Sleep disorders - Page 2

TITANFAN · February 6th, 2007, 09:37 PM

Even through all the snoring....I HEARD THAT BGM109A. LOL!!!

Nocahoma · February 7th, 2007, 11:40 AM

I don't think I have sleep apnea. I just know that I snore heavily at times.

Top Cat · February 7th, 2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

SLEEP APNEA INFORMATION
The Greek word "apnea" literally means "without breath." There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common. Despite the difference in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences

Sleep Apnea Information - American Sleep Apnea Association - ASAA

LongtimeBravesFan · February 8th, 2007, 10:18 PM

I have an appointment with an ENT doctor tomorrow. Hopefully surgery can help my situation, but I guess could get used to the mask if I have to. I don't know how my wife will handle it, but she's been married to me for 12 1/2 years, so she is a pretty understanding person, obviously.

LongtimeBravesFan · February 9th, 2007, 02:10 PM

I went to the docotr today. He wants to remove my tonsils as well as shaving off part of my uvula (the thing in thre back of your throat that hangs down).

He said my oxygyn rate durng the study was around 70%. Not sure what that means but he seemed like it wasn't good. He alos said he didn't like how the sleep clinic puts the mask on you right away because he would have liked to have seen more data on my breathing.

He said my tonsils are very large and thinks removing them may help the problem, but can't say what the chances of sucess are.

He also said I have swolen lymph nodes and prescribed an antibiotic for that.

My surgery is scheduled for March 12th. I really hope this works and that the lymph nodes aren't a problem.

unsung · February 9th, 2007, 07:14 PM

I went for the tests twice. The first night I could barely sleep, and every time she came in to reconnect a wire I woke up. I did not wear the CPAP the first time there. I took almost two hours just to fall asleep.

The second time I wore the CPAP and I was out in a matter of minutes. I didn't hear anything all night and slept like a log. It really was a huge change.

I'm using the CPAP now with a PSI of 10. I also used the Swift pillow like the first picture shown here. I used to wake up with my heart pounding out of my chest from not breathing, and I had to wear earplugs or I couldn't stay asleep. Now I don't wear the earplugs and I think the house would have to crash to the ground to wake me up. I'm also not overweight, my airway just relaxes too much when I sleep and blocks the airflow.

TheDeathlessHorsie · February 9th, 2007, 10:16 PM

My sleeping disorders are becoming serious. I've become quite "athletic" when I sleep. I double-up with my legs crossed, and I also have been sleeping propped up on one palm. Last week I woke up with a pinched nerve in my neck that incapacitated me for three days. The pain was so severe that I wake myself up every hour or so to make sure I'm not repeating this behavior. So I'm not sleeping much.

I'm also not breathing in deep sleep. Of course, I'm not exactly getting deep sleep....so I'm not concerned with the apnea.

Does this sound like Restless Leg Syndrome, or some other bizarre sleep disorder?

Top Cat · February 10th, 2007, 10:52 AM

Sounds like a problem no matter what it is. You have "sleep study" written all over you.

Yogi44 · February 10th, 2007, 01:52 PM

Horsie.... have a sleep study done. I'm in my 14th year of a CPAP machine and you'll never believe the difference in your energy level. But you need to have that study done to make sure what is happening. Could be nothing or it could save you from serious problems down the road.

heyterry · February 16th, 2007, 08:07 AM

I have sleep apnea too. I honestly believe that if I hadn't started using the CPAP, I'd be dead. I've been using it since around 1995. When I was tested, they told me that I woke up 356 times in 7 hours. Basically, it was like sleep deprivation (torture).

LBF, I've heard that the surgery is quite painful and doesn't always work.

Otter · February 16th, 2007, 08:33 AM

"He said my oxygyn rate durng the study was around 70%. Not sure what that means but he seemed like it wasn't good. He alos said he didn't like how the sleep clinic puts the mask on you right away because he would have liked to have seen more data on my breathing."

I was very surprised your sleep clininc put the CPAP on you the first night.... Doesn't seem like the could get a good baseline for your problems.

