Question
Just as I am falling asleep, I wake suddenly. Sometimes with a jump or sometimes with the sensation of a pause in my breath or throat, along with a slight moan. I cant quite figure it out, but i know when it happens it makes me very nervous. It doesn't happen every night, maybe a couple times a month. It only happens at the falling asleep stage, and will happen 3 or 4 times before i actually do fall asleep.It's very scary, please help!
Answer
What happens is sometimes instead of the body or brain going to sleep or awakening together there is a lag of a nano second, you could be dreaming with your eyes open, or dreaming and your body is still awake. these 2 symptoms are called sleep paralysis and hallucinations which are symptoms of narcolepsy a sleeping disorder only if it happens all the time, but once in awhile its natural phenomenon. The other thing it could be is it could be a gerd problem as you say its hard to breathe or sleep apnea, but i dont think so understand though im a respiratory therapist not a doctor,but i suffer from narcolepsy over 30 years, go to sleepnet.com click on disorders narcolepsy, then read about hypnanagogic hallucinations, sleep paralysis, to get a better idea of the symptoms, then go to disorders sleep apnea, but it sounds to me that its either the sleep paralysis or a gerd problem or sinus problem, but one way to fix it and the easiest, sleep on 2 pillows this raises your head and airway to breathe better also 3 hours before your bedtime stay away from caffeine, tea,coffee, chocolate, caramel colored soda, like coke and pepsi and exercise all these make for restless sleep. These 2 things should help, the only time its to worry is if these episodes are making your wakeful time in the daytime very sleepy and tired then it could be a sleeping disorder but for know i would chalk it up to either gerd, or natural phenomenon. If the pillows dont help, you may want to see your md about having gastric reflux and he might prescribe an antacid, but from what you describe I think sleeping elevated and make sure the room is not dry , for that a humidifier cool air would help also. feel free to email agai kare.
