Waking Up Very Breathless

[gordiescotland1]

Hi there the last few weeks I've been waking up very breathless almost gasping for air I seem ok when I get up. I dream about being breathless like my mind is trying to tell my body what is happening. I am 7 stone overweight and I am wondering if I have sleep apnoea but I live on my own so it's probably Difficult to prove it is quite unsettling

[gingejbee]

This is not meant in an uncaring way....but if I knew I was seven stone overweight, I'd do something about it.
Lots of other things would then improve.

[Sqad]

7 stones overweight......wakes up breathless.

My money is on obstructive sleep apnoea.

You have multiple underlying medical problems for which you have had periodic and routine checks, so I feel that your symptoms are not directly due to those.

[gordiescotland1]

Is this obstructive sleep apnoea dangerous

[Sqad]

Well....it could be.
Driving a car the following day might be precarious as you may well fall asleep at the wheel. There is also some evidence to suggest that folks with OSD develop high blood pressure and all the complications that go with it.

Up to you as to if you seek medical help for it.

[WesterRoss]

Obstructive sleep apnoea if diagnosed is a condition that must be declared to DVLA. If you are getting the proper treatment for it then you will keep your license otherwise you will not be able to drive legally. I know because I have been through this. I have to use a CPAP machine when I go to bed otherwise I would lose my license.

[hc4361]

Try sleeping propped up on lots of pillows instead of lying flat.

[WesterRoss]

If you think that you have OSA then you must go to your GP and get referred to the sleep clinic at your local hospital. Having this condition myself I cannot stress how important this is.

[Daffy6543]

My oh was investigated for sleep apnoea recently, he was given a contraption to wear overnight at home to measure whether he stopped breathing and for how long (small tubes into nostrils and a belt around his ribcage with a black box attached). Luckily he was told no OSA but doctor agreed he is a heavy snorer, which is the problem that triggered the investigation.