question: I am a 49 year old female. About once or twice a month I wake from a sound sleep feeling warm, I get very flushed all over, I can't breathe through my nose, my hands are hot and itchy and my heart feels like it's going to pound right out of my chest.  I try to lay very still and slow my heartbeat down, any movement makes it beat harder.  If I am not successful slowing it back down and going back to sleep I will end up in the bathroom sick to my stomach and very light headed.  I am successful about 30% of the time.  I am not in perimenopause (I've been tested).  My thyroid is at 0.96.  I don't think it's a panic attack or I would get when awake too. Any ideas?