Be very cautious about surgery. I have had the surgery described and it did nothing. That Doctor wanted to try some other things via Surgery, and I went to another.... they did a new sleep study and then a CPAP machine... been sleeping like a baby ever since. the difference is amazing.... For my whole I essentially never had a good nights sleep. Using the CPAP has given me tons of energy.

I am very surprised that your doctor has you going to surgery so fast, without exploring the CPAP option first.

Top Cat · February 19th, 2007, 08:54 PM

As an aside, I had to stay in a hotel last night. I forgot my CPAP and attempted to sleep without it.

That was a terrible experience. Needless to say, I didn't sleep for &*#@. I kept waking myself up via snoring and was never really asleep.

Never again!

LongtimeBravesFan · February 20th, 2007, 07:47 PM

I never imagined this problem was so widespread. Maybe 50 people read this post and three said they use the CPAP and two others have a reative who does. I got an e-mail from my sister-in-law who said her dad and her uncle both have apnea. And I've had several people say they know someone who uses a cPAP.

TonyBagO'Donuts · February 20th, 2007, 10:46 PM

When my aunt was little she had a serious snoring problem. My oma took her to a doctor and he found that having her adnoids removed would remedy the problem.

LongtimeBravesFan · March 8th, 2007, 09:27 PM

I am having surgery Monday morning. The surgery is to remove my tonsils (which the doctor said are very large), adnoids and also part of my uvula. Also he is going to do something with my palate.

Hopefully this will solve my problem. It isn't a guarentee, but he did feel there was a good chance it will help with my apnea.

There is also another issue. He noticed I have swolen lymph nodes in my neck and want to look at them during the surgery. He said the swelling could be a sign of lymphoma. but he didn't seem overly alarmed so hopefully its nothing.

Anyway, the recovery from the surgery should be rather painful so I'll have a fun few weeks. I just hope this will cure me because I don't want to do the mask. Of course, I have lymphoma, sleep apnea will be just a minor concern.

February 9th, 2007, 10:16 PM	#22 (permalink)
TheDeathlessHorsie Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pan-dimensional Transient Posts: 415	My sleeping disorders are becoming serious. I've become quite "athletic" when I sleep. I double-up with my legs crossed, and I also have been sleeping propped up on one palm. Last week I woke up with a pinched nerve in my neck that incapacitated me for three days. The pain was so severe that I wake myself up every hour or so to make sure I'm not repeating this behavior. So I'm not sleeping much. I'm also not breathing in deep sleep. Of course, I'm not exactly getting deep sleep....so I'm not concerned with the apnea. Does this sound like Restless Leg Syndrome, or some other bizarre sleep disorder? __________________ "If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base."

February 6th, 2007, 09:37 PM	#16 (permalink)
TITANFAN Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nashville Posts: 365	Even through all the snoring....I HEARD THAT BGM109A. LOL!!!

February 7th, 2007, 11:40 AM	#17 (permalink)
Nocahoma Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,238	I don't think I have sleep apnea. I just know that I snore heavily at times.

February 8th, 2007, 10:18 PM	#19 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,660	I have an appointment with an ENT doctor tomorrow. Hopefully surgery can help my situation, but I guess could get used to the mask if I have to. I don't know how my wife will handle it, but she's been married to me for 12 1/2 years, so she is a pretty understanding person, obviously.

February 9th, 2007, 02:10 PM	#20 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,660	I went to the docotr today. He wants to remove my tonsils as well as shaving off part of my uvula (the thing in thre back of your throat that hangs down). He said my oxygyn rate durng the study was around 70%. Not sure what that means but he seemed like it wasn't good. He alos said he didn't like how the sleep clinic puts the mask on you right away because he would have liked to have seen more data on my breathing. He said my tonsils are very large and thinks removing them may help the problem, but can't say what the chances of sucess are. He also said I have swolen lymph nodes and prescribed an antibiotic for that. My surgery is scheduled for March 12th. I really hope this works and that the lymph nodes aren't a problem.

