Choking during sleep! Need advice!

BansterNYC · 07-06-2008, 04:40 PM

For the past 7 weeks, I have been started awake by choking during my sleep. Not sure what to make of this, but I’d appreciate any advice or thoughts.

Here’s the details of my situation:
Banded 8 months ago. Had my last fill on May 15th (up to 10cc now in 11cc band). I have been fine since, holding good restriction but not too much, losing ½ a pound a week. A couple meals have resulted in PB, but usually because I ate my initial bites too fast. Nothing out of the ordinary.

However, a few days after that May 15^th fill, I started waking up in the middle of the night “chocking”. This coincided right with the peak of pollen and allergy season. I have been taking Claritin every night since and that seemed to eliminate the choking incidents for about 3 nights, but then they returned and now recur at least 4x per week.

Yes – feels like I am under water and can’t breathe. Almost resembles like I am about to PB a little bit of water. I wake up, and sit up right away to catch my breath by coughing vigorously for 20 seconds. It is quite violent and scary. Doesn’t happen necessarily during bad dreams. I don’t have sleep apnea, or at least none was detected during my pre-op sleep study just a year ago.

Mucus: I once read on these boards that some bandsters are “tight” in the morning because of saliva and mucus that is swallowed and accumulated throughout the night and collected at the opening of the band. Is that what’s happening here?

The reason I post today, is that last night’s “choking” was severe and turned into coughing out mucus and slimy saliva for over an hour at 6am. In total, I’d estimate ¾ of a cup of *gunk* came out. I had dinner last night at 8pm and all was normal. Didn’t drink any liquids. Went to bed at 11pm. Woke up at 6am choking.

Has anyone ever experienced this before? Any thoughts? Advice?
I am going to schedule an appt with my doc, but wanted to run this by bandsters first.

kiah12 · 07-06-2008, 04:57 PM

Hi.
Let me first say I am not a Doctor and think its best that you talk to him or her. Now that I have done my disclaimer, I used to have this problem pre banding. It was severe acid reflux that caused this. I felt like I was going to die and I am not exaggerating. It may be that you are too tight, or are eating too close to bedtime, or foods that have too much caffeine. Those are usually triggers for acid reflex. Also, white bread and some pastas will do it too, believe it or not.

so before you get to the doctor, I would suggest not eating three hours before bed but if you need a snack make it liquid non caffeinated. Elevate your bed (put books under your mattress and sleep on an extra pillow), get some pepcid (best stuff ever) and hold on until you get to the doctor.

Good luck!

LISAMARIE1158 · 07-06-2008, 05:00 PM

sounds like reflux to me...call your Dr...its easily treated

els720 · 07-06-2008, 05:09 PM

That exact thing happened to one of my banded friends - she would wake up choking, unable to catch her breathe. She let it go on for several weeks and then it got so bad she called her doctor's office after-hours. Her doctor told her she needed to go get an complete unfill ASAP. It turned out she had something stuck. When they unfilled her it passed through on its own and luckily she didn't need to have surgery. She had to stay unfilled for a few weeks to let her band recover from the obstruction and now she's perfectly fine again. I recommend you call your doctor as soon as possible because you might have an obstruction....good luck! You'll be fine.

**AthinnerDenise** · 07-06-2008, 06:02 PM

This happens to me too. Usually it's from taking my medicine too late.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I am not sure why it happens.

My daughter who is a nurse, says that something is (SP?) aspirating
from the esophagus into the lungs. The advice the above poster gave you is good. Try not to eat too close to bedtime. I have this happen if I take my pills too late. They don't feel stuck, but all of a sudden, I awaken from a dead sleep sorta like pbing, some pill with water will come shooting into my mouth.

My thinking is that when we lay down, if there is anything left in the pouch that hasn't gone through the band, it will come back up when we lay down.

If it keeps happening, I would ask your doctor about it. I know for me, it only happens if I eat something late at night, or I don't take my pills early enough.

aimlagana · 07-06-2008, 08:16 PM

Please call the doctor. This doesn't sound normal. I have sleep apnea and I feel a similar choking (but more of a shortness of breath). Best to check with the doc. It could be allergy related. Take Care.

snowbird · 07-06-2008, 08:19 PM

You might try Prilosec OTC, but if you have decent insurance it may be cheaper to get a prescription acid blocker.

BansterNYC · 07-07-2008, 09:10 AM

WOW! Thanks for all of this advice! Just a few responses from the posts:
1. AthinnerDenise - I am not sure what you mean "take my medicine". Are you referring to taking any medicine in general before bed? I am confused.

