Been having very hard time breathing lately especially when trying to sleep.
When I lay down I end up jumping out of bed after a few seconds gasping, trying to catch my breath. Not sure if anyone else has experienced it but it’s terrifying. After a couple of tests my Dr says it’s pneumonia. He gave me some antibiotics. I hope they start working soon. Not being able to lay down is exhausting.
If I fall asleep sitting in a chair it’s the same, jump up trying to breathe.
I honestly think not being able to catch your breath is one of the most terrifying things to experience.
Last early winter/later Fall, 2020 after I was diagnosed with my cancer, anxiety was high re. family members no longer in our home, & I had no knowledge of the advances the cancer had made, and was still assuming it was contained properly in the prostate, I was having some experiences that sound a little similar to yours.. And yes, I believe that anxiety can contribute to the worsening of the problematic breathing expeience during those moments..
My sinuses were inflamed, and my heart rate was less predictable and more easily elevated than normal.. .like, by a bunch sometimes.
It was during that time that I had panic attacks relative to breathing, similar to what you've described. I'd jump abruptly out of bed, feeling like I was going to suffocate. Nearly went to some extreme lengths in reaction to those moments a time or 2.
Many folks recommended to me (as they have here for you) sleeping in a semi-upright position, though in your case that doesn't seem to be helping you as much as it does some. (That helped me some).
I tried (for a time) the sinus strips that look like a weird butterfly bandage, are madeof a semi-flexible/semi-rigid plastic like material, which adhere to either side of the nose/sinuses, straddling the nose itself. That helped a bit, and I even wore them in the daytime for a bit, especially when I was wearing a mask and having some semblance of the previously mentioned panic/anxiety attacks.
I brought a cool air, sonic mist, vaporizer into the bedroom (winter humidity in the house, without a mature crop in the shop, tends to run about 16% to 21%,; too low) and even bought the sinus washes (* the sinus washes definitely leave a salt-like residue of various additives, and I wondered about that; they would initially help a bit, but when the inflammation and closed sinuses returned, that salt-like residue was NOT helpful.. not at all. It was good for an emergency, but I quickly tried to get to a place of healthfulness that I could cease using them.
I also (at that approximate time) ceased smoking joints, and bought a better portable (cannabis) vaporizer. I tink that helped some as well.
Now when my sinuses are uncomfortably dry and inflamed, I sometimes get up, walk around, go outside for a few minutes, etc., and the changes in temps, humidity, and the physical movement, often allows my sinuses to rehydrate better.
The breathing hasn't been as bad since then. not even close. but I don't envy your predicament. As you stated earlier, I think, feeling like you're goong to suffocate is incredibly unnerving, if not terrifying.
Good luck.
