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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Short Of Breath, Not Enough Oxygen??

Hello. I woke up last night, because I wasn t breathing. This has happened to me a few times in the last couple months, but it was never a big deal i just went back to sleep and every thing was ok. This time I woke up and it felt like I wasn t getting enough oxygen, I was kind of hyperventilating my heart was beating very fast and my whole body was shaking! I went to the emergency room and they took my ekg and a chest x-ray but everything was normal. I felt like that for about 4 hours, And then today in the middle of the day I got that feeling again 3 times. I am so freaked out. Especially because the doctors don t know what it could be. I keep telling my self that I am ok and it might be in my head, but I was busy and my mind was somewhere completely else and it started happening. Can somebody tell me what that could be, or how to make breathing easier when it happenes again???
posted on Thu, 17 Dec 2009
Twitter Thu, 17 Dec 2009 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 17 Dec 2009 Last reviewed on
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I know someone who suffered from the same problem. It apparently is a rare sleeping disorder. Go to a sleep clinic ! It is very harmless apparently but could be dangerous if untreated (at an older age so don't panic) ... I will ask him what the disorder is called and update my answer, so check back ! PS. I am pretty sure it is the same condition as he explained the symptoms to me in detail before the diagnosis was made. For years his condition was not diagnosed properly until he went to a sleep clinic. UPDATE: I just called him. The disorder is called "Sleep Apnea" You can find more information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea I think the feeling you experience during the day however are anxiety attacks because you are worried about your nocturnal experiences. See a doc and go to a sleep clinic ! I'm not a doc but can tell you it's not your heart so ... DON'T PANIC ! You'll be fine !
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Short Of Breath, Not Enough Oxygen??

I know someone who suffered from the same problem. It apparently is a rare sleeping disorder. Go to a sleep clinic ! It is very harmless apparently but could be dangerous if untreated (at an older age so don t panic) ... I will ask him what the disorder is called and update my answer, so check back ! PS. I am pretty sure it is the same condition as he explained the symptoms to me in detail before the diagnosis was made. For years his condition was not diagnosed properly until he went to a sleep clinic. UPDATE: I just called him. The disorder is called Sleep Apnea You can find more information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea I think the feeling you experience during the day however are anxiety attacks because you are worried about your nocturnal experiences. See a doc and go to a sleep clinic ! I m not a doc but can tell you it s not your heart so ... DON T PANIC ! You ll be fine !