My boyfriend does this exact same thing. (I kept telling him he was holding his breath and sounded like a seal!) Once I started reading this thread and realized that it wasn't sleep apnea, and probably not worrisome, I made some observations.

Hopefully these observations will help others as well.

1. He only does it when he is sleeping on his back which makes me believe that the angle of his head is contributing to the sound.

2. I realized that he primarily breaths through his mouth (whether awake or asleep) wheras I breath through my nose all day, as most do. When I asked him to breath through his nose, we realized it was a bit more difficult for him (maybe a deviated septum of some sort?) Which may be the reason for the sounds in the middle of the night.

3. Stress is definitely a factor. It has increased since we moved across the country.

So these things make me suspect that it simply has to do with not being able to breath through the nose at night, and when sleeping on his back, his breathing just gets stuck in his throat and comes out like a beach ball. Let me know if anyone else has these same observations.

...as I can hold my breath for AGES!

Wow, just found out tonight that my condition is called Catathrenia!  I'm a 32 year old female and suffered from it for as long as i can remember!  Over the years, I've provided lots of entertainment for my friends, when sharing rooms and especially when sharing dormitories whist traveling in Oz.  
My "noises" have been described as a machine gun, dolphins sounds and EEErrrrrr to name but a few!  

Last night, after many episodes of dolphin sounds, my new husband of 4 months finally told me i need to do something about my "noises", as they were really loud and at one point he was freaked out as he thought i had stopped breathing.  I also wake up with him saying 'Breath' and annoyed that i'd done it again.  He snores sometimes and is a very deep sleeper, so i must be blowing the roof off the house :)

I would really like to stop doing this every night; its unnerving, because of not knowing if there are any long term problems and i want my husband to have a peaceful nights sleep.  

I haven't been to the doctors, as i'm not tired in the mornings (but i am becoming quite forgetful, which is a worry especially at 32).  
I am going to try and sleep on my side (as suggested by someone on this forum) and see if that helps.  

I also do it more often when i've had a really busy, brain drain type of day, but not necessarily stressed!

I'll let you know how I (we) get on!

Thanks & good luck x

Just thought you might like to know, my husband told me he couldn't hear my "noises" last night!!!!
The solution was a bolster by my back so i couldn't roll over on my back and i was making a real effort to breath through my mouth, not nose.  I'll try the same techniques tonight
Good Luck x

wow maybee we should make a "mouh opening device" I often thought of that lol

I was going to start a thread on this subject lol wow a lot of people with this problem:

I have been trying xpap since April 09 rarely works sometime better then other nights, always seem that I feel very  short on breath when being woken up as well as hyperventilating a lot. So I end up taking it off

What I have noticed as I just reordered myself with a video camera BTW 42- male 200lbs (about 25lbs overweight )- 6.0 height…

I fall asleep fast because I am so tired and I too Breath in through my noise then try to breath out of my mouth, I make a groan then my cheeks puff out like I am smiling and the air pops out…I have also tested positive for Sleep Apnea during an at home test I did…I have done the sleep lab study but could barley sleep at all will try again soon as soon as I locate a specialist in this area…

I have bad waking episodes of panicky wake-ups through out my life but a lot more lately as well as fast heart beats upon waking up120-150bpm lows in the 40’s when sleeping-…Did the cardiac test sonogram, overnight recorder, as well as the month cardiac episode recorder device but was mostly taking Xanax so I had less symptoms … we have  mostly ruled out cardiac issues even though I have a PFO (which is shown that 1-4 people have this and are subsequently shown to have lower blood 02)

My theory for my disposition is that:

1.    Xanax does help me tremendously sleep great but can become physically dependent and coming off after long term use say 3plus weeks can be very traumatic even with titration because of short half life as well as being one of the strongest benzodiazapams.
2.    Being naturally hypersensitive I believe that holding breath increases C02 in blood levels therefore increasing the anxiety panicky feeling as well as trying to tell you’re body to hurry and wake up from sleeping therefore increasing the demand on all you’re organs to respond to increased demands of blood flow etc... Vicious circle,  I f I jump out of bed it takes about 45 minutes for my heart rate/ breathing  to slow down but If I make myself stay in bed I can usually keep calm and relax back to sleep within minutes only to repeat this process several times a night. My resting 02 is a little low at 95-93 but sometimes drops to 89-88 when sleeping but not for long and is probably related to the events I am having.
3.    Sleeping on my stomach although initially feels better with less symptoms but seems to make it a lot worse when I wake up …like I am even more out of oxygen then any other sleeping  position

Again what has worked best for me has been the CNS depressant with XPAP therapy as long as I don’t blow my mouth open with the XPAP…sleep is really good this way…but I really don’t like being physically dependent on Xanax…So why would a CNS help when having OSA it is supposed to make it even worse?  

