Dr. OOT, I have breathing problems at night

[Inthacup]

need some advice on this...

I think I have a general idea why this is happening, but would like the opinion of OOT as well.

the problem: I would say that 4 out of 5 nights I wake up earlier than I normally would because I am having trouble breathing. It feels like my windpipe is being restricted. I don't feel any congestion in my sinuses. It is in the chest/throat area. Usually, when I wake up, I would say that my breathing is restricted by around 50%. When this happens, I normally can't go back to sleep until the congestion is fixed. If I try to take a full breath, I feel a lot of pressure in my chest and my throat makes a noticeable wheezing sound. Not 'Fatty McGee' bad, but bad.

Factors to consider:
1. I am 26, 6'2", 185lbs
2. I snore
3. My house was built in the 1920s, but is fully restored
4. I have lived here for about a year, but probably started noticing this in the fall
5. I don't recall having this problem at the apartment I used to live in
6. When I travel, I notice that the problem isn't nearly as bad(if at all)
7. I have tried taking claritin, bronkaid, sinus medicine, allergy medicine, none with more than mediocre results
8. I haven't gone to the doctor(yet)
9. I have 2 cats and dog, but have had pets msot of my life


I feel like this is a result of either 1 or 2 things.
1. the snoring is irritating my throat and causing it to swell/restrict my breathing
2. I am allergic to something in the house. If this is the case, how would I go about identifying what it is, then, once it is identified, how would I fix the problem?

Looking for any advice or similar stories you may have. Thanks in advance.

Cup

[Shajen]

Cup,

go get an allergy test done.

[MrTrik]

I wouldn't rule out sleep apnea just yet. There are two forms of it. A sleep study from a qualified sleep clinic is probably your first step. I expect that if you go see a doc, that's what will be recommended even if it's not an apnea situation.

[wh1t3bread]

Since you feel chest congestion and you wheeze and it doesn't bother you away from your house it might be asthma (caused by allergies). Go to an Allergist and get some tests. You can develop allergies at any time even to pets that you have had all your life.

Like other posters said it could very well be sleep apnea.

[Joe Tall]

One of my good friends has the same problem. He visited a sleep clinic, I suggest you do the same.

He's much much heavier than you, about 100lbs at the same height so his diagonsis is useless.

How about regular excersise?

[radek]

Apnea. Might be a touch of apnea. The wheezing makes it unlikely that apnea is the main problem. Alergies are a good guess. Asthma?

The snoring is a symptom of apnea

[Keystone]

Go to the doctor. Ive had symptoms like this my whole life but have also been an asthmatic my whole life. Usually people kind of outgrow asthma though and I doubt someone would become an asthmatic at age 26.

[radek]

[ QUOTE ]
Go to the doctor. Ive had symptoms like this my whole life but have also been an asthmatic my whole life. Usually people kind of outgrow asthma though and I doubt someone would become an asthmatic at age 26.

[/ QUOTE ]

You would be suprised.

[Inthacup]

Thanks for the input and suggestions everyone. I will start with the allergist and go from there.

Cup

[Georgia Avenue]

Intha,

Sounds more like apnea that allegies...You forgot to mention...A> Do you smoke (anything)? B> Do you drink a lot? Do you drink at all?

Both of these contribute to sleep apnea, which gets worse as you age. This happened to me a lot before I quit smoking.

--GA