Sleep apnea? Or something else? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

MrPaul · 11-28-2006, 07:25 PM

Hi,

I was wondering if you kind people could offer me some advice. My wife says she has heard me gasping for air right when I begin to sleep. I have noticed this myself and have actually woken myself up! This leads me to suspect I could have "sleep apnea".

But here is the odd thing. I am never tired, as a matter of fact I feel fantastic all day long. My career requires intense concentration and focus and it has been thriving, so no noticeable lack there. No dry mouth, no headaches etc. Long story short, I have none of the symptoms of sleep apnea (that I could locate online) other than this gasping or pause in breath.

Is there any other condition known that would cause the symptoms I have described?

Thanks alot!

mkgbrook · 11-28-2006, 08:19 PM

My brother had something similar.. it was related to obstructed air flow through the nasal cavities.. as long as he breathed through the mouth.. which was normally accompanied with snoring he was fine. You can get checked out by and ENT or sleep doctor for sure.. if all you have is gasping for breathe.. they may or may not require a sleep study.

Sincerely,
MG

littleln11 · 12-01-2006, 10:56 PM

I would still see a doctor, sometimes the symptoms come on so gradually that you don't realize you have a problem until it's been corrected.

I thought I was fine myself. It wasn't until after I had surgery for my sleep apnea and sinusitis that I realized how little energy I had before. All the symptoms I had I just thought were the way I was. Boy was I wrong. It is like night and day.

The work that used to take me a full work day, I can now complete in half the time. I'm much nicer. I don't freak out over going to bed late.

The gasping as or just after falling asleep was one of my symptoms for obstructive sleep apnea.