What is this?

[Neena917]

I have been having some problems sleeping lately.  I've always had trouble falling asleep on a set schedule just because I never seemed tired enough, so I'd stay up for hours lying in bed waiting to fall asleep.  Now I've developed a routine so that I'm actually tired when I lay down to go to bed and I fall asleep rather quickly.  My new problem which developed about 2 months ago, is my breathing.  As I start to fall asleep I seem to have breathing problems.  I'll stop breathing or run out of air or something and I'll be jutted awake because my body is taking a sharp breath.  Usually this is just as I'm falling asleep that I stop breathing and it often scares me.  Since this started happening, I haven't been getting a full nights rest and it seems like no matter how long I sleep, I wake up completely unrested.  

Also, along with this breathing, I've been having night terrors.  For example, last night, when I'd just fallen asleep, I had a night terror, but I knew it was a dream, so I was able to wake myself up somehow from the dream.

Is there a disorder or something that can explain why these things have been happening to me? They are starting to interfere with my daily life.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks

[phoebe368]

Sounds like you may have a sleep breathing disorder such as sleep apnea.  I suggest an overnight sleep study called a polysomnography to diagnose your sleep disorder.  Your doctor can refer you to a sleep clinic.  There are over 80 plus sleep disorders.

[AJWS6]

Hi,
I can relate to what your describing, I used to get so tired, when I layed down to sleep, my body completely relaxed, my breathing slows down, then stops, I wake up !!  

As Phoebe suggested, have a sleeep study done, to rule out any sleep disorder.  

Hope you feel better.  Good luck !