Aaron, I was doing the same thing!
My Dr. sent me to a sleep specialist. After saying I was apnic, and being on a SeaPap at night, and not making any progress in sleeping, they finally sent me for an MRI. It showed ischemic changes in the Pons, (which regulates many autonomic functions, such as breathing). I haven't been able to get a doctor to say that's it, but don't have anxiety unless speaking publicly, (which I don't do). But you might want to get an MRI of your brain. I wonder if you are having ischemic changes in your Pons?
Im doing better now, but its been over2 years since it was happening to me. I've read that we can recover, grow new brain cells, or reroute around damaged areas in our brain if it isn't too severe.
I was 65 and you are very young, but I dont think these things are limited to aging.
I also had other symptoms the year before. The breathing issue was just one of the later ones. Dizziness, off balance, physical weakness, apathy, and depression all came before it.
Also, I have severe issues with sweating and or being cold.
Have you experienced any of these?
I would love to hear more back from you on your symptoms and results if you choose to get an MRI.
Lenett
Hi Aaron, did you ever figure out why you had heart racing after eating?
Aaron have you had your autonomic nervous system tested?
Including testing CENTRAL apnea. Vs other forms of apnea?
You should she an autonomic neurologist!
Hi Aaron , I had these non automatic breathing episodes several times , some nights I couldn't sleep . Eventually I figured out that I was taking high doses of some vitamins and also drinking some hard liquor before the breathing problem , 3 times was after a flight , so I don't know exactly which of these was the trigger but I suspect high doses of vit B12 ,,and aggravated by hard liquor , . Now I absolutely avoid high B12 , stopped liquour , when I take multivitamins it's no more than half of the daily dose and only the type with low B12 ( for women usually ).
I never smoked and I'm normal weight , in shape.
I also stopped coffee and other stimulants
I’m reading this forum and noticed that Aaron (OP) hasn’t written anything in a while. Does anyone know if he’s okay? I’m a bit concerned. I hope he found his cure and is living a healthier life.
It is anxiety ! I have suffered with this since I was 15 I am now 22 and now dealing with it. I am on ativan which helps wonders. I am also working with a counsellor to help not having anxiety (easier said than done) I am still working on it as I am in the process of doing more and more things everyday , from going outside and being with people to driving. It’s a process as I get panic attacks where I am inhaling for air but when that happen so I take ativan and it helps me calm down, however it is or can be addicting, I am on .5 mg so it’s a low dose
I develop the same problem after my nervous system took a hit from toxic mold exposure . It’s possible you’re being experience to the same thing without knowing . You can’t always see it or smell it . And to about 20% of the population mold can be deadly causing problems circulation problems / swelling hands feet and severe damage to the brain and heart .Often times there be many neurological side effects that don’t necessarily cause pain and appear of anxiety side effects . I will say going through this has given me anxiety because it is so scary .So that fear often makes everything your already experiencing worse and the doctors will further try to convince you it’s just an anxiety . I went into the ER 4 Times and stump three different hospitals . Then I decided to look for specific specialist and they determined what I suspected all along . The odd thing is is you could be living in a house full of people that are not part of that 20% so their symptoms will be so minor they won’t even notice but for those in that 20% whose genetics don’t protect them from the mold they will suffer severely . Mold often and hides and in air ducks ventilation systems in anywhere there’s pipes and moisture .The biggest problem in our house was that we removed all visible mold and I had no idea that our entire air duck system throughout the house was infected so unknowingly for over a year it was blowing in my face. I have been told it could take me over three years to recover fully I’m only eight months in treatment now .I suggest you find yourself a good neurologist/toxicologist to get yourself tested . Also you can try removing yourself from your current residence for over three months and see if there any improvements to health. There is a great MD/ neurologist named Dr. Larry Empting in GA that help me tremendously and got me on supplements to detox and heal and they have inpprove my neurological symptoms greatly .
Try meditation. There are several apps out there. I'm using one called Let's Meditate and it's been great so far.
Side Note: I have Restrictive Lung Disease due to radiation and chemotherapy and rely on supplemental oxygen. Try pursed lip breathing too and breathe in through the nose and out the mouth.
Hope this helps!
T.
