possible sleep apnea....any thoughts? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

amymv · 10-13-2005, 10:13 AM

I will know next week if it is NOT a throid problem...but I have gained about 14 lbs since Feb....been very sluggish, tired....sometimes after having just fallen asleep..I will jump up very startled..telling my husband that I can't breathe..my heart is racing....then after I calm down..I go back to sellp with no problems...Does any with known sleep apnea have any of these symptoms..and does this sound like this is what it could be? If so...what are the treatments for it....and do they work? Are there non-surgical treatments that have been proven to work?
Any comments or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

tammq · 10-14-2005, 01:00 PM

amymv,

Do you ever experience a feeling of being paralyzed in sleep? I thought maybe I had sleep apnea b/c I'd wake up with my heart racing, but I also get a weird feeling of being paralyzed. I can hear everything, and open my eyes some, but I can't move or speak and my heart races in fear. It is terrorizing. I've tried to do some research on it, and I've read that it isn't dangerous, but it sure it scarey!! Just a thought...

Gnats · 10-21-2005, 11:22 PM

Amymv,

I have that same sinsation from time to time myself. I was dx'd with sleep apnea 3 years ago. I can't say for certain that my apnea has anything to do with those symptoms, but I do know that since I started sleeping with a cpap, I don't have those moments nearly as often. More like once every cpl of months.

Check into a sleep study if you haven't already. If you have and are on a cpap then check to make sure you are getting the right amount of air flow.

Good luck on your tests and I hope all works out for the best for you.

analog2000 · 10-23-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amymv

Are there non-surgical treatments that have been proven to work?

Actually, surgery is NOT usually the recommended treatment for sleep apnea. Surgery has a poor success rate, especially compared with CPAP treatment.

I also have sleep apnea and sleep paralysis. My doctor explained to me that the two are separate, un-related, sleep disorders, but that anything that interferes with your sleep can increase the frequency and severity of sleep paralysis.

I used to have episodes of sleep paralysis 1-3 times per week. Since my apnea has been adequately treated (with CPAP) I have had an episode maybe once every 3-4 months.

Good luck.