Gasping

[March-Hare]

Two or maybe three times a year I have the terrifying experience of waking in the night literally gasping for breath. It makes me fly out of bed in a panic and I struggle to stay calm enough to get my breathing back to normal. I am in a total panic , instantly wide awake, and once it settles I am left belching because I have swallowed so much air in the process. Kits very frightening. What causes it ? Anyone else have it? Can it be prevented? TIA

[yogasun]

Do you snore March-Hare? Could it be some sort of sleep apnoea where you seem to stop breathing for a minute or so?
Is it some form of night terror? Sorry am asking more questions than you did!
Sqad will be around to help I expect. That's frightening though.

[Sqad]

I agree with yogasun,in that it does seem like obstructive sleep apnoea.There may be a simple cause such as a nasal problem and that can be dealt with quite easily. if you are overweight,a drinker and or a smoker, then the's factors need to be addressed.

See your GP.

In answer to your question...no....I don,t suffer from them.

[March-Hare]

Thanks both - I do snore and often wake with a very dry throat as I don't breath through my nose easily - have had surgery to relieve nasal obstruction previously. I son't smoke or drink, but would benefit from carrying a few less pounds. When this happens, assuming is apnoea, I assume that's what wakes me .................. what would the GP suggest as a remedy? I am reluctant to go as it happens so infrequently - literally only 2 or 3 times in a year - and only in the last couple of years ....... would he do anything?

[Sqad]

\\\\literally only 2 or 3 times in a year - and only in the last couple of years ....... would he do anything? \\\\

Very unlikely as "2 or 3 times a year" does not seem "life shattering"..........

[March-Hare]

I thought so Sqad ..... as long as I always wake up!!!!! It's just frightening, so it's good to know what it is likely to be - didn't think GP would do anything unless it's far more frequent. Thank you for putting my mind at rest.

[Sqad]

A pleasure....

[MadMen]

Maybe something like snoring strips would help? They open up the nasal passage , so you'd be able to breathe more easily through your nose.

[riptide]

I get this from time to time, not had one recently though. So frightening, gasping for breath. Been going on for over 20 years with me, still here, touch wood, so nothing to worry about. I found the more I worried about it, the more likely it was to happen. Went on a course of lanzaprosol recently and that set it off again. Try not to think about it when you go to sleep, easily said I know. Hopefully will cure itself.

[March-Hare]

Thanks madmen and riptide ....... am taking lots of medication so maybe that's impacting x