I'm starting to have some real bad bouts with sleep apnea

[Toby]

I have had several episodes over the last few weeks where I am waking up suddenly in a coughing fit followed by a severe strained throat....one time I could taste blood in my mouth and this morning I was coughing so bad that I ended up puking a couple times

I'm scared I am going to die in my sleep and no one will find me for several days



I don't have insurance so a sleep study/CPAP machine is clearly out of the question...I suppose I could try and drop some weight and see if that helps...I was reading elsewhere that the coughing fits could be caused my acid reflux (which I have) and I shouldn't eat at least three hours before going to bed, but I am not sure how that could be related to the coughing fits because they are generally SEVERAL hours after I have eaten last, but I am guilty of eating right before I go to bed, only because I get home at 4am every night, exhausted and usually haven't had a chance to eat anything.

[redbull]

I also have sleep apnea

1. sleep on your side or stomach if you aren't already
2. if you smoke, stop
3. losing weight will help

also, make sure your room is well ventilated and all that stuff. just keeping a window open for some fresh air will do wonders if you've got allergies at all

[ilikeplanets]

Sorry to hear about this, Tobes. I wish there was more that could be done for it.

[AndySlash]

send me your number tobes and i'll try to call you sometime tomorrow to discuss this. i work with sleep equipment, and have access to a respiratory therapist who may be able to talk you through some things.

[EyesOfAJackal]

You can try sleeping with several pillows to prop you up a little more if you don't like sleeping on your side or stomach (one of my roommates has sleep apnea and that helps, but he's pretty vertical when he does, like sitting in a lazy boy). You already pointed out that eating before bed is bad if you have reflux. Lay off the alcohol right before bed, too (this helps with reflux, sleep apnea, AND night time wakening)

See a doc if and when you can, because if it goes on too long you can get high blood pressure and even pulmonary hypertension/heart disease/sexual dysfunction, which can be bad.

Like redbull said, lose some weight. That will help more than your sleep apnea, and exercising during the day (not soon before bed) will leave you more tired and ready to sleep well. Avoiding television and bright lights right before bed helps with the nighttime awakenings... maybe a warm bath or light reading can help you be sleepy.

600th post!

[Starla]

Originally Posted by Toby

I have had several episodes over the last few weeks where I am waking up suddenly in a coughing fit followed by a severe strained throat....one time I could taste blood in my mouth and this morning I was coughing so bad that I ended up puking a couple times

I'm scared I am going to die in my sleep and no one will find me for several days



I don't have insurance so a sleep study/CPAP machine is clearly out of the question...I suppose I could try and drop some weight and see if that helps...I was reading elsewhere that the coughing fits could be caused my acid reflux (which I have) and I shouldn't eat at least three hours before going to bed, but I am not sure how that could be related to the coughing fits because they are generally SEVERAL hours after I have eaten last, but I am guilty of eating right before I go to bed, only because I get home at 4am every night, exhausted and usually haven't had a chance to eat anything.

I went through something similar cause I didn't have time to eat and I'd eat before bed. I stopped doing that and took prilosec for awhile and it got better. You can still have acid reflux when you haven't ate in hours.. sometimes worse.