtime, avoiding alcohol, quitting smoking, raising the head of the bed 6 to 8 inches to use gravity to keep the stomach contents in the stomach, and/or taking medicines.  Please read our information about gastroesophageal reflux disease at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/asthma/about/relate-other/gastro-reflux.aspx to learn more about things to do to lessen GERD.

[missdiagnosed]

that actually happened to me once back in october...i remember jumping out of bed, completely unable to breathe...ran outside, frantically...used my asthma enhaler(even though no wheezing was present, couldnt inhale or exhale), and was able to breathe after about 2 seconds..i then had a sleep study, because i thought it was sleep apnea, which came back negative...and yes, it's terrifying, and they have no idea what caused it...hope you never have that again..

[ozark]

you could possibly have reflux and or sleep apnea..both should probably be ruled out......talk to your doctor about this.
good luck

[Inanga]

hi I had this contantly for over a year. It's nasty alright. Had a sleep test which was fine. Not sleep apnea in the sense of a blocked airway from a saggy palatem or brain forgetting to breathe. I did have a problem with excess mucous from a food allergy to corn which turned out to be the cause. I presume the mucous went down my throat and something closed up to protect the lungs, so I stopped breathing and eventually woke up with a heel of a jolt, andrenhalin going nuts, unable to breathe and choking on mucous. I learned to sit and force in some deep breaths which brought things back to normal after a little while. It was terrifying until I learned to do that - running about in blind panic was me too. Since avoiding corn producs I've been normal. good luck

[Inanga]

forgot to mention... if mucous isn't your problem it could be GERD - stomach acid refluxing up your espohagus while laying down and then going down your airway - causing same result as my mucous problem but a different cause. I'd get assessed for acid reflux. Try sleeping propped up with pillows or even in a soft chair. The acid taste would be a clue to acid reflux. good luck

[Island Boy]

I am 32 yrs old and have this same problem at leat 2 times a week.  I also want to know what is going on with me.  I do have Panic Attacks frequently during the day, but these attacks while I'm sleeping scare me.  I have woken up gasping for air and feeling like I'm about to die (whatever that feels like), it normally subsides within 15-20 seconds, but I am now afraid to sleep. Help me!

[Don69]

A related discussion, Unable to breath was started.

[Matt6t6]

A related discussion, Unable to Breath was started.