1.    Possibly because of the anti-anxiety effects one doesn’t became so sensitized to the events and my SA is one the milder side so not to adversely affect me as much.
2.    Proven fact that Benzo’s do not induce the deep sages of sleep one needs to produce hormones and other regenerative chemicals needed…In my case most of my events  seem to be dominate in the deeper stages of  sleep and /or trying to wake up from …so possibly another advantage to the benzo    

     Again I am not a doctor and do not make any recommendations… I am just saying what has worked for me and I certainly do not recommend any Benzo’s and respect them heavily as such. There are serious reprocutions of long term Benzo use but in contrast have helped me through some rough times but even now I am currently not taking them but I will again on occasions as needed .

     Right now I am looking at TAP device, (hate to spend so much $$ on a maybe), as well as seeking out a noted sleep specialist from Harvard that my sons doctor recommended for possibly another sleep study…also trying various positions like sleeping sitting up, using breathing strips and spray…etc…but so far nothing beats the benzo’s …sleeping sitting up does show some relief but what fun that is…

Why doesn’t someone invent a retractable tube / splint device that we can just stick down our throats when we go to sleep? at this point I will try anything for some relief lol …good luck everyone and god bless will post if anything new come up

James

I have read this entire thread and now feel ready to post a few thoughts, a little insight and some of what my personal... nightmare is about - as best I know.  

For several years I have had some sort of seizure disorder. Cause unknown. Treatment  has been varied until the last 3 years, roughly.  

The seizures seem to be under control but I still experience somehting, something bad that I do not want!

Almost 40, ten days out now, I am still searching for what brings on these 'episodes' and how to stop them.  This is what has brought me to your fine forum and idea exchange.

The Problem:

Perhaps best to describe it as anxiety or 'panic attack'. I usually sense it coming on, often nothing I can do. The urgency erupts to a peek level - regardless of where in a breathing cycle I am ( inhale, exhale or just in between) I cease: stop breathing.

By others accounts, as usually I am not all there for a short period of time, I become red and tense, very tense. These are most always within the first hour of waking up, be it after a (solid) nap mid-day or in the AM. Seldom will it occur mid-day.

A week ago I did an ambulatory eeg ( ie: I wear the head gear for 24-hrs ) - nothing  was unusual and nothing happened - of course I had a great sleep that night, go figure  

I take Depakote and Keppra Side effect include anxiety... ( and thoughts of suicide, but that is not a concern, just a way I humor myself a bit). I will start taking lamitcal soon with the others and see if this helps...

My neurologist and GP both think they are 'break through' seizures. I am not sure, I think whatever it is really terrible, obviously I want to have nothing to do with it at any level. Unfortunately, it will not go away on it's own volition so I have to be diligent and peruse venues that the Doc may not.

More of a commonality for me and my new 'breather' friends:

At night I often wake up, sitting up fast and bursting out with a few words or a sentence. Sometimes in non-sequetor fashion and other times in conclusion to a dream; likely in rem sleep ( 1/2 awake anyway). Until recently, I have slept well until about 4-5 AM then it is on and off every ( what seems like) couple mins; likely 20-30 min intervals.  There are a few more lessor aspects that perhaps will merit a mention later.

In fear of going long, if not too late, I will step down and see what else comes this way.

Thanks for your attention... certainly any insight would be appreciated.

-SA

I have read this and after 13 pages still do not know what it is. In fact the thread goes off yet again to Catathrenia. It is not Catathrenia - that is groaning as you exhale. Clear concise ailment that has been diagnosed.

This is a deep deep breath then hold! Then slowly exhale and then total and violent empty of the lungs because you are not emptying them quick enough and it wakes you up. It  is uncomfortable and sore on the lungs for want of better words.

Sleep Apnoea is different too - that is stopping breathing at any stage of exhale and inhale due to throat muscles contracting etc etc. This wakes the sleeper constantly but they don't know most of the time.

This is one thing and it is different - deep breath and then exhale slowly (squeeky ball) then when the lungs seem to get sore a big exhale to get rid of the rest of the air. That wakes me up most of the time so constantly tired in the afternoons.

