Hi sweety!
I have had the same problem for almost 5 years. Usually just when I try to sleep on my back. Even raising pillows didn't help! But i found comfort in laying on either of my sides (left predominantly) and it stopped, as far as I could tell. If i laid on my left side ( where heart is ) it felt like i was smothing the rhythm and then it made me feel like my heart would skip a bit. I described all the feelings like butterflies in your stomach.
Right now I am having stomach issues and even laying on either my sides don't help. I sometimes find that sitting straight up weith back against wall helps me right now. But I also have a tendency to suck in my gut all day and breathe that way which i think can put a lot of stress on your diapraghm. which I am told that you will have to strengthen again by doing breathing excercises ( Breathe in through your nose while stomach is inflating, then exhaling through mouth and letting stomach deflate ) this helps strengthen it.
I am no doctor, but i feel your pain and i really sympathise with you. this could be sleep apnea too due to a possible blockage in your airways ( tissue inflammation, etc ) I would suggest you see your GP and get it looked at. it's better safe than sorry and it's always good to relieve the stress/anxiety of not knowing what's going on.
Hiya, I've had the same problem for as long as I can remember. I didn't know what the "attacks" were, but I have been diagnosed with narcolepsy and thought they were a secondary symptom to that. Does it feel as though your mind and eyes are awake, but your body is asleep? It could be cataplexy, which IS a secondary symptom to narcolepsy, as is sleep apnoea.
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
No, you are not insane or anything like that. You are probably suffering from sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of apnea and results from blockage of air flow. The upper airway can be obstructed by excess tissue in the airway, large tonsils, large tongue and usually includes the airway muscles relaxing and collapsing when asleep. Another site of obstruction can be the nasal passages. Sometimes the structure of the jaw and airway can be a factor in sleep apnea. Any of these obstructions can cause the breathing to stop for more than a minute at times. Hence it is important to correct any problem with the nasal passages such as deviated or bifurcated nasal septum. Losing weight and sleeping on your side often helps. There are oral mouth devices that help keep the airway open in the market that may help to reduce snoring. CPAP machines also help.
Please consult your PCP for primary examination followed by proper referral to a sleep specialist.
Hope this helps. It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
It sounds like you are having a panic anxiety attack. They frequently happen while sleeping or falling asleep. All the symptoms your describe are very common symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. Are you anxious? Do you have stress or other problems during the day?
Get a good physical exam and discus these symptoms with your doctor.
Check out the anxiety forum for more info.