Could This Be Sleep Apnea??? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

TANKG!RL · 05-25-2007, 01:23 PM

Dear Readers:
For all my life I have had hard times falling and staying asleep. I use to walk and talk in my sleep as a child and now I am talking up a storm again with no sleep walking. I recently started having anxiety attacks and now I am on Metoprolol to help keep my heart rate and BP down. Which has helped alot and I haven't had any panic attack episodes since. I also have been under alot of stress since I was 17, I am now 22 (23 in June). First it was with back problems due to a car accident and a really long story of horrors I had in High School, which I don't really feel like getting into at the moment. Then I lost my Grandpa who was very, very close to me all my life. Then I had to have an emergency surgery to have my gallbladder removed. Then 2 years ago I was injured at work and have been hurting since. I had surgery for my knee on May 4th, I've been fighting tooth and nail with Workers Compensation...I don't want to get into that story...those people are nightmares to deal with.
Ok now all of a sudden I get these weird sleep cycles. I usually always have a very, very hard time falling asleep even if I am extremely tired. I'll lay in bed for probably 2 to 3 hours before I actually fall into somewhat of a sleep state. I get to the point of sleep where you're in between being awake and ready to dream ( I hope you understand what I am saying). It's what I'd call a very easily awaken state. Well what happens is I get to that point then all of a sudden I get scared awake. My heart's beating pretty fast like someone jumped out behind me and screamed "BOO!". Then I realize nothings wrong and I head back to sleep and then about an hour later BOOM it happens again. This usually happens 3-5 times in one night just like I had explained. It probably happens once a week, but not every night. During those episodes I am a light sleeper and every toss turn or noise wakes me up, but once I get to dream state nothing wakes me up lol. I thought at first it was a panic attack but I don't have all the other normal panic attack symptoms along with it, i.e. tingling fingers, shortness of breathe, sweating, shaking.
I do dream every night and I always remember my dreams in full detail and color, I always have. My boyfriend has said that I do talk ALOT in my sleep now out of the blue which I had stop doing years ago. He says I usually as of lately am saying "Ouch" repetitively. The only thing I can think of about the ouch thing is maybe I am moving my knee wrong in my sleep or leaning on it where it hurts.
What I really would like to know is what's going on that I get scared awake so much? Could this been Apnea? I did inform my doctor of this, just so you know

he never mentioned apnea as he was more concerned with my panic attacks.

P.S. Sorry for this being so long everyone.

bailey46 · 05-25-2007, 03:32 PM

I'm just learning more about sleep apnea since my husband was diagnosed this week. Since I'm not an expert I'd see a sleep specialist and have a sleep study done if I were you. My husband didn't believe me when I told him that he'd literally stop breathing in his sleep but he agreed to a sleep study and it proved to him that he has a pretty severe case of sleep apnea. One of the things his specialist told him is that when you stop breathing the heart beats harder to try to get oxygen, while the brain sends signals to tell the body to wake up and breathe! That feeling of fright that you have may be your brain and body fighting to get air. I also have the same sensation from time to time and am about to go on a c-flex machine to help me with my breathing at night. I'm hoping this will solve a boat-load of sleep issues I've had for many years.

Long story short... I'd get set up for a sleep study then you'll know for sure. At least rule apnea out. If it's not sleep apnea, then you can start to focus on other issues like anxiety, etc.

Good luck and all the best to you!

bethsheba · 05-25-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TANKG!RL

....
Ok now all of a sudden I get these weird sleep cycles....

Did anything change at this time? Did you start taking any rx or over the counter medications? Supplements? Herbals? If so, do some reading as many can cause sleep disturbances.

Given your history and your symptoms, I too, think you should investigate sleep disorders. I would recommend reading as much as you can because MANY doctors are not familiar with sleep medicine...your doctor, for instance, is more concerned about panic attacks which are symptoms, than he is of a sleeping disorder which can CAUSE panic attacks.

Again, read as much as possible and then get yourself a good doctor who is board certified in sleep medicine.

Bsheba

mkgbrook · 05-25-2007, 08:34 PM

I slept no more than four hours a night since I was a child.. I slept walked, talked.. and had many similar issues to you. I and my parents and brother had severe sleep apnea. My parents and brother got theirs under control with tonsillectomies and adnoidectomies.. but I was never selected for the surgery. My parents didn't want me to go through that pain.. well I was finally diagnosed at the age of 31 with sleep apnea.. and had my T&A shortly after.. I still have sleep apnea, but I sleep and dream and am healthy now I am on my CPAP.

I strongly suggest you find a ABSM (American Board of Sleep Medicine) certified sleep specialist and get a sleep study performed.

SIncerely,
MG

TANKG!RL · 05-26-2007, 01:44 AM

Thank you all for your replies. I am trying to obtain some health insurance.... I'm, supposively on disability due to being disabled from an injury at work almost 2 years ago. Workers Compensation is a pain in the butt ten times over. As for medications I take Metoprolol twice a day, to keep my heart rate and BP down. It actually has helped with the panic attacks as well. I am an asthmatic but I haven't had to use my albuteral in a month or so, which is amazing for me. I usually use it atleast one puff a day just to open up my lungs in the morning, but since I've been on Metoprolol I haven't had to use it at all. I do have IBS and I do take Hydrocodone for my knee pain twice a day. I live with my boyfriend and have for 1 year and 5 months. I swear life would be a nightmare without him by my side. He takes care of me (I don't work and when I'm able he'd prefer to keep it that way). I love my life situation, with my boyfriend and my families. I can't really think of anything that has changed. The only thing that I could say has changed is my diet. I've been eating healthier and losing weight. I eat tons of veggies, oven baked chicken, occasional yogurt and once in awhile a slice of bread. Once in a great while I'll eat a slice of pizza. I've lost 20 pounds since January so I don't feel I lost it to fast. I can't wait until I can workout. I feel good, better about myself then I have in the past. I do know my Papa has sleep Apnia, if by any chance it's hereditary. I talked to my mommie about this today and she thinks it could be either from the anesthesia from the surgery on May 4th or still all part of my panic attacks. Which I haven't had a panic attacks since April.

Hopefully some of this info helps, feel free to ask me anything

Again thanks everyone for all your input