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Waking up with breathing trouble
Hello,
When I was in the hospital last month for elevated lover counts, I had an episode of what I believe was paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. I woke up in a total panic, unable to breathe and had to get up to breathe again. I believe it happened about four times in a row. I told the hospital staff and they repeated my chest X-ray, which came back normal both times.
I had an EKG while in the ER (before admitted) and was not told results; I assume they were OK.
Since released, I am still having breathing problems at night. I was awoken twice like I was in the hospital and also wake up but not as dramatically. The less dramatic episodes involve waking up and having to adjust my position to breathe better.
Considering my my strong family history of heart disease, should I call the doctor? Because I see the doctor for a lot of things, I don't want to bug them unnecessarily, especially since the CXR came back OK.
Please advise.
Thank you,
K
When I was in the hospital last month for elevated lover counts, I had an episode of what I believe was paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. I woke up in a total panic, unable to breathe and had to get up to breathe again. I believe it happened about four times in a row. I told the hospital staff and they repeated my chest X-ray, which came back normal both times.
I had an EKG while in the ER (before admitted) and was not told results; I assume they were OK.
Since released, I am still having breathing problems at night. I was awoken twice like I was in the hospital and also wake up but not as dramatically. The less dramatic episodes involve waking up and having to adjust my position to breathe better.
Considering my my strong family history of heart disease, should I call the doctor? Because I see the doctor for a lot of things, I don't want to bug them unnecessarily, especially since the CXR came back OK.
Please advise.
Thank you,
K
Good. Let us know what you find out, if you don't mind. Hope it's something that can be easily treated.
Thank you for the suggestions. My doctor booked me an appt a week from today with a pulmonary specialist at the sleep clinic.
K
K
My situation is CHF and my lungs can fill with water, but whatever can cause you to stop breathing or getting too little oxygen to wake you up is terrifying. KodeMaster, I believe skydnsr is giving you excellent advice, see a sleep medicine specialist.
That said, I'd strongly suggest you raise the head of your bed at least 5 - 7 inches. You can do that fairly easily by cutting two sections of a 4 x 4 post and four sections of a 2 x 4. Combine under each leg of the bed a 4 x 4 and two, 2 X 4's. I saw extenders available recently at Bed, Bath and
Beyond, so they are available commercially as well. You simply can't succeed using pillows, even wedged ones, but the inclined bed might work. This works for me. I'm taking excellent drugs to help control my problem, but raising the head of the bed is universally effective with CHF, GERD and sleep apnea patients.
That said, I'd strongly suggest you raise the head of your bed at least 5 - 7 inches. You can do that fairly easily by cutting two sections of a 4 x 4 post and four sections of a 2 x 4. Combine under each leg of the bed a 4 x 4 and two, 2 X 4's. I saw extenders available recently at Bed, Bath and
Beyond, so they are available commercially as well. You simply can't succeed using pillows, even wedged ones, but the inclined bed might work. This works for me. I'm taking excellent drugs to help control my problem, but raising the head of the bed is universally effective with CHF, GERD and sleep apnea patients.
Flycaster will probably tell you the same thing when he checks back in, but waking up with a dry mouth and unable to breath until you change position sounds like some kind of sleep apnea. Whatever this sleep issue is, it needs to get diagnosed and remedied. I agree with Flycaster that you need to see the doctor. Your PCP can decide, based on your medical details, if you need to see a cardiologist or a sleep medicine specialist first. Based on the additional information that you provided in your last post, the problem could be in either area.
I agree that the elevated lover count doesn't necessarily sound like a bad thing, however. Maybe you don't want to mess with that.
I agree that the elevated lover count doesn't necessarily sound like a bad thing, however. Maybe you don't want to mess with that.
LOL - the typo daemon got me again. I suppose it could have been worse. ;-)
This morning, I only got two hours of sleep and when I tried to lie back down. I fell asleep a few times, only to wake back up after a minute and yes, it did sort of feel like my lungs were filling up. I don't recall how I felt when I woke up not able to breathe, except that I was in a huge panic with my mouth wide open, unable to breathe through my nose, as if my body was trying to breathe through it and couldn't. My mouth was dryer than cardboard.
In both cases (when I wake up in a panic after an hour or two of sleep -- PND? and the instances like the one described above -- orthnopnea?), my throat gets very dry, like I am having an allergy attack or cold, only to go away after drinking fluids and catching my breath.
I find I have to "toss and turn" a lot, and that I can only sleep on my side. I prop my head up on two pillows and perhaps that is not enough. I tend to sleep better on the couch anyways, with at least two pillows.
Thanks again,
K
This morning, I only got two hours of sleep and when I tried to lie back down. I fell asleep a few times, only to wake back up after a minute and yes, it did sort of feel like my lungs were filling up. I don't recall how I felt when I woke up not able to breathe, except that I was in a huge panic with my mouth wide open, unable to breathe through my nose, as if my body was trying to breathe through it and couldn't. My mouth was dryer than cardboard.
In both cases (when I wake up in a panic after an hour or two of sleep -- PND? and the instances like the one described above -- orthnopnea?), my throat gets very dry, like I am having an allergy attack or cold, only to go away after drinking fluids and catching my breath.
I find I have to "toss and turn" a lot, and that I can only sleep on my side. I prop my head up on two pillows and perhaps that is not enough. I tend to sleep better on the couch anyways, with at least two pillows.
Thanks again,
K
Lover checks sounds like more fun :).
Do you feel like your lungs are filling with water? I don't know about gastric bypass surgery but I'm betting it challenges the kidneys like heart issue do, and know about waking up in a panic when I can't breathe. I'd not worry about bothering the doctor, your symptoms certainly need medical evaluation, in my opinion. I hope you investigate this condition and keep us informed.
Do you feel like your lungs are filling with water? I don't know about gastric bypass surgery but I'm betting it challenges the kidneys like heart issue do, and know about waking up in a panic when I can't breathe. I'd not worry about bothering the doctor, your symptoms certainly need medical evaluation, in my opinion. I hope you investigate this condition and keep us informed.
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