Gagging In My Sleep.

[snug.bunny]

For the past month or so, I have been waking up throughout the night from what seems to be a gag reflex of some sort. I googled it and came across a clinical study of a person with similar symptoms of my own:

 

A 34-year-old man was referred to the neurology service from the sleep center for further evaluation of recurrent stereotyped episodes of choking for four years beginning in 2002. Initially, these episodes occurred only at night, lasting 15 to 45 seconds, causing the patient to awaken with a sense of anxiety and on occasion to jump out of bed.

 

I am not recalling any nightmares when this occurs, nor have there been any "major" events that would impact me on an emotional level (at least none that I can pinpoint aside from the usual "daily grind").

 

My physical response when this occurs, usually goes like this:

 

(1) I gag/choke; (2) It wakes me up; (3) My body "jumps" and/or "jolts".

 

I should note that when this happens, it doesn't feel as though I am suffocating or anything like that. Rather, I feel like I am choking on my tongue or something is being poked down my throat and I gag and then wake up from the gagging. This morning when my alarm went off, same thing, except my body from the torso up, jolted into an upright position and my arms pushed outwards.

 

Has anyone ever experienced this? I know it sounds weird but I am wondering what the heck it is and I am hoping it will pass on its own before I send myself off to a sleep clinic or nose/throat specialist.

Edited November 4, 2011 by snug.bunny

[Star Gazer]

Are you sure it's not sleep apnea?

[snug.bunny]

Are you sure it's not sleep apnea?

 

That was my first thought as well, and definitely a possibility. I don't have any of the other signs/symptoms associated with sleep apnea that I am noticing (morning headaches, feeling overly irritable, urination at night, excessive dry throat when I wake up). My throat feels "cloggy" versus dry after I wake up from it.

 

The main symptom (aside from the gagging/choking) that I've noticed is the sharp body movements, kind of like how a body would "jolt" after being electrocuted, but that just might be my body's natural response to feeling gagged/choked.

 

I wasn't really concerned with it at first, but after this morning, the way my body/arms flew upwards, it spooked me out. Hopefully it will pass, I'll give it a few more weeks and see if there is any improvement. If not, I am going to make an appointment with my doctor.

[Star Gazer]

Do you snore?

 

My ex was a major snorer, and I'm convinced that he had sleep apnea. He would choke/gag... it sounded like his tongue was going back and relaxing in his throat or something, and then he'd and wake himself up. Other times, he wouldn't make a peep or breathe for like 15 seconds, and him not breathing would wake ME up.

 

He didn't have any of those other symptoms either though. But he was a classic case from all the research and videos I watched.

 

Do you sleep with someone regularly, that could maybe tell you what you do in your sleep?

[Tony]

Your problem could be very serious. It certainly isn't normal. It could be anything from asthma to anxiety attacks to sleep apnea. PLEASE seek professional help as soon as you are able. While it may be somewhat comforting to talk about medical problems with those you know in these forums, they will never, ever be a substitute for seeing a highly competent medical professional for an in-person, face-to-face examination and evaluation.

[tman666]

Your problem could be very serious. It certainly isn't normal. It could be anything from asthma to anxiety attacks to sleep apnea. PLEASE seek professional help as soon as you are able. While it may be somewhat comforting to talk about medical problems with those you know in these forums, they will never, ever be a substitute for seeing a highly competent medical professional for an in-person, face-to-face examination and evaluation.

 

Agreed. Definitely go see a specialist...

[HeavenOrHell]

I gag when I'm asleep sometimes, it's often as I'm dreaming I'm eating something repulsive and I'm trying to get it out of my mouth, I wake up and have to have water straight away or I feel I'll throw up. For me it's quite often because I've eaten too much, or too late at night. I have IBS, so it's probably linked to that for me.

[snug.bunny]

Thanks peeps.

 

I'm not going to run to the doctors just yet, I was never one to go into see the doc anytime something popped up (except for my annual check ups and what not, which have all come back with great results). For instance, a year back or so I had a small hard lump in my armpit, and I panicked at first but I said to myself "just wait it out a few days and see what happens". And sure enough, it disappeared. It turned out to be from shaving/build up of deodorant, most likely. I'll still sometimes get it in different areas under my arms, but it goes away on its own.

 

As for the gagging, I tape recorded myself the past two nights, and when I played the recording back I did not hear any snoring. But, there were a few times throughout the recording, where I "snorted" very quietly/softly (4-5 times with about 15 seconds in between), but it wasn't followed by any type of loud "inhale/exhale" of breath, the "snoring" period just stopped with complete silence. Ten minutes or so would pass before I heard myself doing it again. Both nights, I did not recall any of the "gagging" sensations/body movements I had experienced prior.

 

I am kind of "journaling" this out so I can keep tabs on it, while keeping in mind that it could be anything from "asthma to anxiety attacks to sleep apnea".

 

@HeavenOrHell - That's awful. I do not remember any dreams as this happens, I am having them but just not remembering. I go through periods where I remember my dreams consecutively to periods where I don't recall any for months at a time, or intermittently. I do remember dreaming last night, and it was a pleasant one versus unpleasant. Sorry about the IBS, my uncle has that and it has been terrible for him.

Edited November 6, 2011 by snug.bunny

[HeavenOrHell]

Thanks

Hope you manage to work out what's causing yours, or that it stops of its own accord.

 

 

 

Thanks peeps.

 

I'm not going to run to the doctors just yet, I was never one to go into see the doc anytime something popped up (except for my annual check ups and what not, which have all come back with great results). For instance, a year back or so I had a small hard lump in my armpit, and I panicked at first but I said to myself "just wait it out a few days and see what happens". And sure enough, it disappeared. It turned out to be from shaving/build up of deodorant, most likely. I'll still sometimes get it in different areas under my arms, but it goes away on its own.

 

As for the gagging, I tape recorded myself the past two nights, and when I played the recording back I did not hear any snoring. But, there were a few times throughout the recording, where I "snorted" very quietly/softly (4-5 times with about 15 seconds in between), but it wasn't followed by any type of loud "inhale/exhale" of breath, the "snoring" period just stopped with complete silence. Ten minutes or so would pass before I heard myself doing it again. Both nights, I did not recall any of the "gagging" sensations/body movements I had experienced prior.

 

I am kind of "journaling" this out so I can keep tabs on it, while keeping in mind that it could be anything from "asthma to anxiety attacks to sleep apnea".

 

@HeavenOrHell - That's awful. I do not remember any dreams as this happens, I am having them but just not remembering. I go through periods where I remember my dreams consecutively to periods where I don't recall any for months at a time, or intermittently. I do remember dreaming last night, and it was a pleasant one versus unpleasant. Sorry about the IBS, my uncle has that and it has been terrible for him.

[snug.bunny]

Thanks

Hope you manage to work out what's causing yours, or that it stops of its own accord.

 

Thanks!

 

While I haven't been able to "pinpoint" what caused it, I am happy to say that it has subsided. It may have been anxiety related or as a result of whatever dreams I was having (which I don't remember) but hopefully it was nothing major health wise.