I have had this problem for years. I do believe it is anxiety, and many of your other symptoms are the result of sleep deprivation. However, my endocrinologist isn't convinced I don't have an adrenal problem. Sometimes my bloodwork is fine (almost always in fact), but sometimes it is not. I would suggest having the bloodwork re-run, and maybe re-run again soon after that. Bloodwork is like taking a quick peek into what is going on inside, but sometimes it takes more than a quick peek to catch an issue. I do hope it is just anxiety, but I sleep just fine most nights and yet my neurological symptoms and extreme fatigue continue. It's possible that I am not away that I don't sleep soundly and these are the affects of sleep deprivation. So many possibilities... Wishing you well~
I had this! I also had issues where I couldn't get a full breath in very easily. I called it "air hunger". I would constantly yawn to try and get a good breath and even then it was very hard. I would sit there and just think about breathing all day long. I also know it was NOT anxiety induced, but it started to make me anxious - so that was the effect, not the cause. It was msotly very frustrating. I was testing for asthma, had blood work done, and ultrasounds, etc. I learned doctor's are very limited in what they can actually help with..
It FINALLY went away after I started working out 3-4 times a week. I'm 5'5" and was 115 lbs, so I wasn't very motivated to work out, but I ended up having to start working out for a competition I was entering, and I quickly realized my breathing issue went away. It was very strange. So maybe even if a person is not overweight, they can be out of shape and slowly break down if they aren't getting enough exercise. (For context, I was an athlete in high school but stopped in college, and the breathing issues started my junior year of college.)
Extra fun fact, my brother went through almost the exact same thing and went as far as using inhalers (even though he also was tested for asthma and result's were negative). He was very average weight and pretty healthy. He ALSO was cured as soon as he started to work out.
I had this! I also had issues where I couldn't get a full breath in very easily. I called it "air hunger". I would constantly yawn to try and get a good breath and even then it was very hard. I would sit there and just think about breathing all day long. I also know it was NOT anxiety induced, but it started to make me anxious - so that was the effect, not the cause. It was msotly very frustrating. I was testing for asthma, had blood work done, and ultrasounds, etc. I learned doctor's are very limited in what they can actually help with..
It FINALLY went away after I started working out 3-4 times a week. I'm 5'5" and was 115 lbs, so I wasn't very motivated to work out, but I ended up having to start working out for a competition I was entering, and I quickly realized my breathing issue went away. It was very strange. So maybe even if a person is not overweight, they can be out of shape and slowly break down if they aren't getting enough exercise. (For context, I was an athlete in high school but stopped in college, and the breathing issues started my junior year of college.)
Extra fun fact, my brother went through almost the exact same thing and went as far as using inhalers (even though he also was tested for asthma and result's were negative). He was very average weight and pretty healthy. He ALSO was cured as soon as he started to work out.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE HAS FOUND A CURE I FEEL LIKE I AM SUFFOCATING AND HAVENT SLEPT IN A WEEK I KEEP JERKING AWAKE AND FEELING LIKE IM HAVING TO FORCE MYSELF TO BREATHE
Im having the same problem
I have this problem, as well. I was recently diagnosed with a chiari 1 malformation. It's a uncommon diagnosis that is often overlooked. It can be detected with an MRI. With this malformation, the cerebellum tonsils are compressed and it produces a wide range of symptoms. I think breathing is something that can be affected by chiari. If you can't find any answers, you might look into that.
Well, you all suffer from ansiety and panic attacks. In my case I went thru the same, and Clonazepan help me deal with it. My ansiety levels were so high, that I stop sleeping properly. So my body start showing symptoms. Like all you guys describe, from the suddenly feeling of waKing up cause I think I'm not breathing or my heart stopped to been awake for days with fear of dying. You are not gonna stop breathing, cause that's an automatic response and you don't need to tell you body to do it, it does it by its own. So, either find professional help or look for things that might help you deal with your ansiety, like exercise or maybe some kind of hobby. Don't be scared, I'm pretty sure it's ansiety.
Glad to see there are others experiencing this. I'm definitely dealing with anxiety, feeling depressed and ready for death, dealing with post-alcoholic regret and my degestion has stopped working properly.
