Feels like heart stopped when trying to fall asleep

[[Ma...]]

This is a horrible symptom that I had throughout acute and it had eased up and now that I'm 7 months off I started getting it again.It only happens when I'm just about to finally drift off into sleep and it feels like my heart stopped and I jolt up gasping for air and flopping like a fish.I already had several ekg's an echo and a 72 hour heart holter along with a full physical and blood work and saw ENT specialist and everything comes back normal.Anyone has any idea what this symptom is or anyone else experiences or has experienced it?

[[Pa...]]

I’m sure you’re not happy with the return of this symptom but if it left once, it will again.  Professor Ashton talked about heart symptoms, I don’t know if they describe what you’re feeling.

 

Heart and lungs. Palpitations, pounding heart, rapid pulse, flushing, sweating, and breathlessness are usual accompaniments of panic attacks, but may occur without panics. They do not signify heart or lung disease but are simply the expression of an overactive autonomic nervous system. Slow deep breathing and relaxation, as described under panic attacks, can do much to control these symptoms. Do not worry about them: they would be accepted as normal if you were running for a bus, and will do no more harm than if you really were!

 

The Ashton Manual

[[...]]

I definitely had something similar early on. I don't remember how long it lasted, but I'd right at the edge of falling asleep and bam some internal jolt would wake me up again. I wouldn’t pop up in bed but I’d essentially have start falling asleep all over again. After several times in a row in a single night I’d feel like I was going nuts.

 

So sorry to hear this is back for you. Back then I was very strict about my sleep hygiene but I can’t say if it helped directly.