2. I don't drink caffeine, except on special occasions where I need to try and stay awake.

3. Maybe it is acid reflux. I will try Pepcid tonight and see what happens.

Thanks for all the advice -- keep it coming! And I will post my progress!

kamicola · 07-07-2008, 01:07 PM

Please do go see your doctor... a lot of banded individuals do get acid reflux for a variety of reasons... eating too close to bed time, eating the wrong things, medications at bedtime, etc. Acid Reflux in banded individuals can lead quickly to aspirating pneumonia and is very dangerous. Seven weeks is WAY TOO LONG to have been dealing with this... I can't remember if this leads to banding complications or not, but you definately need to see your doctor ASAP! Even if you try the other things, you still need to see your doctor to let them know you are dealing with this problem, it could be serious.

Kammi in Evertt, WA
335/302/180
DOB 5/27/08
Dr. Kuri - TJ Mexico

BansterNYC · 07-07-2008, 01:50 PM

Aspirating pneumonia! Oh goodness! I made a doc appt for Wednesday -- his only opening this week. I know he'll take care of me!

JWRN · 07-07-2008, 02:01 PM

Among the other things listed, it could be due to allergies/sinus issues (esp since you mentioned something about it)
Your uvula (the little dangling thing in the back of your throat) could be enlarged/irritated. When you sleep, the muscles in the back of your throat relax and it can cause you to feel like you are choking. Many people that have obstructive sleep apnea have this issue.
Glad you are going to the doc on Wed!
Good luck!

**AthinnerDenise** · 07-07-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

1. AthinnerDenise - I am not sure what you mean "take my medicine". Are you referring to taking any medicine in general before bed? I am confused.

Yes. I have medication that I am supposed to take in the evening. Sometimes I forget to take it and it's right at bedtime and I take it anyway. I drink a bunch of hot water with it because hot things are supposed to open the band. Sometimes I can tell it feels stuck. Other times it doesn't feel stuck, but then that shooting water and pill problem happens.

I have another banded friend who will not eat anything after 7 pm because she says she will have the same problem with something coming up in her sleep.

loridee11 · 07-07-2008, 08:51 PM

Hey - I had the EXACT same issue a couple of weeks ago. It turns out I was overfiled. I had a very slight unfil and am 100% better. Maybe see your doctor and have .2cc's removed -it worked for me!

~Lori

Quote:

Originally Posted by BansterNYC

For the past 7 weeks, I have been started awake by choking during my sleep. Not sure what to make of this, but I’d appreciate any advice or thoughts.

Here’s the details of my situation:
Banded 8 months ago. Had my last fill on May 15th (up to 10cc now in 11cc band). I have been fine since, holding good restriction but not too much, losing ½ a pound a week. A couple meals have resulted in PB, but usually because I ate my initial bites too fast. Nothing out of the ordinary.

However, a few days after that May 15^th fill, I started waking up in the middle of the night “chocking”. This coincided right with the peak of pollen and allergy season. I have been taking Claritin every night since and that seemed to eliminate the choking incidents for about 3 nights, but then they returned and now recur at least 4x per week.

Yes – feels like I am under water and can’t breathe. Almost resembles like I am about to PB a little bit of water. I wake up, and sit up right away to catch my breath by coughing vigorously for 20 seconds. It is quite violent and scary. Doesn’t happen necessarily during bad dreams. I don’t have sleep apnea, or at least none was detected during my pre-op sleep study just a year ago.

Mucus: I once read on these boards that some bandsters are “tight” in the morning because of saliva and mucus that is swallowed and accumulated throughout the night and collected at the opening of the band. Is that what’s happening here?

The reason I post today, is that last night’s “choking” was severe and turned into coughing out mucus and slimy saliva for over an hour at 6am. In total, I’d estimate ¾ of a cup of *gunk* came out. I had dinner last night at 8pm and all was normal. Didn’t drink any liquids. Went to bed at 11pm. Woke up at 6am choking.

Has anyone ever experienced this before? Any thoughts? Advice?
I am going to schedule an appt with my doc, but wanted to run this by bandsters first.

hootiebelle · 07-07-2008, 11:26 PM

The only time i had this problem is being too tight...especally if you pb alot that day it makes it worse and you wake up choking and throwing up...if im not too tight i am fine

kamicola · 07-08-2008, 02:19 AM

Yes, being too tight can cause this definately.... but being too tight also causes the acid reflux which is what I think this might be.... with a slight unfill, I sure hope your problem is resolved... how uncomfortable.

Kammi in Everett, WA