Thinking exercise might help. If anyone finds they worked out how to get past it, maybe write what worked for you so the next people reading have some light :)
Try going to Santa Rosa California. There they have the True North Health Center. I had this just happen to me recently it feels like. And I have the weird jerks in the body along with muscle weakness. It could be Parkisons or MS even. Medicine says they cant doing anything to cure these. Thats why I'm letting you know about True North . Try them :)
Ok so I am having the same expwrienve as im writing this. My eyes are bloodshot im so tired from this im scared to sleep. I think thaws part of the issue. Of course anxiety is the easiest diagnpsia but in complete honestly when I do take the xanax before bed i gall asleep fine and it doeant happen and no i never stop breathing. Think of it this way, if you were going to stop breathing it probably wpuldve happened already. Your body is also so tired so it is breaking down lot.e by little. Are you focusing on your breathing and heart rate as you fall asleep? That's what I do and our body is reacting to this with the anxiety. Your body naturally slows down as you fall asleep its just that most people dolt pay attention to it. That why its waking you up. I wee constantly taking Mt pulse at least 40 it.es a day and it was always fine. If you were having breathing iasuea your pulse would be weak AMD drop wouldn't you think? I dolt kmlw im not a doctor but they is what helps .e rationalize the situation. Imagine people who abuse xanax and other barbituatea take them in great access for their nreathing to stop. Im taking .25mg kg xanax and 50mg of butakb. My doctor said it was fine as long as you take as prescribed. You need to trust in your body. It may be the lack of control that is cauainf your anxiety and toy don't have to ne worried anpit something for anxiety to start. Even if you thoufjt about it once, its in the back of your mind and can surface anytime.
Are your nasal passages blocked or inflamed? I'm having the same issue now and thinking it might be because my nasal passages are blocked and I'm not opening my mouth to breath. I hope it's not something more serious...
Yes I know how you feel. Recently I have been awakened from my state of sleep in a dire panic. As if my heart has stopped as well as my breathing. I've been to the emergency room and even checked in for the Million dollar work up. Nothing, thats what the Doctors have found. They tell me its anxiety, I have recently stop smoking in the last 5 months and I also have been looking for work after being laid off. I must say I do worry a lot at this point, any one would.I've started walking a couple of miles a day and this seems to help but it's not a cure. I do eat healthy but I could let up on the martinis a little. I notice the more it happens the more I focus on it and the more I have a feeling of impending doom. I'm not crazy but at this point it's becoming more and more stressful to get ready for bed, I find it better to stay up two days and be so exhausted that I wouldn't notice these symptoms because I would be to sleepy to wake up.Thats what I did yesterday 4-24-15 and it worked. I will see my Cardiologist on May 7,hopefully he'll get me into a sleep study and I can get some additional answers.Hope this can at least give You some hope and let You know tour not alone.
I have this 'not breathing automatically' thing and it turns out to be Phrenic Nerve Palsy. The Phrenic nerve stimulates your diaphragm to rise up and expel air from the lungs - there are two that split right and left from the cervical vertebrae C3-C4 and any damage here can affect them. It can be one side or both and after tests they can simply implant a little pacemaker to stimulate breathing for you. To diagnose it they look at your diaphragm on ultrasound and see the movement or lack of it. They also get you to sniff and see how your diaphragm responds. All very electro-mechanical - they just need to look!
Follow the Anulom vilom pranayam described in my post dated Jan 10 ,2012
Come back and post your feedback - to help others.
Hello Aron!!! When you went to see your Doctors did you feel like strangling the doctor and tell him that is exactly how you felt? well you dont have to do that....I have the best of the best solutions that will definetly work for you and these symptoms i have also experienced. You may or may not believe me I've had exactly same issue with whilst asleep id wake up shaken and grasping for air like i am drawning and throat feels extremely blocked and after waking up feels like i dont want to sleep again because i am scared to die in my sleep. My whole body feels like pins and needles and feel as if my automatic pulsing in the brain is actually stopped. I have been to A&E BUT did you see the face they gave you like its not a problem but inside you, you knew what they are telling you was just to direct the issue to Anxiety even though you know your not anxious especially those times about anything else but since the problem arose you are anxious. I may not quite be a doctor but I am a scientist in my own worlds with no barries and I can give this solution if youd request it.