something scary happened today while I was napping, could it be sleep apnea?

Today I fell asleep with the baby on my chest on the couch. 2 or 3 times I woke up (actually half awake, half still sleeping) and felt like I couldnt breathe, like I literally couldnt take a breath for a couple of seconds. I dont know if I was dreaming or if this is something like what happens in sleep apnea I gained 50 lbs. while I was prengnant with DS and he is only 6 weeks old so I obviously haven't lost all the baby weight but I gained the same with DS #1 and never had anything like this happen.

I am nervous now to go to sleep. It was really scary.

ETA: I also have an anxiety disorder but never had trouble breathing while sleeping as a symptoms but I guess it could happen if I have a panic attack while sleeping but I didnt feel that way.

Also when it happened, I felt very cold.

Message edited 10/23/2009 10:41:15 PM.

Re: something scary happened today while I was napping, could it be sleep apnea?

that is truly frightening... i don't know if it's apnea - but it is DEFINITELY worth a call to the doctor - if not a visit.

my dad has apnea and he always said we were crazy to think that he wasn't breathing - he had NO idea that he wasn't breathing at night....

some of his symptoms were: large neck, being tired during the day (would fall asleep mid conversation sometimes), high bp...

Re: something scary happened today while I was napping, could it be sleep apnea?

When you semi-woke up did you feel like you could not move your entire body?

I get this once in a blue moon where I feel like I am awake, can't move my body and feel like I am struggling to breathe. It's sleep paralysis. It's pretty common.

If you are nervous about not being able to breath or think something else may be wrong, you should definitely contact your doctor. They can tell you exactly what's going on!

Re: something scary happened today while I was napping, could it be sleep apnea?

Posted by Babyaholic

When you semi-woke up did you feel like you could not move your entire body?

I get this once in a blue moon where I feel like I am awake, can't move my body and feel like I am struggling to breathe. It's sleep paralysis. It's pretty common.

If you are nervous about not being able to breath or think something else may be wrong, you should definitely contact your doctor. They can tell you exactly what's going on!

Re: something scary happened today while I was napping, could it be sleep apnea?

Yes, I have had that before and it does SCARE the $hit outta me. Thankfully, it doesnt happen often, but when it does, I can't move any part of my body and I cant breathe either. I can only open my eyes. What seems like minutes......it probably only lasts seconds. I just try my hardest to move my legs or arms to wake my body up. Once it wakes up, Im able to breathe again, and Im outta breath as if I was holding my breath for whatever amount of seconds it is.

It used to happen when I was in my early 20's maybe every few months.....now its very RARE.

I beleive this is called sleep paralysis. I never got it checked out b/c it technically never became an issue.

But, yes, its scary...especially the NO Breathing part.