Here is the thing - a few posts here have said that this happens too when awake sometimes. A moment where you could be just, say reding a paper and then for some reason you are holding a deep breath again and the only difference is that because you are awake it is more controlled and exhale as soon as you realise. You simply find yourself doing it.

So is it a sleep disorder or maybe a breathing/phsycological disorder? I even thought of finding someone soemwhere who could train me to breath differently or something. Shorter breaths for example. Is this possible?

It is absolutely bizarre. No pattern to it. I also get 'sore lungs' as someone else put it. Like holding your breath underwater for too long kind of sensation. Uncomfortable and tiring.
I am 45, fit - a bit of stress but absolutely no pattern for me at all. I do it most nights but not every night.



Hoping the forum finds an expert who can post a solution. If not best of luck to all but to my mind no solution so far!!!!

Ok firstly let me start by saying I thought I was the only one. I do the same thing I have been doing it for years. I hold by breath while sleeping and slowly let it out sounding like air escaping a balloon. I didn’t realize other people have it.

I do that too, as well as catathrenia.  And sometimes I do it when I'm awake without realizing it.

Fellow sufferers, please join this group so we can keep in touch and learn from each other:
[Moderated. Please refer to posting guidelines]

Has anyone else had this happen? I've freaked out when I haven't been able to catch my breath then passed out and it turned into a full tonic clonic seizure. I've had multiple sleep studies and EKG's recently and a year or two ago. I'm currently on Klonopin which helps, drinking a good bit before going to bed also helps.

Anybody else taking anything else that helps?

Mine happens in early stages of sleep. Gone to multiple neurologist and GP's with no help.

I am a 37 year old female of normal weight (5'9'' 145lbs).   I have been holding my breath when I sleep for at least 18 years, possibly longer.  My friends and now husband have described it as a very slow exhale (lasting more than a minute) with various sounds, popping, deflating balloon etc...  Some nights it wakes me up feeling breathless.  It doesn't wake me up every night, so I am unsure if I do it every night.  I have a history of 2 head injuries 1 at 14 and the other at 16, both with brief LOC.
Over the last 7 or so years I have noticed a decrease in memory, retention...I will have difficulty with recall and will forget entire conversations etc.  I have an anxiety disorder and have taken xanax for years, its the only thing that helps me sleep.

I thougt that maybe the anxiety meds (wellbutrin and xanax at night) were causing my memory problems so I went off all drugs for 7 months and it didn't get better so now I wonder if the chronic sleep problems may be causing the memory/recall difficulty.

I have also noticed a decrease in my exercise tolerance.  Sleep apnea can cause heart failure, pulmonary htn and tricuspid insufficiency.  Even though most of us agree that what we are experiencing is probably not sleep apnea (or at least the common type of obstructive sleep apnea) but our breath holding could be causing hypoxic spells.

So my question for all of you is 3 fold:  How many of you have a history of a head injury (anoxic/traumatic)
2. do you have any memory/retention/recall problems
3. Any noticable decrease in exercise tolerance or other cardiac problems?

I just had a sleep study done and it noted ZERO obstructive apneas and just a few centrals. My problem is, apparently HYPOPNEA or reduced breathing. Maybe this is what the original poster is referring to?

I've been looking for others with a similar situation. Most seem to have the obstructive kind, including my own husband, who uses a CPAP machine. His situation is entirely different from mine, though. We're just lucky, I guess... but his situation is what prompted me to have the study done in the first place.

I pick up my BIPAP later this week. That oughtta be fun with both of us on machines.  

NickJ wrote:

I have read this and after 13 pages still do not know what it is. In fact the thread goes off yet again to Catathrenia. It is not Catathrenia - that is groaning as you exhale. Clear concise ailment that has been diagnosed.

I believe it is still Catathrenia.  I believe the confusion lies in the groups of researches studying the disease.  One group interpreted Catathrenia as expiatory snoring and released studies on folks with that problem.  The rest of the researchers, I believe, are still focused on our "breath holding" type Catathrenia.

I've begun taking 25mg of nortriptyline immediately before bed.  I only have my subjective experience to relate, but so far I feel much much better upon waking in the morning.  I'll have to wait until a friend sleeps over to find out if my breath holding has actually improved or not.

I too am another sufferer. I have had this problem for about 10 years. Did a sleep study about 5 years ago with no conclusions. The Consultant told me I did not have sleep apnea. She said it may be stress related. I would dream 2/3 times a night and will often wake myself up with the squeaky exhale. My husband is exhausted and I feel like I haven't had a good nights sleep in a long time. If anyone has any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated.