I was sick in February. At the time covid tests weren't as readily available to be tested but I had many of the symptoms of covid including debilitating headaches like I've never had before. Eventually I recover and test positive for antibodies.
To this day I have issues sleeping and I'm not solely sure if it's anxiety due to pandemic or because of my presumptive case of covid.
It's gotten slightly better in recent weeks but for months now I'd wake up about 30 minutes after falling asleep with a pounding heart and and feeling of extreme anxiety. Not as bad as a panic attack but still not pleasant.
This sounds a lot like sleep apnea symptoms. A sleep study would be well worth it. It may sound like a headache to go sleep in a lab, but if it is sleep apnea the positive life changes of treating it are beyond worth it.
I used to wake with near panic attack just like that.... turns out I wasn’t breathing well. And you don’t have to be overweight to have sleep apnea. Since treating it, I sleep like a baby.
Maybe covid induces some type of central sleep apnea?
Barely related PSA: Just want to underline the “You don’t have to be overweight to have sleep apnea” thing. I, for example, have teeny tiny airway (via overbite) that gives me Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Took me, oh, 20 years to figure this out
(Snoring is normalized/funny in our society but should be viewed as cause for potential concern)
Totally agree how snoring is normalized and probably shouldn’t be. I think there’s a lot of belief that sleep apnea is something that only happens to old or unhealthy individuals. Frankly for most people it’s due to airway size and back of throat muscle issues. Age and obesity simply bring it to the point where people are so sick they can’t ignore it, hence those who get treated.
I tell people it’s more like needing glasses. Most people just are born with the issue that develops over time. We don’t have hang ups with treating vision problems (at least not anymore)... sleep apnea should be the same.
Oh man I got a new fear now. I have scheduled a video visit with my GP for next month I'll bring this up. I'll also have to ask my partner if they've noticed how I breathe when I'm sleeping.
To this day I have issues sleeping and I'm not solely sure if it's anxiety due to pandemic or because of my presumptive case of covid.
It's gotten slightly better in recent weeks but for months now I'd wake up about 30 minutes after falling asleep with a pounding heart and and feeling of extreme anxiety. Not as bad as a panic attack but still not pleasant.