Sleep Apnea (VERY LONG but important I think)

[JCJRSmith]

Last year, I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It was always a big joke around the house about how much my wife and I snore (yes, we are both obese [I HATE that word, but there is no hiding from the truth]). For as long as I can remember, I have had trouble driving long distances because I would get sleepy. When teaching my classes, the hour or two right after lunch was the worst, as I wandered around in front of my class, concentrating as hard as I could to ensure I wasn't babbling to my students and that what I was saying was making sense. I knew that if I stopped moving, I would fall asleep. I would wake in the morning with stiff joints, and my hands and feet would be tingly and cold - my body would shut off the circulation to ensure that I had enough oxygen to my vital organs.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Apnea is a Greek word meaning "without air" - in OSA, one's throat relaxes to the point that it closes off the flow of air to the lungs. The body will sense this, kick in a little adrenaline to wake you up (not fully awake - just to a lighter stage of sleep) and you tighten up the neck muscles to open the airway and breathe again. EVERYONE suffers from SA to one degree or another, but for most people, it manifests itself it one to two apnea events an hour.

To give you an idea of the dangers of OSA, here is an excetpt from the American Sleep Apnea Association's web site:

"Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues"

I thought my sleep patterns were normal - that I just had to get to bed earlier at night to get some rest. Over time, you kind of get used to it, and you compensate by taking naps, thinking it is normal.

A friend from Toronto was relating his experiences with SA on a professional newsgroup to which I subscribe, and, as I read his message I thought, "Geez, Paul - you are decribing ME !"

I sought treatment. I saw my doctor, described my symptoms and got set up for a sleep study. At the sleep study, I got rigged up to a bunch of machines (brainwave, heart, breathing, pulse ox and movement indicators) and went to sleep. Most sleep studies happen over two nights. The first night is to determine if you have OSA, the second is to see how you do sleeping with a breathing machine called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine, or CPAP. The CPAP is a mask that fits over your nose and a pump that forces room air down your airway to keep it open.

I never got to the second night. The sleep technician woke me at 1 a. m. to try me on the CPAP. Unfortunately, due to claustrophobia, I couldn't handle it. I wanted to rip that mask off and throw it across the room. My concious mind was telling me that I was getting air, but, because it seemed so difficult to exhale against the flow of air, my subconcious decided I was suffocating, causing me to panic.

Why did they test me so early on night one? Remember I said that everyone has OSA to one degree or another, but for most, one or two apnea events an hour is no big deal. You roll over and go back to la la land. Fifteen events per hour is considered severe.

I was averaging 62 apnea events per hour. My pulse, while I was sleeping, would raise to between 120-130 beats per minute - while I was AT REST. Wide awake, it was more like 60-70 BPM. My blood oxygen level went down to 55%. Yep, you read that right, 55%.

I am happy to report that my treatment, thus far, has been successful. I was able, with the initial help of some anti-anxiety meds and a different type of mask, to overcome my claustrophobia when wearing the CPAP. I developed my own techniques to deal with the anxiety and soon did not need the meds anymore. I now counsel other OSA sufferers with the same anxiety problems at the request of my doctor, to help them through it. I sleep so well now, it has been LIFE ALTERING for me. I have become and evangelist for OSA treatment, which is why I wrote this in the first place. OSA is most common in those who are overweight which is why we are all here on this board in the first place. Men over 40, who are significantly overweight, are the most susceptible (yep, that would be me), but it is very common in women as well. If you fit the symptoms I described above, or any of the symptoms described at the American Sleep Apnea Association's web site I urge you to see your doctor.

If you aren't sure, ask your spouse or S.O. to describe what it is like when YOU snore - does it sound like you stop breathing for a moment, or that you are gasping for breath? If so, see your doctor.

A funny story to go with this: the day I brought home my CPAP, I went to bed about an hour ahead of my wife. I still remember how good I felt when I got up the next morning because I had slept so well. My wife didn't sleep at all that night. She got used to my snoring, but, when you wear a CPAP, you do not snore. The machine is whisper quiet. Cindy didn't sleep that night because it was, in her words, "Freakishly Quiet" in the room - she checking me to see if I was still alive

If you have any questions, I will be happy to try to answer them for you.

Sleep well,

 

[JCJRSmith]

One of the best things that one with Sleep Apnea can do to help oneself is LOSE WEIGHT. So, we are on the right track

 

[Baileymouse]

How right you are!!! Everyone here should pay attention to this - you may save a life. OSA can cause excessive daytime sleepiness which can lead to mistakes - car accidents, etc.

