for some months i have been experiencing episodes in my sleep where i have woken up - usually 2 hrs after going to bed and falling asleep - gasping for breathe (get athsma) and coughing up stomach acid.

It can be pretty alarming. As many of you know i have been on MMT for a long time and a pretty hight dose. But this has only been happening in the past 6 months and is getting to be nearly every night. I am wondering if its a mixture of Apnea and GERD my keyworker doesnt know what to make of it. My doctor will just say its methadone what do you expect and stop taking it - not quite that easy.

I read somewhere that 6 out of 10 MMT ppl get apnea. Anyone think its what i think eg Apnea and GORD.

What worries me is the damage it may be doing to my bronchi and soft tissue. And of course choking to death on my vomit. Though it isnt much that comes up.

???? I really have nobody else to ask except experts such as yourselves.

BTW i only drink water at and dont eat for 2 - 3 hrs prior to going bed. I lie at an elevated angle with zillions of pillows and yet it still happens - any ideas other that stop taking m'done (yes i am reducing but a long way to got yet). Any why havent i had this in the past 14 years on m'done. BTW am 39 otherwise fairly healthy.

There are a few possibilities which come to mind, most of them nothing to do with methadone. I think you need to have a planned routine type appointment with a GP, maybe not the one who deals with your methadone, so that their mind is on the rest of your body, rather than on whether the scripts are printing out right.

For example, there's something called "waterbrash" which might fit what you are describing:
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/-288358374.htm

I suggest describe your symptoms carefully to a GP , avoiding putting ideas into their minds,and see what they come up with. If this does not get to the bottom of it, try another appointment with a different GP (the wonders of the NHS!)

Probably I shouldn't be giving personal advice in this way, on this website, but I don't think its the kind of symptom you should just ignore, or learn to live with, and it might be caused by something which is easy enough to fix, so get along to a GP!

Judith, i so wish you were my GP as you know anyway. Your comments are always so thoughtfull and intelligent.

You have done no wrong on the forum's behalf of responding - maybe its my fault for posting but i thought it relevant to others as 6/10 of mmt getting apnia is a lot in my opinion and perhaps the link between Service providers and GP's may miss this type of physiological/psychological information if it was not aired on a forum where ppl can add their insight from all walks and "postcodes".

Judith. thanks again.

I will see my GP. I think it's fear on my part i havent really got this seen too.