FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 I've been hearing from a few ex-cs who have sleep apnea (I do too) and I thought it would be good to provide some information about it. A lot of people may have sleep apnea without knowing it. Sleep apnea is when you stop breathing for short periods during sleep. It often involves loud snoring, but not always. Falling asleep in your chair during the day can be a sign of sleep apnea. If you sleep with someone else, they may have heard you stopping breathing and gasping for air afterwards. I once feel asleep at the wheel and had a minor accident (could have been so much worse). It can seriously impact health and quality of life, and in severe cases can be life threatening if untreated. In such cases it is associated with stroke and heart disease, and auto accidents. It is also implicated in depression, high blood pressure and being overweight. If you have a close relative with sleep apnea you are more likely to have it. This link has some information about sleep apnea including an excellent video clip with animations that explain what the body goes through when you stop breathing while asleep: http://www.resmed.com/au/patients_and_families/what_is_sleep_apnea/what-is-sleep-apnea.html?nc=patients It is diagnosed by a sleep study you can either do at home with a kit, or more often, in a sleep clinic. The next step is to meet with your sleep medicine specialist and discuss therapy options. In most cases this will be CPAP therapy - continuous positive airway pressure therapy. In the US, in most cases this is partially or fully covered by insurance, as long as you have a prescription from your sleep doctor. Other options such as mouthguards are not usually effective in controlling sleep apnea. CPAP involves sleeping while wearing a mask attached to a hose and a small machine on your nightstand. It takes a bit of getting used to but it is the most effective, safest way to deal with sleep apnea. Many people find quite quickly that they feel better, the tiredness goes and they feel more rested and alert. The machine hums and you might be concerned about that - rest assured it is quieter than snoring. If you or someone you know has sleep apnea, please post in this thread and we can increase awareness and help others understand the condition. Please ask questions, its a complex area and there's lots to discuss. There are no dumb questions Thanks and happy sleeping! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 Yeah it is possible to have sleep apnea without being overweight or having high blood pressure. If left untreated for a long enough period of time, these things may well develop. Lack of quality sleep increases the production of the hormones leptin and grehlin, which enhance appetite. Many people find they crave food more after a bad night's sleep, for example. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfuddled Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Thanks for the info! I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 6 years ago, and I had a CPAP machine for about 6 months, which did make a difference in my energy levels/etc. I then lost about 100 lbs and quit using the machine. I guess I assumed that it had went away? Interestingly, though, I was just thinking about this awhile ago, and that I should look at getting another study to see if I still have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybaris Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 I started having SA (now I know) when I was in my 30's while in the military. I just thought I needed more coffee. After I retired the VA performed a sleep test and made the diagnosis, gave me a cpap machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neverlandrut Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Good information! I'm a respiratory therapist and I see a lot of patients with sleep apnea. If you are experiencing day time drowsiness/fatigue and/or find yourself nodding off during the day, you may have sleep apnea. Snoring is sign you may have sleep apnea, but a number of people with sleep apnea do not snore or only snore minimally. There are two kinds of sleep apnea. One is obstructive sleep apnea in which the tongue or soft palate partially or completely obstructs your airway when you are trying to breath. Many people have this form of sleep apnea, and CPAP therapy is usually very effective. It works by keeping a constant positive pressure in your airway which prevents your tongue or soft palate from obstructing the entry to your airway. As mentioned, a mask is worn which is hooked to a small machine. The mask usually only covers the nose. The other form of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea. This form is characterized by a neurological defect that causes your brain to forget to tell your body to breath. These apneic episodes are usually intermittent. BiPAP therapy is usually effective for this. It differs from CPAP in that it pushes extra pressure when you take a breath. It also has a back up rate dialed in so if you forget to breath, it will push a breath for you. This is