Dripping feeling at back of throat at night??

Question

For a couple of weeks now every single night as I find myself falling off to sleep I have to sit up suddenly as it is like something is dripping downwards at the back of my throat!! And i feel like i'm choking or something. A couple of times i've been fully asleep and i find myself waking up gasping for air as if i can't breathe. I've been told that this sounds like sleep apnea but my question is does the dripping at the back of my throat feeling have any thing to do with sleep apnea, even if it is sleep apnea?? any ideas whats going on???

Answer 1

sounds like allergies to me. Do you have allergy problems? Do you take any meds? If you wake up gasping for air, you could also have sleep apnea issues.



"Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality. "



My husband has sleep apnea. but the doctor first sent my hubby to a sleep center for testing to determine the severity of hubby's problems. Now he uses a CPAP machine to sleep.



So, you should probably see your doctor. as for the dripping, you could try an OTC allergy medicine.

Answer 2

Could also be allergic Rhinitis whereby the nose constantly drips mucus especially at night it runs down the back of the throat.



Seek advice from your GP.

Answer 3

Post nasal drip, maybe? I'm sure if you are lying down when it happens, it would feel like you are choking.

Answer 4

You may just have 'nasal drip' - get it checked out by your doctor just incase its an infection or anything.