Wake up gasping for air

Does anyone else have the symptom where you jump out of bed gasping for air?

I've had this for several years now. I notice that it looks like I have a nice tan when I wake up too. Even though I never go out in the sun.

I'm not sure what this air gasping is a symptom of. Maybe babesia or protoza?

Yes, I was wondering about thyroid issues awhile ago. My LLMD said I could get a thyroid workup performed but it would cost thousands of dollars. I have different insurance now, so maybe they'd cover it.

I did have the 'gasping for air' issues - a few months after my symptoms started.

I would wake up every two hours, in a panic, gasping for air. I was tested and had sleep apnea, trialled the C-Pap - and it didn't help - still woke up gasping - but with this ridiculous mask on my face...in fact I think it was worse.

So, now since treatment, I am sleeping better. I don't ever wake up gasping for air ....I do wake up once or twice in the night, but not in a panic...and I go back to sleep.

Also, does the 'tan' go away during the day?

When I read it, I initially thought about Addison's disease - as it can cause hyper pigmentation of the skin - the reason I know this - isn't because I did get the tanned appearance...but it was one of the many, many medical conditions I looked up when trying to find an answer to what was wrong with me pre-lyme diagnosis.

Having said that, for the darkening to happen with Addison's, it is advanced and you'd have other adrenal issues. So, most likely not Addison's you have.

Thousands of dollars to do thyroid testing? What all does that include? Seems expensive. Why not start with the TSH, FT3 and FT4 and see what your numbers are - that shouldn't cost thousands...(I don't know the costs because I'm in Canada...we never see the cost of the lab work)

Girlie said...
Thousands of dollars to do thyroid testing? What all does that include? Seems expensive. Why not start with the TSH, FT3 and FT4 and see what your numbers are - that shouldn't cost thousands...(I don't know the costs because I'm in Canada...we never see the cost of the lab work)

I bought an insurance policy that covers lab work 100%. I get thyroid labs done every month so, it was necessary.

I don't usually see the lab's bill to my insurance company (basically, the explanation of benefits says something along the lines of contracted rates). However, there was a time earlier this year when an error was made.

The lab billed my insurance company something like $1800 for a CBC, AST, ALT, FT4, FT3, TSH. It's ridiculous.




There are some online labs that do thyroid testing. Basically, you order and pay for the test online and go to your local LabCorp for the blood draw. The results are then emailed to you. Some states (such as mine) forbid the use of these labs. That information is available on the various online lab sites.

Here's one often used by thyroid forum members that offers a good thyroid panel for $80:

www.healthcheckusa.com/thyroid-tests/panels/thyroid-panel-ii-t4-free-t3-free-with-tsh.aspx

Hi Traveler, That's another symptom I've been having. The whites of my eyes are always red. Blood shot.

I've been in a fog all day. Feel like I had a stroke. Just very mentally dumb. I'm sure I didn't. I usually feel like this, but it's just worse today.

Girlie- I cured my major reflux nightime "episodes" by adding T3 to my thyroid intake, treating Candida on my own, and going gluten free for a while. I also did my best to treat "leaky gut" on my own. It was so bad I had to sleep in a recliner some nights, I hated sleeping for the fear of almost suffocating on my own stomach acid.

All this worked after 3 months and this was my first attempt at playing Dr on myself with online info about 8 years ago. That was also when I came to realize that "standard conventional medicine" was a complete failure to me. I tossed out all the "gut drugs" from the gastro Drs , and fixed myself for the first time.

I was still a whole body mess though, with lyme symptoms.

Unfortunatly, a lot of these online labs are not allowed to do business with Mass residents for legal reasons.

I don't think the red eyes are related to sleep. It's a strange redness. Also, I usually sleep quite well. Even on the nights that I do not have a gasping for air episode, my eyes are generally blood shot. It goes away around 1-ish. Back when I had a job, I think everyone thought I was smoking the doobs. haha