I am have few issues that I would like to run it by this group. I wake up many times 5-12 times a night. Each time I wake up i have a flutter/fast heart rate that can be felt on side of my left chest under ribcage and I think this wakes me up. As soon as I move this flutter goes away. I did notice that my oxygen is at lower end before I fell sleep. close to 90. I also have low heart rate at night shown by Apple watch, down to 50. It seems my flutter is tied to low heart rate. Does this symptom seem tied to Sleep Apnea? Thanks for your feedback.
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Hi, Thanks for sharing what you’re going through — that sounds really distressing, and it’s great you’re paying such close attention to your body and tracking things like oxygen and heart rate.
Waking up multiple times a night with fluttering or palpitations can definitely feel alarming, and while I’m not a doctor, some of what you’re describing can be associated with sleep apnea — especially the oxygen dips and frequent awakenings. Sleep apnea causes interrupted breathing during sleep, which can lead to drops in oxygen levels and trigger the sympathetic nervous system — basically, a stress response in the body that can show up as a fast heart rate, adrenaline surges, or that “flutter” feeling you’re describing.
Also, the fact that your oxygen is close to 90 before even falling asleep may suggest some respiratory instability, and it’s worth exploring further with a sleep specialist. The low resting heart rate (around 50) in itself might not be concerning, especially if you’re active or athletic, but when combined with the flutters and awakenings, it’s definitely something to investigate.
You might want to ask your doctor or a sleep specialist about doing a home sleep study or polysomnography (PSG) to check for sleep apnea or other sleep-related breathing disorders. If there’s an issue like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or central sleep apnea, getting it diagnosed is the first step to better sleep and peace of mind.
Hang in there — you’re not alone, and it’s good that you’re tuned into your symptoms. Hope you get some answers soon. Please keep us posted. We’re here for you! 
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