Hello! Has anyone ever felt like they were suffocating inside their head? I get this sometimes, but can still breathe! It just feels like I am suffocating. I wake up at night and gasp for air, only to realize that I am still breathing. It scares the heck out of me as it sometimes happens during the day, too. It's like I go up against a "literal" wall of some sort and it is very uncomfortable. I don't really have words to describe how it feels. I am 44 and post-menopausal since the birth of my son 5 years ago.
Not sure if this is related, but a day after his birth, it felt like everything drained out of me and I went limp as a rag doll. Weird thing is, is that I could hear everything, but could not respond. I couldn't open my eyes right way, and yet it wasn't all black inside. I could hear the nurses talking! Is this what it feels like to faint? I have had panic attacks ever since!! I am new here and this is my first post. Thanks to all who read and respond to my questions!

Hi Lynnm Yes, I have the same problem, I wake up gasping for air and I'm real nervous and shakey. Lot of times it, for me, is the prelude to a hot flash. Other times I don't know. Doc had me wear a monitor for sleep apnea, of course, you guessed it, I slept wonderful THAT night!!!!!! I've talked about this on other PS boards and many of us have the same thing. I also have major food cravings at the same time. Don't care what it is I shove it into my mouth. Sometimes I actually start gasping before I'm fully asleep. This stuff is so weird!!!!!! Hang in there!!! Shelley

Thank you Shelley!! I had a sleep apnea test, too. Everything is fine. I wore heart monitors (one for a month). Even though there was "nothing wrong", the doctors put me on heart medication. I took myself off and am feeling much better. The meds were actually causing more heart problems, but that's another story. I sometimes gasp before I fall asleep, too. Thought I was the only one! Weird is right!

Hi Lynnmaureen

Welcome to PS......

Doesnt peri throw some scary stuff at us? I have alos had a total array of weird and whacky symptoms - and panic attacks - which I do seem to have under control now.......

I have a pressure head like my head is bursting - cant think feel whoozy - panic can feel like you are very detached - so that may have been what you were feeling in the hospital? I believe my stress hormones have been thrown out of kilter by peri - so many women fund they cant cope with things they used to sail through.

I am just 45 and 18 months into peri. I know what you mean about the gasp before sleeping Shelley - I do some strange jumps and jerks and hear noises in my head - like I am aware of the process of falling asleep sometimes - very odd and very scary until I gotten used to it a bit - I still feel nervous at times - it is very hard to just shrug your shoulders and chill

You are not the only werid one!!!

Sorry to hear about meds causing heart problems - are you OK now??? Do you get peri palpitations?

Mele

Sorry to hear about meds causing heart problems - are you OK now??? Do you get peri palpitations?

Mele
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Hi Mele! Glad to hear from you! Isn't the internet great? It makes me feel as though I have lots and lots of girl friends!! My heart is o.k. according to many tests. My doctors never told me about peri-menopause before and it was only when I asked my cardiologist about it that he said it could be hormonal. This site has done wonders for my sanity and my anxiety. I wish I had found it in the beginning. I still get palpitations, but I try not to obsess over them as much. Not always an easy task! Isn't it a shame that female doctors don't SEEM to be aware of these symptoms or at least alternative treatments? Even male doctors have mothers and sisters. Take care.