Breathing very difficult at night

[David5759]

So I started suffering from panic attacks a couple of weeks ago, I'm starting to manage them quite well but now I have a new problem.

Every other night I lay down to sleep... I drift off.. And awaken a minute later not breathing, sometimes gasping for air, and when I start breathing again (no matter how slowly or deeply I try) it feels like my lungs aren't doing anything with the air and I become faint momentarily.

Sitting up and walking about waking up more brings me back to normal but it'll happen again the next time I put my head down, the process repeats until I fall into a deep exhausted sleep that I wake up from 8 hours later still feeling exhausted.

I've only had 3 nights of this happening (including tonight) and I'm pretty sure it's not a weight issue, it's not like my throat relaxes and closes up, it's as if my lungs actually just stop after I fall asleep. I'm going to get my partner to observe me tomorrow night to watch my breathing and try and see a sleep specialist through my GP.

I was just wondering if anyone else has similar experiences?

---------- Post added at 02:02 ---------- Previous post was at 01:51 ----------

I just made the alpha error of googling possible causes of waking up gasping for air and there was something about heart failure. Lol just thought I'd take a moment to remind everyone to keep any questions you have for places like this or your doctor. Don't google questions!! My night is going to be a delightful one now.

[xBettyBoopx]

Hi David

I used to get this quite a lot. I don't get it much anymore, I think it was the medication I was on. I used to wake up gasping for air and would sit bolt upright, lay back down again only for it to happen again but clearly it used to stop as I would sleep through eventually until the morning. I used to wonder how long I had actually stopped breathing (I don't have a partner to watch over me).

I would definately go to the doctors if I were you. Although I know you're worried, I don't think you have heart failure. Why did you mention weight?

Liz