Waking up with racing heart beat and fast pulse

I have another odd question... i just fell asleep on the couch watching TV (without my mask) and was waking up with a super fast pulse? It's weird, it's like a little adrenaline rush and then I check my pulse and it's just going like crazy.

Now I feel weird and off... I've got some anxiety too (I have a diagnosed anxiety disorder) so this is really creeping me out. I don't usually nap anymore but I was feeling pretty tired and slept for about 40 minutes or so, but pretty much had to get up because the heart rate increased. I didn't notice myself stop breathing while I was napping though... usually I will if I nap as I don't fall into a deep sleep.

I've had a physical in November and some recent blood work for diabetes and I am all healthy there... so I don't think it's anything serious, I am hoping just the sleep apnea and anxiety or something??

NewToCPAP wrote:I have another odd question... i just fell asleep on the couch watching TV (without my mask) and was waking up with a super fast pulse? It's weird, it's like a little adrenaline rush and then I check my pulse and it's just going like crazy.

Now I feel weird and off... I've got some anxiety too (I have a diagnosed anxiety disorder) so this is really creeping me out. I don't usually nap anymore but I was feeling pretty tired and slept for about 40 minutes or so, but pretty much had to get up because the heart rate increased. I didn't notice myself stop breathing while I was napping though... usually I will if I nap as I don't fall into a deep sleep.

I've had a physical in November and some recent blood work for diabetes and I am all healthy there... so I don't think it's anything serious, I am hoping just the sleep apnea and anxiety or something??

Yes it is an apnea - now that your body is getting used to having oxygen it is losing the ability to deal with the lack of oxygen. That is why one doesn`t even nap without your cpap machine. In a way while you slept someone put their hands around your neck and tried to choke you and your body fought back.

Your oxygen levels probably dropped while you where napping walking you up with anxiety. Seems like your body doesn't like you napping with out your CAPA

That would happen to me a lot before my CPAP. I would wake up startled with my heart racing, trying to catch my breath. I always assumed I woke with a start because my baby was crying (that's how I woke up each time he'd cry as an infant). But I would listen and not hear him as he was still asleep. Then I wouldn't know why I woke up startled with heart racing.

Before I got my SPo2 meter and was latter diagnosed with server sleep apnea, that was my only indication that something wasn't right.

Thanks for such quick replies.

Usually I feel myself stop breathing when i nap as I don't get into a deep sleep, or at least I wake up catching my breath. This didn't happen this time but that doesn't necessarily mean anything I suppose.

I am kind of scared it's diabetes but was just tested for it and cleared. I say this because I came home super hungry and had a piece of toast and milk, then felt snacky so had 3 pieces of licorice and THEN some cheesies... so I kind of pigged out. Then about an hour later I was tired so like I said I dozed off. But I was tested and cleared and even bought a meter to test my post meal numbers and never once had a spike so I guess that can be ruled out.

Man, I guess it must be from the sleep apnea, I don't know why I am having such a hard time accepting that. I know I shouldn't nap without it, I am being a bit of a brat with this treatment and need to really take this much more seriously, which I plan to do as of tonight.

It just seems so weird to me... I always blame symptoms on other things other than sleep apnea (due to my health anxiety) I'm always scared it's something so wrong with me!! (not that the sleep apnea isn't bad or anything)

My two cents may just increase your health anxiety, but your symptoms sound awful familiar to me. I know this is a CPAP board, but I think it is important to be aware of other health conditions that can affect sleep.

I was having similar symptoms this past winter and blew them off for months thinking they were attributed to health conditions I had already been diagnosed with such as sleep apnea.
As my heart palpitations got worse, I went to see my doctor, and she tested my thyroid. I found out I was hyperthyroid, which I really did not know was very serious until I got really ill, woke up with chest pain one morning, and had to call the squad. I was admitted to the hospital, and found out I was severely hyperthyroid, which can actually be lethal due to the stress it places on your heart. It was all pretty scary because I am 32 and pretty young for such serious health issues. Luckily, my heart is fine, my thyroid has been treated, and I fell much better.
Hyperthyroid symptoms include, heart palpitations, racing heart, anxiety, extreme hunger, weight loss and insomnia. There are a lot more symptoms, and you can google hyperthyroid if you are interested.
I would not be concerned if these things happened once, but if the heart palpitations continue, I would see your doc for further testing.

Could also be atrial fibrillation. That's what started me on this merry-go-round. I woke up one night and felt I like had 4 hearts and all beating at a different speed. I checked my heart rate and it was jumping around from 175 - 210. Sleep apnea can cause a-fib, so the cardiologist sent me for a sleep study. So far I've been lucky and only had the one episode, most people have it frequently. Needs to be checked out whatever it is.

NewToCPAP wrote:Thanks for such quick replies.

Usually I feel myself stop breathing when i nap as I don't get into a deep sleep, or at least I wake up catching my breath. This didn't happen this time but that doesn't necessarily mean anything I suppose.

I am kind of scared it's diabetes but was just tested for it and cleared. I say this because I came home super hungry and had a piece of toast and milk, then felt snacky so had 3 pieces of licorice and THEN some cheesies... so I kind of pigged out. Then about an hour later I was tired so like I said I dozed off. But I was tested and cleared and even bought a meter to test my post meal numbers and never once had a spike so I guess that can be ruled out.

Man, I guess it must be from the sleep apnea, I don't know why I am having such a hard time accepting that. I know I shouldn't nap without it, I am being a bit of a brat with this treatment and need to really take this much more seriously, which I plan to do as of tonight.

It just seems so weird to me... I always blame symptoms on other things other than sleep apnea (due to my health anxiety) I'm always scared it's something so wrong with me!! (not that the sleep apnea isn't bad or anything)

De-Nile is a terrible thing to waste.... Jim
Sounds like you are in the water over head... Just use XPAP every time you might dozeoff, it's a easy cure.