Breathing

[tamikia]

Hi, when I sleep through the night I wake up gasping for air and can't seem to catch my breath right away... after falling back to sleep I do this off and on all night long? The doctors don't know what is wrong? Any suggestions would be great. I might do this after being asleep only a couple of minutes. Through out the day it is hard to breath also and I do a lot of burping and get pains in my chest, and back by times.
At night time my legs do a lot of shaking and my speech is very slurred, once again the doctors don't know what this could be. If you have any suggestions to make that would be good and I will bring it to my doctor's attention.
I also get random rashes and my hands break out with red blotches on them often. Please if you can figure this out let me know.

Tamikia

[tamikia]

Hi I have already been checked for sleep apnea... I am very mild only a 6. And I have the machine to wear at night or in the afternoons if I have a nap. I sleep mainly on my right side, sometimes on my left side or my stomach, never on my back though as it feels like my lungs crush together and I'm unable to breath.
Last night I woke several times through the night with sharp pains going through my chest. I had been to the hospital a few nights ago for it and they pushed around my heart area and said he felt I had some inflammation to go home and take 3 advils 3 times per day and keep ice on it. I have been doing that but it just doesn't seem to be helping??? I couldn't get into my family doctor for a week however I do have an appointment set up with him. If there is any other suggestions you have please feel free to let me know... I really appreciate it and thank you for answering so fast.

[Steven Y Park, MD]

The first thing to do is to make sure you do or do not have obstructive sleep apnea. You'll have to see a sleep medicine doctor for this. He or she should be able to help you with the leg movements at night as well. The rashes I'm not too sure of, but take care of your breathing issues first. Doctors sometimes misdiagnose your symptoms as panic attacks when in fact it's due to apneas.