February 9th, 2007, 07:14 PM	#21 (permalink)
unsung Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 52	I went for the tests twice. The first night I could barely sleep, and every time she came in to reconnect a wire I woke up. I did not wear the CPAP the first time there. I took almost two hours just to fall asleep. The second time I wore the CPAP and I was out in a matter of minutes. I didn't hear anything all night and slept like a log. It really was a huge change. I'm using the CPAP now with a PSI of 10. I also used the Swift pillow like the first picture shown here. I used to wake up with my heart pounding out of my chest from not breathing, and I had to wear earplugs or I couldn't stay asleep. Now I don't wear the earplugs and I think the house would have to crash to the ground to wake me up. I'm also not overweight, my airway just relaxes too much when I sleep and blocks the airflow.

February 10th, 2007, 10:52 AM	#23 (permalink)
Top Cat Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bellingham Posts: 2,309	Sounds like a problem no matter what it is. You have "sleep study" written all over you.

February 10th, 2007, 01:52 PM	#24 (permalink)
Yogi44 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: McGee's Crossroads, NC Posts: 254	Horsie.... have a sleep study done. I'm in my 14th year of a CPAP machine and you'll never believe the difference in your energy level. But you need to have that study done to make sure what is happening. Could be nothing or it could save you from serious problems down the road.

February 16th, 2007, 08:07 AM	#25 (permalink)
heyterry Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 499	I have sleep apnea too. I honestly believe that if I hadn't started using the CPAP, I'd be dead. I've been using it since around 1995. When I was tested, they told me that I woke up 356 times in 7 hours. Basically, it was like sleep deprivation (torture). LBF, I've heard that the surgery is quite painful and doesn't always work.

February 16th, 2007, 08:33 AM	#26 (permalink)
Otter Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 116	"He said my oxygyn rate durng the study was around 70%. Not sure what that means but he seemed like it wasn't good. He alos said he didn't like how the sleep clinic puts the mask on you right away because he would have liked to have seen more data on my breathing." I was very surprised your sleep clininc put the CPAP on you the first night.... Doesn't seem like the could get a good baseline for your problems. Be very cautious about surgery. I have had the surgery described and it did nothing. That Doctor wanted to try some other things via Surgery, and I went to another.... they did a new sleep study and then a CPAP machine... been sleeping like a baby ever since. the difference is amazing.... For my whole I essentially never had a good nights sleep. Using the CPAP has given me tons of energy. I am very surprised that your doctor has you going to surgery so fast, without exploring the CPAP option first.

February 19th, 2007, 08:54 PM	#27 (permalink)
Top Cat Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bellingham Posts: 2,309	As an aside, I had to stay in a hotel last night. I forgot my CPAP and attempted to sleep without it. That was a terrible experience. Needless to say, I didn't sleep for &*#@. I kept waking myself up via snoring and was never really asleep. Never again!

February 20th, 2007, 07:47 PM	#28 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,660	I never imagined this problem was so widespread. Maybe 50 people read this post and three said they use the CPAP and two others have a reative who does. I got an e-mail from my sister-in-law who said her dad and her uncle both have apnea. And I've had several people say they know someone who uses a cPAP.

February 20th, 2007, 10:46 PM	#29 (permalink)
TonyBagO'Donuts Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 65	When my aunt was little she had a serious snoring problem. My oma took her to a doctor and he found that having her adnoids removed would remedy the problem.

March 8th, 2007, 09:27 PM	#30 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,660	I am having surgery Monday morning. The surgery is to remove my tonsils (which the doctor said are very large), adnoids and also part of my uvula. Also he is going to do something with my palate. Hopefully this will solve my problem. It isn't a guarentee, but he did feel there was a good chance it will help with my apnea. There is also another issue. He noticed I have swolen lymph nodes in my neck and want to look at them during the surgery. He said the swelling could be a sign of lymphoma. but he didn't seem overly alarmed so hopefully its nothing. Anyway, the recovery from the surgery should be rather painful so I'll have a fun few weeks. I just hope this will cure me because I don't want to do the mask. Of course, I have lymphoma, sleep apnea will be just a minor concern.