It happened again

[LolaBelle]

So this is the third time this has happened im still currently waiting to see the doctor to get my cpap but all the same symptoms happened I felt fine the day before I just healed from the last episode it took a month and a half almost to feel normal again. That's what happened the first time. I woke up at 9 this morning and I was fine but tired so I went back to sleep and I woke up at 1:30 roughly I was on my side cause I remember looking at the table and my mouth was super dry and I had like...dried spit in the corners of both of my mouth which is unusual for the most part, numb feeling, blood sugar is 101-109 (I took it twice just out of curiosity) I was sweating and I have extreme muscle weakness and a headache, the sweating and the headache are new those didn't happen last time and neither did the dried spit in the corners of my mouth (sorry to be graphic)..

So from experience (the last two times this happened) the muscle weakness goes away mostly the first day and is there a small amount the second day but is pretty much gone but the mental impairment lasts for a while getting slowly better each day till im back to normal for the most part. This time the muscle weakness is stronger at least I think so from what I remember, first time I went to the docs for this they didn't find anything they said I was pre diabetic even tho my ac1 was 5.6 and my blood sugar was normal, the second time I went in and that's how I got diagnosed with sleep apnea and iw as praying this wouldn't happen again before I got my machine but it did, and I have to wait till the 31st to see the doc to get my cpap, what I need to know to ease my anxiety and fear is if anyone has ever experienced this, I know a lot of my symptoms are normal for sleep apnea but why would it happen so suddenly.... did I kill some brain cells from oxygen deprivation that need to heal? That's the only thing I can think of? I desperately need to know if this has happened to anyone else before because its making me wonder if its something else even tho ive seen two doctors now and had a blood panel and everything.... any experience or inside would help greatly I just don't know why it would happen so suddenly... Thank you

Sarah

[TBlizz]

Hi, I know your pain, I went to the ER because I woke up feeling my heart beating very fast & they said it was anxiety. I had to be admitted because it was happening everytime I went to sleep. The Dr from the hospital had to call the Sleep Specialist & have them get me a earlier appt because it was medically necessary. The only thing that's going to take those symptoms away is the C Pap machine. I've been on mine since last Thursday & my symptoms are fading. Good luck on getting an emergency appointment

[PaulaO2]

My suggestion is to learn some breathing exercises. It will help you to calm down and teach you some meditation exercises as well. Start taking yoga classes or Tai Chi.

I know it is hard for you to hear it but, really (in regards to sleep apnea), you will be okay. The idea now is for you to keep saying that to yourself and to just patiently wait. Try to not worry about it (ha! right?) but to instead get excited about it. Anticipation feels better than worry. Soon you'll have the mask, the machine, the works. Until then, you're going to be fine.

As long as there is not something else going on, it sounds as if it was "just" a panic attack. They can be frightening!

[LolaBelle]

Hi, I know your pain, I went to the ER because I woke up feeling my heart beating very fast & they said it was anxiety. I had to be admitted because it was happening everytime I went to sleep. The Dr from the hospital had to call the Sleep Specialist & have them get me a earlier appt because it was medically necessary. The only thing that's going to take those symptoms away is the C Pap machine. I've been on mine since last Thursday & my symptoms are fading. Good luck on getting an emergency appointment

Thank you for your story it makes me feel better and less alone im really glad to hear your feeling better. I cant afford to go into the er I have great insurance because of my husband but its still 40 dollars to go into the er and as sad as this sound im broke right now lol but I am going to call the place and ask to be put on a list to get in sooner if someone cancels and let them know that im having some problems that are making it hard to function and I need to get in sooner, Im in Delaware staying with my mom right now but I live in Pennsylvania and I was going home Monday but I had my sleep studies done down here and there is a sleep doctor down here im going to call Monday and see if I can get in sooner than the place in Pennsylvania and I will have to stay down here a little longer if they get me in sooner I wanted to do it back home in PA but right now I just need to get in and start my therapy

My suggestion is to learn some breathing exercises. It will help you to calm down and teach you some meditation exercises as well. Start taking yoga classes or Tai Chi.

