Dry/wheezing, airways noticeable when trying to sleep

Anyone else get this and then it drives you crazy ? (general health question.)

Seems like I seldom have generally easy breathing this winter. it’s either sinus drainage or dry airways, both can make noise and rough breathing when trying to sleep.

It’s also almost like my lung muscles don’t inhale and exhale smoothly when I am relaxed laying down. In addition to the wheezing, I sometimes get a little bit of airway or lung trembling. I have to move my body and head around in bed just to find the right spot for smooth breathing some nights, it’s weird.

I have never smoked and have been in pretty good physical condition weight wise, and breath normal when physically exerting myself, biking skiing, whatever…

Even though it’s a warm winter up here, it’s still pretty dry indoors with 50% humidity.

I’ll ask my functional doctor what this might be in a few weeks also. This could maybe slightly be is hypothyroid symptom as well. I have been slightly hypo all winter, and just recently slightly adjusted my meds a little more. My new endocrinologist seems to like to keep patients slightly hypothyroid on purpose, which is what most of them do. I would really like to see him try to live life like that!

I’ve had a leg blood clot in the past, so I just looked up pulmonary embolism symptoms. I don’t think it’s that because that has some pretty bad symptoms associated with it like pain when breathing and difficulty breathing when exerting oneself. But, Since I’m in my mid 50s, it probably isn’t a bad idea to get a chest x-ray or MRI whatever they do for this stuff. Just more money, right?

I’ve also done the sleep apnea test in the past, which I could not sleep during because had all the wires hooked up to me.

Tried the old-school sleep apnea machine for a couple months probably 10 years ago and it was a disaster. I sleep better without it. They have the new versions out now. Different types. I’ve not tried any of those. But I’m not sure if going down that road is the correct one or not Anyway.

Any ideas are appreciated

I'm sorry you're dealing with this, Astro. Breathing symptoms are so unsettling!

I don't have much to offer except an anecdote from a couple of nights ago. I had a tickle in my throat, irritation in my lungs, chest congestion, and what felt like a tight chest and slight difficulty breathing. This is all quite unusual for me, so I was worried I was getting sick. After being in bed for a while and noticing the problem worsen, I realized I had eaten much more than usual that day, as well as more processed and acidic foods than usual, and was just experiencing reflux. This never occurs to me because I never have the heartburn sensation!

I know that reflux is something you have experience with, so you're probably familiar with any symptoms of GERD or LPR that happen for you, but is there any chance that's the culprit? Any change to diet, mattress, meal and hydration timing, etc. that could cause reflux?

My other thought would be possible mold exposure or something else causing air quality problems. Any recent leaks in your house? New furniture? Renovations? Detergent?

Another possibility is tension. Are you dealing with any stress that might be making your diaphragm tight and keep you from opening your throat and filling your lungs all the way? This is an issue for my partner. Have you tried deep breathing exercises before bed?

None of these seem to match your symptoms exactly, but just thought I'd kick off the brainstorming. I hope you find some relief soon!

Thanks for the ideas.

I just had a pretty good work out with some deep breathing. Also, no breathing problems doing that. But that’s also a full chest / lung cavity muscle workout.

You know, it’s never really easy to tell just how much of these tick infections are gone or not, as you get older and accumulate other health issues and high mileage on your body.

Yes, maybe doing a deep breathing exercise before sleep, essentially stretching the chest and lung muscles might help. That’s a good idea that I didn’t really think of which might help since I get occasional muscle tension/tightness around the neck area.

I’ve had a slight runny nose and sinus drainage for probably the last 10 years which certainly doesn’t help. That something modern medicine also just gives a label to and then does nothing for it.

I’ve also read several times that the precursor sometimes for reflux starting up is sinus drainage.

I did adjust my bed mattress lately with some boards under it. But then this breathing issue can also happen while taking naps on my couch so I don’t think it’s the sleeping surface.

I think I’ll try three things and see what happens:
1) do some deep breathing and neck stretching before bed
2) start taking DiLimonine again for reflux
3) take some sort of congestion, anti-phlegm medicine

If all of this together helps for about five nights in a row, then I’ll eliminate one at a time and see what I’m left with🤔