Heart stopping moments before sleep.

could be sleep apnea?

pompa Yes, I suppose that makes sense if the spin in my head is caused by a large surge of blood rather than a drop in blood pressure. The ectopic certainly feels like an extra large beat in my chest as you describe.

I get this too. Just as I'm drifting off I get this awful feeling. I also wake two or three times a night gasping and coughing. Going to sleep is not much fun any more.

Thank you so much for all your thoughtful replies. It seems this is quite common. I have to say, that what I am experiencing IS different to the 'dropping off the kerb' jolt. I've had that previously, and that's more of a one off thing before sleep. My scary thing happens sometimes 3 or 4 times a night, and is accompanied by what Helena1 described perfectly as the stomach flip/driving over a hump backed bridge thing, only it feels like it's my heart that is 'flipping'. Sadly, there is no handsome man in the vicinity of my bedroom! I'll get it checked out, though I fear some busy doctor will simply tell me about 'sleep hygiene', and suggest all the usual, warm baths, cool rooms, winding down, and milky drinks. Don't they think we are clever enough to have tried all that!

Do you drink a lot of coffee or caffeinated drinks OP? I used to experience something similar when I used to drink a lot of coffee (about 8 cups a day) and diet coke (3 - 4 cans a day). I gradually cut down to 2 cups and 1 can a day and it stopped. Best to talk to your doctor about it though to be on the safe side.

Pollyperkins I get sleep paralysis, too, and it's awful. I'm usually having a dream but am also aware of my surroundings at the same time. Sometimes I can move my feet a bit and can alert dh who will then wake me up properly. Sometimes I think I'm screaming my head off but dh says I'm just making tiny little squeaking noises.

Like you, if I don't come to properly, I can then go back into it again. It's very distressing and I've no idea how they can be prevented.

I sometimes get that falling sensation but not the symptoms you describe. Is it something that you might speak to your GP about just to check that everything is in order?

Hello, I realise this was some time ago now. I'm wondering if you found out what it was? I have the exact same thing. Feels like my heart stops and I'm sat bolt upright in bed gasping. I also get a rushing feeling in my head.

Suggest you PM the OP Rebecca.

I’d check out sleep apnea

Sorry just realised this is a very old thread I never looked at the dates Whoops

My DH gets a similar thing, he wakes up gasping for breath and feels like he is choking. I did say mention to GP as it could be sleep apnea and may need investigating, but you know what men are like with all things medical.

My doctor advised me to take magnesium for this. My sensations were like yours except that I was not afraid, just shocked awake by falling off something.

I rarely get this now I take a high-dose magnesium chelate just before bedtime.

There is another phenomenon, Sleep Paralysis, whereby people wake up but appear to be paralysed and have strange, terrifying sensations and even hallucinations.

It's quite common, up to 50% of people experience it at some time and Sleep Disorder Scientists think it might be linked to people believing they have been abducted by aliens.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

They are called Hypnic jerks. Nice to know they have a name although no-one seems to be able to have a reason why we do them. The advice is to to avoid exercise, food and drink before bed and have a prolonged bed-time routine with relaxation techniques.

I occasionally dream (?) that I want to wake up but can't open my eyes. This is in the morning roughly at my waking up time. I struggle terribly to open my eyes, believe I can see only through a tiny gap then I eventually wake up with a real effort. In my case it helps not to sleep too long/not enough.

BlueSky I have (or had) the absolutely identical dream for many years. I try and try to open my eyes but can't.

Sometimes it's because there is light shining brightly into my eyes, preventing my opening them.

I haven't had the dream for over 10 years now, about the time I contracted an eye condition which, if I am in a bright light (indoors or out), means I can't see anything, or open my eyes!!

Bradfordlass I too have had a recurring anxiety dream since I was a child! Time to open another thread or better still see a psychologist!

I get these ‘whoosh’ sensations occasionally - just as I’m dropping off to sleep. They feel quite scary and I reach out to sit up and feel a bit panicky but it goes as soon as I do. When I lie down I think how horrid it was and try mindful breathing .... then I’m soon asleep.

P.s. I didn’t realise this was a 3y old thread either!

I used to suffer from sleep paralysis a lot when falling asleep. It was very scary as I'd be conscious, but couldn't move a muscle. Someone explained it as things shutting down for sleep in the wrong order. Apparently your brain should shut down first, then your muscles, but sometimes it gets reversed. That did help me understand it but didn't make it any less terrifying.

I'm 30 and experience fear, shortness of breath and heavy heart beats as I start to fall asleep. I often wake up feeling that I'm dying and cant breath. I have no heart issues but have a line of heart issues that run in the family. I've wore a halter monitor, had ultra sounds and have been cleared by my cardiologist. Definitely unsettling going to sleep and having this happen 4‐5 times a night 5-6 days a week

Same here I too jolt or feel like I'm tripping just before dropping off and occasionally the loud bang in the head! You can always mention it to your GP when we'll be able to see them again for routine matters rather than urgent ones only!
Lucky must have been so reassuring being married to a doctor!

What's happening on here? Have recent posts been deleted? They were there when I replied!

Sorry my mistake they were old posts! This quarantine is affecting my brain!

I know this is an old post but wondered if anyone had gotten any further on this? I'm 27 and have been suffering with the same feeling for at least a year.

I too get the feeling almost like my heart stops when Falling asleep, like a kind of rush feeling comes over my body which is very unpleasant and I have to snap myself out of it and open my eyes and sometimes sit up and really concentrate on steady calm breathing. I thought it may be some sort of anxiety attack? When I Google this panic attack seems to come up alot, although I'm not sure I've ever actually had a panic attack as they seem a lot worse than what I experience when I try to go to sleep. Perhaps its similar to the beginning of a panic attack but isn't a fully blown one? I often panic a little bit when I get this feeling and thats why I have to snap myself out of it, because I don't know whats happening I think you automatically worry your about to have a heart attack or something bad is going on in your body.. this seems to be a symptom of a panic attack, I wonder if we just dont let it get that far?

I get the a couple times a night about 4-5 nights a week when I'm trying to sleep. I also agree its similar to the stomach turning feeling but instead its your heart that feels it. When I first starting experiencing this i would again get the same feeling rush through my body but I thought my heart would start beating really fast, now its happened so much I feel its actually the opposite and it feels like my heart stops.. although I'm sure it doesn't actually stop it just feels like it.. almost like when you hear really bad news and your heart sinks to your stomach.

Its reassuring to hear other people experience this, wish we knew what it actually is. I've put over going to the doctor about it because I find it so hard to describe. May have to go soon though if it doesn't stop, ive never had problems sleeping before.