Hi All, I am new to the forum and am looking for answers and help.  My 11 year old daughter is having breath holdings during awake or(apneas during awake)  she holds her breath for 10-15 seconds and exhales.  She does not seem to be aware that she is having them.  Sometimes she might have as many as 30 or 40 per hour!!!!I am really concerned and would like to know if someone has had similar experience.  I appreciate your help!!!Alejandra

Alejandra,

I can see how you would be concerned.  Does your daughter have any other medical or behavioral issues?  I would talk with her pediatrician about it and see what he would like to have happen.  I don't have any experience with this, so I can't tell where to start beyond the pediatrician...

Tiffany

I had a similar thing going on when I was a child.  I'm sorry to say that my family was not pro-medicine, and so it was never investigated or diagnosed.  It resolved on its own, though I don't recall exactly when.  Sorry I can't be of more help there.

My son (2 1/2) has apnea episodes when awake caused by silent reflux.  Sometimes he coughs or gags when he starts breathing again, but sometimes not, and he never indicates that he is distressed or concerned when it happens.  He has, however, had reflux since birth so I imagine he doesn't really know that it's not normal.

I would definitely discuss it with your daughter's physician.  You may also want to ask her to let you look at the color of her gums/tongue after an episode -- the mucous membranes are the first to show signs of oxygen desaturation.