Something is happening to me when I am sleeping at night which has me very worried. I wake up in the middle of the night unable to breath - it's like I am suffocating. I feel like something get's stuck in the middle of my throat that does not let the air flow to my system. It has been happening a lot lately but the worst episode was last night. I woke up frantic 'cause I couldn't breath then I tried to breath until finally I was able to. It was all very fast. I swear I thought I was going to die. It was so bad I was scared of falling to sleep again.

I do get a little anxious during the day sometimes, not everyday. I am not taking any kind of medication whatsoever so it can't be a reaction to anything....

Does anyone here have an idea what this can be? :confused:

I already have a Doctor's appointment for the 3rd of Aug. but meanwhile I want to get an idea of what it can be....

Thanks in advance! :)

Sounds like anxiety--the doc will do some tests, including listening to your heart, lungs, etc. and may order some blood work. He/she may do an EKG also. I hope you feel better...it is very frightening to have a panic attack in the middle of the night--I know, I used to have them once in a while...Jitterygal

Sounds like sleep apnea, but it could very easily be anxiety as well. To the best of your knowledge, were you sleeping on your back when you awoke and couldn't breathe? During sleep the throat relaxes, even collapses a bit and with some people the passage closes too much, causing the person to awaken feeling they are choking, or to simple snore and flutter in and out of breathing and not breathing -- causing a strain on the body.

I've had something similar to your experience happen to me, and have GAD with occational panic. I t could be anxiety alone though. As for myself, I'm going in for a sleep study soon and doc says SA is likely (if I'm sleeping on my back) from looking at the back of my throat.

Ask someone if you snore, and have the doc look at your throat at least. It could just be anxiety (which is bad enough) but undiagnosed sleep apnea can lead to anxiety and much worse ie. -- strain on heart especially.

I don't mean to frighten you -- definitely not. If it's anxiety, just try to breath slowly when you do finally breathe. Don't suck air in in a panic. Try to relax and it'll be easier on your system. Be careful when standing up quickly too if you are lightheaded.

All in all it's probably not something very serious or immediately serious.

I'm thinking sleep apnea myself but it could also be a night-time panic attack.

I agree that it sounds more like sleep apnea. I wouldn't rule out a panic attack, but if you don't have other symptoms including racing heart, hot/cold flashes, hyperventilation, or shaking, I would think it to be sleep apnea. Do you often feel fatigued during the day, no matter how much you sleep at night? :yawn: If so, this is a key sign of sleep apnea- you constantly wake up because you stop snoring, and thus, stop breathing, and you never get into REM sleep, where your body is able to regenerate for the next day. Good luck and God bless! :angel:
-GatsbyLuvr1920-

I agree on the sleep apena.I somthing pretty simular during one of pregancies.I would suddenly wake up not being to breath and gaging on saliva or something.I would choke and cough and gasp for air and then i could breath again.I havent had this since that pregnacy though.
I am sure it could be panic attacks too,but i think like other prob sleep apena.

hope things go well at your doctors visit good luck

Hi there,

"I wake up in the middle of the night unable to breath - it's like I am suffocating."

"I feel like something get's stuck in the middle of my throat that does not let the air flow to my system."

"It has been happening a lot lately but the worst episode was last night. I woke up frantic 'cause I couldn't breath then I tried to breath until finally I was able to."

Yeah, i agree, sounds like Sleep Apnea -but you know what? my dad started getting this a few years ago... the doctors did lots of tests etc, and diagnosed him, in the end, with GERD (i think) whereby the fluid from his stomach was irritating his oesophagus (sp) at night, and causing the symptoms, now he takes a gaviscon before bed, and sleeps with his head slightly elevated - and all is well!

Just my two cents :-)

OMG i used to get just that, i felt like someone was strangling me in bed, like i couldn breath...it is so scarey!!! i was scared to fall asleep, i would just wake up and sit straight up unable to breath and choking-well wierd...this symptom just seems to have faded and i never got to the bottom of it - must be anxiety!!! x x