Help me figure out what I have?
Hello!
I contracted COVID for the first time ever two weeks ago. A week ago, I developed a very annoying symptom. As I am falling asleep, my throat closes up (or perhaps my tongue covers my throat—how do I tell the difference?) Sometimes I make a humming sound. Sometimes just a click. It wakes me up.
Each night, I have been taking Nyquil (doxylamine) to help me sleep. Before someone suggests that this is relaxing my throat/tongue and causing the problems, 1) I do not take the stuff when I try to nap during daylight hours, something with which I had no trouble beforehand, and 2) it's the only thing that ensures I get a night's sleep.
According to my wife, I do not snore much. I do tend to wake up a lot in the night. I also have (had?) the ability to power nap at a moment's notice. But aside from enjoying naps, I don't suffer from excessive grogginess.
I am in good shape, BMI of around 24, 49 years old. Interestingly, I did not develop these issues when I had a cold two months ago. I did have something similar five years ago when I was overworking and stressed out, although side sleeping with my chin raised helped that a lot. It does not suffice now, nor does sleeping with my upper half significantly raised (like on a beanbag or a tilted bed) though it might have helped.
I have not been professionally diagnosed. This just started, and the sequence of primary care to specialist to treatment will probably take a long time. I'd like to be sleeping better now rather than in a month or two.
So questions for people who know:
1) Does this sound like sleep apnea?
2) Is this a symptom of COVID? If so, does it go away?
3) I see reference to throat and tongue exercises as potential solutions. Is there anything besides blowing air up my nose (which I suspect I will not be able to tolerate well) which will help?
Thanks very much.
I contracted COVID for the first time ever two weeks ago. A week ago, I developed a very annoying symptom. As I am falling asleep, my throat closes up (or perhaps my tongue covers my throat—how do I tell the difference?) Sometimes I make a humming sound. Sometimes just a click. It wakes me up.
Each night, I have been taking Nyquil (doxylamine) to help me sleep. Before someone suggests that this is relaxing my throat/tongue and causing the problems, 1) I do not take the stuff when I try to nap during daylight hours, something with which I had no trouble beforehand, and 2) it's the only thing that ensures I get a night's sleep.
According to my wife, I do not snore much. I do tend to wake up a lot in the night. I also have (had?) the ability to power nap at a moment's notice. But aside from enjoying naps, I don't suffer from excessive grogginess.
I am in good shape, BMI of around 24, 49 years old. Interestingly, I did not develop these issues when I had a cold two months ago. I did have something similar five years ago when I was overworking and stressed out, although side sleeping with my chin raised helped that a lot. It does not suffice now, nor does sleeping with my upper half significantly raised (like on a beanbag or a tilted bed) though it might have helped.
I have not been professionally diagnosed. This just started, and the sequence of primary care to specialist to treatment will probably take a long time. I'd like to be sleeping better now rather than in a month or two.
So questions for people who know:
1) Does this sound like sleep apnea?
2) Is this a symptom of COVID? If so, does it go away?
3) I see reference to throat and tongue exercises as potential solutions. Is there anything besides blowing air up my nose (which I suspect I will not be able to tolerate well) which will help?
Thanks very much.
