Anyone with sleep apnea??

If so, has it worsened or improved since you've been in withdrawal/recovery?

I've had symptoms since I was about 17 (a few years before I went on benzos). At the time, my doctor dismissed it. Last year, at the urging of another doctor who felt my fatigue/depression could be caused by it, had me do a sleep study which confirmed instances of sleep apnea last year.

I was lazy and didn't follow up with the pulmonologist she referred me to at the time, and I'm regretting it now. I'm a really light sleeper and rarely feel rested most nights (even when I'm not startled awake by my chest tightness/inability to breathe - or don't remember it). But things have definitely been worse since benzo withdrawal in combination with going off of Prozac in late November. For some reason, over the past month, I've either had trouble falling asleep, waking up randomly in the middle of the night and/or an hour or so before my alarm clock, and chest tightness/tingling in my arms plus limbs falling asleep. Not to mention the fatigue and brain fog during the day.

Of course, since I waited so long to scheduled the appointment, I have to go back to the doctor to get a referral to the pulmonologist again and then schedule the appointment. But hoping I can get a CPAP and start sleeping better and feeling more rested!

I also have problems with this. It became much worse during the withdrawal because the body is so tense. The feeling that it is crowded in the throat, and over the chest, becomes even worse. I stop breathing even during the daytime.

I try to exercise conscious breathing, but of course it is difficult at night. I try to focus on breathing, but forget all the time. It goes quite well when I meditate and at mindfulness.

Has also been told by a specialist that I can put tape over my mouth to breathe with the chest, instead of my stomach.

I would also like to come to a specialist, but I'm still afraid to go out, so it's time to wait.

Do you have any tips? Thanks in advance!