I know it is hard for you to hear it but, really (in regards to sleep apnea), you will be okay. The idea now is for you to keep saying that to yourself and to just patiently wait. Try to not worry about it (ha! right?) but to instead get excited about it. Anticipation feels better than worry. Soon you'll have the mask, the machine, the works. Until then, you're going to be fine.

As long as there is not something else going on, it sounds as if it was "just" a panic attack. They can be frightening!

Thank you for the suggestions and the kind words Im not anxious anymore and I still have all the symptoms this is the third time its happened now in the last 8 months and im the opposite from being anxious im so tired I feel like gravity is 10x what it normally is im just really weak and exhausted but now im worried to fall asleep but either way im trying to just accept it

[TBlizz]

You hang in there, most Dr offices will take you if they know you are having other health issues. I know the feeling of being exhausted & scared to go to sleep cause the incident would happen. I'm going to pray for you that God touch the minds of the people working in the Dr office so, they will feel your urgent need & get you in ASAP & that you will have peace until you get your machine & start treating your condition

[LolaBelle]

You hang in there, most Dr offices will take you if they know you are having other health issues. I know the feeling of being exhausted & scared to go to sleep cause the incident would happen. I'm going to pray for you that God touch the minds of the people working in the Dr office so, they will feel your urgent need & get you in ASAP & that you will have peace until you get your machine & start treating your condition

Honestly Thank you <3 You have no idea what that means to me believe me im feeling vulnerable and insecure right now because of this but having support and amazing people like you who will say prayers for me definitely relieves my anxiety and makes this a LOT easier to deal with and just accept the way I feel and just wait till I feel better once im on my cpap, The place in PA was the place I made my appointment with im going to call them and see if they can move me up and im going to call the place down here and ask what the soonest I could get in here in Delaware is I will call them Monday until than im down with my mom I came down here because of it happening a little while ago and I was feeling better so iw as gonna head home and than it happened again... I will just trust in the lord and try to relax until than which I think is going to be easy this time because even tho I was anxious earlier and it did send me into a panic im not nervous at all now im just exhausted and feeling weak and mentally slow, Thank you for your prayers and kind words <3

Sarah

[TBlizz]

No problem, the power of prayer is awesome & it keeps your mind off of the condition & more on the promise of God. I constantly read Psalms 23 & 39 to keep me encouraged. I hope it helps you<3

[LolaBelle]

No problem, the power of prayer is awesome & it keeps your mind off of the condition & more on the promise of God. I constantly read Psalms 23 & 39 to keep me encouraged. I hope it helps you<3

I will read those psalms tonight Thank you <3

Sarah

[TBlizz]

No problem <3

[ret-doc]

Lola,

I know you are scared. There is no fear like what we experience when our body changes, and starts doing something different... especially in the night. We seem to experience our own mortality, more vividly, when we are most vulnerable.

I am a retired counselor.

I can not give you medical advice, diagnose, or even prescribe. I can talk as a friend (or family member) and perhaps help with, not what is causing the problem, but what to do to help yourself. Make sense?

One of the first things that caught my attention was you said you had been to your MD and they "didn't find anything wrong." Often, that means a Psychology issue, that they either give you a drug for or quietly send you home without any relief. The latter is most common when you don't exactly fit into the diagnostic criteria.

Secondly, the matted spit (sorry about being so graphic too) indicates you were in REM sleep after exhaustion. If you are correct that you are having sleep apnea... the thought explains a world of medical incidents. My own apnea can imitate a Disneyland of signs and symptoms. Sometimes it seems I am the only one hurting with aches and pains that go on for hours or days. (Last week, I was in a foreign city without my power cord. A CPAP without a power cord is a disaster in my life. I have slept with my machine for years and it is necessary).

See? You are talking my language. There are many of us who live the same terrors and anxieties. You just never know what others have to live with because most people won't talk about it.

When I was in grad school (a long time ago), I told a professor I was having panic attacks over school. She said, "Maybe you are not having panic attacks. Maybe you misidentified being excited." Someone else said something similar to you and I believe she is correct. Anticipation. Heavens, will the time never pass? <insert smiley face here>

Until you get your CPAP and get accustomed to a good nights sleep, you can help yourself with a couple of well-placed positive affirmations.

If you like, you are welcome to write to me and I will give you a "relaxation technique" that might be helpful.

And remember we all have friends, we have never met.

ret-doc