I was diagnosed with this last year but since I've lost some of the weight I no longer have to use the CPAP. I can remember how energized I felt after wearing it - I would wake up sooo refreshed the next morning. Before I had it I would have night sweats and wake up multiple times.

If you snore, of if you wake up frequently during the night, GET IT CHECKED!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for relaying this very important information. One major reason I finally decided to lose weight is my sleep-snoring and apnea episodes. DH was sleeping in the other room many nights because I snored and snorted (really!)so loudly. And even though we've been married over 20 years, this all started about 3 years ago-when I put on about 20 pounds one summer. Well, I've only lost 8 pounds so far, but already he said my snoring is softer, and more importantly, smoother-sounding. So a relatively small weight loss can make a difference sometimes!

 

[Mickey527]

Good explaination of Sleep Apnea JR.........
I also have sleep apnea. I was tested in 1989 and found to have an apneac episode 54 times per hour. My Dr didn't even try the CPAP, he said he didn't think it would work for me. I did lose weight, but I wasn't that large to begin with, at my largest I was 195 lbs. It does sound like alot for a female, but I was wearing size 16, not tremendously large.
I believed what my Dr told me about surgery so I had a uvulectomy. They cut out my uvula because according to my Dr the uvula muscle becomes flaccid and falls into the airway blocking the air.
I still wake many times each night gasping and choking for air, I never feel rested, and I snore worse than ever according to my sons.
Without a uvula I choke on food and drink, mostly liquids. Being a nurse I know that I will most likely get aspiration pnemonias when I get older because of the way I choke all the time.
Please, read as much as you can and do some research on the internet before allowing your Dr to try surgery. I wish when I had the surgery I had a computer and could have done some research. I also wish I had gone for a 2nd opinion, I trusted my Dr. and now have more problems than before. Peggie

 

[MelanieC]

Wow- you know I haven't thought about this, but I definately used to snore. DH snores too, but he would always say how loud I snored. Many times I would wake myself up while sleeping by "snorting". I definately don't sleep through the night and I always wake up tired. VERY TIRED!

Since I have lost weight, DH has not complained in I can't remember how long. I can't even remember the last time I snorted and woke myself up while sleeping.

I also seem to wake up at about 7:30am-8:30am on Saturdays' where I would sleep till 11am before and still be tired.

I used to be embarrased if I was in a situation where I would have to share a room overnight with someone (even my mom). I am very conscious of not falling asleep on airplanes (even on overnight flights).

I wonder if I have stopped this. I will have to ask DH if he hears me snore anymore???

 

[MelanieC]

Oh yeah,
My mom who is not overwheight, has sleep apnea. She went to a sleep study about a year or two ago and now she wears a mask. When I went to see her last year, I was so surprised how uncomfortable the mask looks.

Just thought that I would mention, that you don't have to be overweight, but loosing weight can definately helps it.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Originally posted by MelanieC
Oh yeah,
My mom who is not overwheight, has sleep apnea. She went to a sleep study about a year or two ago and now she wears a mask. When I went to see her last year, I was so surprised how uncomfortable the mask looks.

Just thought that I would mention, that you don't have to be overweight, but loosing weight can definately helps it.

Absolutely true. As near as I can tell, I have probably had OSA since I was in college. I know I had it the entire 12 years I was in the Navy, because the guys in the berthing compartment used to complain about my snoring - it just wasn't happening every night. I guess it really started every night about 7 years ago. When I was in college and in the military I was not overweight. I imagine I will be on the CPAP for the rest of my life - it works for me.

The masks do look uncomfortable. I couldn't use the mask, so my doctor set me up with nasal pillows. You can see the rig I use here. I actually have no problem - it took some getting used to, but now, I sleep.

 

[lbrat4]

I was diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea in November and now have a CPAP machine. My mask is very comfortable even though it is kind of bulky and freaky looking! Still, I feel better than I have for a long time!! My Dr. told me that I would have more energy once I started using it, and that it was up to me what I was going to do with that energy. (As in, get off my behind, and start exercising and dieting). Since I started using it, I am quite the sparkplug. I'm exercising, planning and cooking my meals. My memory is improved, I'm sharper at work. Before it was all I could do to get through the day and I had no energy left to do normal life activities. We ate out all week long because I didn't have the energy to cook or clean. This is now so much improved. My point is, if you have any concern that you might have sleep apnea, get yourself checked out!!