bedtime panic

[sleepless888]

It seems that when I go to bed lately, I have to get right back out to relaxe. It start about two months ago with what seemed to be nasal drip in the back of my throat that would drive me crazy and then I get out of bed for relief. Now I could be so tired falling asleep on the couch and as soon as I lay down in bed it feels like my throat closes, maybe not a good description, more of a clearing of the throat cough, short of breath, panic till I get out of bed and it goes away.
   This happens far too many times now and it costs me a lot of sleep, yet I can fall asleep sitting up on the couch, do you have any idea what might be causing this, is it a panic attack ?  

[allmymarbles]

At your local pharmacy they have small vials of normal saline. Buy a box of these. You can squirt the saline up each nostril. This will soften the phlegm and help drainage. I use these because it is hard to go to sleep when this junk prevents you from breathing comfortably.

[Jerry_NJ]

A first step, before a full sleep study, could be use of an at home overnight Oximeter test. This can be arranged by your primary care doctor who would recommend, I believe, a sleep specialist if so indicated by the Oximeter test.

It may be possible to get a Oximeter test without a doctor, one can even purchase a recording Oximeter.  

If insurance is an issue and Oximeter test is not expensive, a sleep study is. Still, if the Oximeter test indicates a sleep study that seems to be what has to be done.

I am a recovering Obstructive Sleep Apnea patient myself.

[MichelleP_3811]

It sounds like possibly you have sleep apnea where you are experiencing an obstruction in your airway when you lay down.  You would need a sleep study to confirm this.  I would say go see your doctor and tell them what is going on and see if you can get referred to a sleep study.  Maybe go and see an ear, nose and throat doctor.