Sleep Startled: BFS or Alcohol?

[KnottyPirate93]

Hi, it's me again!!!! So, last night, and one other time before.....I'm going to sleep, or have just fallen asleep. Then I wake up suddenly...heart racing, big gasp for air. I have never done that...I am in tip top physical shape....is that BFS? I had a couple, (or four) glasses of champagne. Could that be it. Scared the *&(^%$ out of me. Thanks in advance for any input. Shauna

 

[NinaC2005]

Hey Shauna,Yeah, I've had that happen several times over a span of many years. Not sure why (even when I haven't had champagne! ); I just wake up with a start, heart pounding--and I mean pounding--and a little short of breath. Despite my anxiety and twitching, I am in excellent cardiovascular shape, so while this is unsettling, I didn't worry about it. Could be a bad dream you don't recall or the alcohol which, as is often pointed out, can interfere with your sleep. It generally calms down in a minute or two, especially after I do some deep breathing. I also sometimes "jerk" myself awake, just as I'm drifting off, like I'm falling or tripping over something. Happens every so often but again, I don't worry about it. (Of course, I worry about a lot of OTHER things. . . . ).I wouldn't worry about this, whether it's BFS-related or not. I think you'll be A-OK.Mark

 

[cindyandco]

Sounds like an anxiety attack. I have had a couple of those in the middle of the night and yes it does scare the *$#@ out of you. I have even had to get up and go to the garage I felt so claustrophic. Cindy

 

[paulrational]

Ive had this for years,very frightening when it first happened to me. Ide suddenly wake up during the night then my heart would race to about 140,still get it from time to time but not sure what triggers it [dont drink alcohol].

 

[sparkrlock]

Hey!My neuro sent me to another neuro for a sleep study. Well I had the consultation and he said that "when you wake up abruptly from sleeping and your heart is racing and you feel like you have to pull yourself out of it....99% of the time its a form of sleep apnea". He wanted me to have a sleep study done, but I have not had it done yet, I have one of those about every month. For a while they were almost every night! They really stink! But he clearly said that what it is is your throat closing and you losing oxygen and your body saying "OK GET UP NOW!" because you arent getting any oxygen. He said there are some people that have it and can have a heart attack. So not that you will....but if you can talk to your GP about doing a sleep study if it persists you might just want to make sure. Sean

 

[hCapitalize]

Hey at least you woke up.It the time you don't wake up you need to worry about, except when that time comes (and it will to all of us mortals eventually ) you won't be around to worry about it.Take my word for it being alive and worrying is a good sign I have woken up with all manner of things, chest pains that turn out to be heartburn, cold sweats and the feeling that there is someone in my flat, earthquakes even.I have read somewhere that anyone who snores could be prone to sleep apnoea, but I am sure the majority of the world consists of snorers, certainly last time I was in a hospital ward, it was the case, fair drove me out into the TV lounge it did.