Hi,

My doctor has told me that I have sleep apnea. I had my first experience of it a week ago and then for a second time this morning. I have been searching through forums which discuss the symptoms etc but I cannot identify my problem!!!

The thing is I don't snore, at all, never had also. When I expereince sleep apnea I wake up in a panic and cannot breathe. As a natural instinct I couch furiously because I cannot breathe through my mouth or nose, it feels like I am suffocating.

In my first experience of sleep apnea I ended up in a pile on the floor after desperately coughing for I think a minute, but eventually I managed to catch a breath. Immediately after that I was exhausted, like I had been on a 10km sprint, I felt sick and really woozy. After a glass of water I managed to go back to bed....no problems for a week.

My second experience of sleep apnea this morning was very similar to this morning but luckily my father woke up a hit my on the bad to help me breathe and that helped me loads.

My problem is that it is happening at random and each time I think I am going to die from suffocation. Please can somebody help me identify what sleep apnea I suffer from??? What can I do to cure it???

Extra information: I am 21 years old, very active. I never feel fatigued, I never sweat a lot at night, my throat is not dry in the mornings, I am very healthy with no issues.

If anyone has any questions or suggestions please feel free to add it to this!!!

Thankyou for taking the time to read all the above and I look forward to hearing from people.

It could be one or more of several things and only a sleep specialist is going to be able to answer your questions so insist on an appointment w/a good sleep doctor and sleep clinic ASAP.

It could be that you are experiencing shorter term obstructive apneas that you aren't aware of as well as these prolonged ones that wake you up fighting for air. It could be that you are experiencing central apneas which are a result of the brain "forgetting" for some reason to remind or tell you to take a breath. It could be ..... the only way you are going to find out is to have an in-lab sleep evaluation to get down to the nitty gritty of what is causing this.

Good luck and God bless.


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Quote:

My doctor has told me that I have sleep apnea. I had my first experience of it a week ago and then for a second time this morning. I have been searching through forums which discuss the symptoms etc but I cannot identify my problem!!!

By Doctor, I assume that you mean your GP/PCP ? Sleep Apnoea can only be diagnosed with a polysomnogram (overnight sleep study). Assuming that it was your GP, you should have been referred to a sleep specialist.

Quote:

The thing is I don't snore, at all, never had also. When I expereince sleep apnea I wake up in a panic and cannot breathe. As a natural instinct I couch furiously because I cannot breathe through my mouth or nose, it feels like I am suffocating.

You don't have to snore to have Sleep Apnoea. The vast majority of Sleep Apnoea sufferers are unaware of it (except for symptoms like Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Irritability, Hypertension etc). Sleep Apnoea is a 'continuing' condition. You do not have it on one night, then nothing for a few nights. If you have it, you have it every night and it starts as soon as you fall asleep.

Quote:

In my first experience of sleep apnea I ended up in a pile on the floor after desperately coughing for I think a minute, but eventually I managed to catch a breath. Immediately after that I was exhausted, like I had been on a 10km sprint, I felt sick and really woozy. After a glass of water I managed to go back to bed....no problems for a week.

This doesn't sound like Sleep Apnoea. It might be, but your 'experiences' are not typical.

Quote:

My second experience of sleep apnea this morning was very similar to this morning but luckily my father woke up a hit my on the bad to help me breathe and that helped me loads.

Asc explained, Sleep Apnoea doesn't appear at irregular intervals.

Quote:

My problem is that it is happening at random and each time I think I am going to die from suffocation. Please can somebody help me identify what sleep apnea I suffer from??? What can I do to cure it???

It is not possible to diagnose Sleep Apnoea from the information you posted, nor is it permitted on this forum. Your GP must refer you to a specialist for diagnosis.

Quote:

Extra information: I am 21 years old, very active. I never feel fatigued, I never sweat a lot at night, my throat is not dry in the mornings, I am very healthy with no issues.

There is obviously something wrong. There are many conditions with similar symptoms to Sleep Apnoea......you have to get a proper diagnosis to what ails you, before you can look at ways to treat it.

You must follow this up with your GP.

Daniel.


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The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

You need to have a sleep study...you are most likely only waking up once in awhile from these..I never woke up and many do not.  The ones you are experiencing are NOT the only ones you have if you have sleep apnea..  you just do not know it.


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John-Jacob Britz-We are so glad you found us!  What you are describing is so similar of what I went through.  I probably had sleep apnea from when I was your age or younger.  Mine gradually became worse over the years, until I reached a point that was just as you described-except-I did snore-like a freight train!  I did wake up with a dry mouth and sore throat. Although snoring is a hallmark sign of sleep apnea, not everyone snores significantly.  I would wake up, feeling like I was suffocating.  It would take me about 5 minutes to catch my breath.  I would toss and turn, wake up every5-30 minutes.  Then I would need to pee.  I was so tired I would try to sleep whenever I got the chance.  I had headaches every day, and felt like I had never slept.

You may or may not have sleep apnea-you need to have a sleep study without question.  You said you cough-do you hear yourself making a whistling sound?  Does it feel like you have feathers in your lungs sometimes?  Do you have allergies?  Do you get respiratory infections easily?  You may also want to get checked for asthma.  My whole family has asthma, as well as I.  

I have a son close to your age. You are young-I am so glad that you have wisdom beyond your age to search for help, and seek to support your health.  Keep us posted-You are the new 'kid' on the block, and we want to know how you are doing.  Lantern4life