usually sufficient stimulation to make you breath on your own again. It's also important to note that many people have both obstructive and central sleep apnea, with varying degree of one over the other. It is very important to participate in a sleep study to determine the extent of your sleep apnea and what treatment method will be best for you. There are surgical options such as a uvulopalatopharyngeoplasty (UPPP), but they are usually a last resort due to potential long term complications. Weight has a strong relationship with sleep apnea, although you do not have to be over weight to have it. Losing weight does help many people reduce or eliminate their sleep apnea. So if you lost a lot of weight, there is a chance you may not need your CPAP any more. But it is best to consult with your doctor and possibly do another sleep study to make that determination. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipVanWinkle Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Unfortunately I have had sleep apnea for years. cpap is not helpful because I cannot sleep with it on. I've tried all of the different kinds. So I'm sleepy all of the time. Poor me. But, I'm still alive. bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 Unfortunately I have had sleep apnea for years. cpap is not helpful because I cannot sleep with it on. I've tried all of the different kinds. So I'm sleepy all of the time. Poor me. But, I'm still alive. bill Sorry to hear you haven't been able to sleep with it on. When you say you've tried all of the different kinds, do you mean masks or machines? Have you been to an ENT surgeon to see if surgery is needed? (note to others, it may be necessary for some people but is seldom sufficient to control SA). Have you tried using a sleep aid with CPAP? Have you tried oral devices? It really sucks to feel sleepy all of the time, I've been there. I feel for you, Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipVanWinkle Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Thank you for your suggestions, FreeThinker. I've tried different all kinds of masks. No, I haven't been to an ENT surgeon, but I am not willing to undergo surgery for it anyway. By sleeping aid do you mean sleeping pills? I've not tried that with the CPAP, but it sounds promising. My doctor never suggested that , so I assumed that was not feasible. Thanks. I'll be sure to check it out. Ambien doesn't agree with me. It makes me see double. Thanks again, FreeThinker. bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 Thank you for your suggestions, FreeThinker. I've tried different all kinds of masks. No, I haven't been to an ENT surgeon, but I am not willing to undergo surgery for it anyway. By sleeping aid do you mean sleeping pills? I've not tried that with the CPAP, but it sounds promising. My doctor never suggested that , so I assumed that was not feasible. Thanks. I'll be sure to check it out. Ambien doesn't agree with me. It makes me see double. Thanks again, FreeThinker. bill Yeah Ambien is pretty heavy duty stuff. There may be another medication that can help you get to sleep in spite of CPAP. I take Melatonin to help me sleep, which seems to work pretty well. If medication enables you to use CPAP, the health benefits of that will probably outweigh the risks of the medication. There are oral devices that can be tried as an alternative to CPAP, they work to try and bring the tongue or jaw forward - one is the Aveo TSD (tongue stabilisation device). My doctor said it doesn't work but I know someone who it does work for - she's had a repeat sleep study wearing it that proves it works for her. Another type of device is available from specialised dentists and is worn on the teeth, it brings the jaw forward. I have no idea if it works but it might be worth looking into. Sleeping on your side or stomach may help - SA is usually worse when you're lying on your back. Also if you need a nap, try having it in an easy chair or recliner, as you're sitting up more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fweethawt Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 I have it, too. Within the past year I had myself retested because I started getting sleepy again. Here to find out, I required an increase in the pressure of my CPAP machine. Its all good now. Plus I got a new machine which is much quieter. To Bill -- I too had a difficult time at first learning how to sleep with the mask. I was determined to stick with it until it became a habit and now I'm glad I did. It doesn't bother me now. Matter of fact, I have a hard time getting to sleep without it now. Anyone ever get tested for narcolepsy? I did... I wasn't right for like two days after that. The test begins in the morning after you already slept at night. They hook you up to a bunch of wires and tell you to go to sleep (which isn't easy since you already got a night's sleep), and as soon as you reach REM, they wake you for about twenty minutes before having you go back to sleep again. This process gets repeated several times for a few hours and it really messes with your head. I went home that day and fell asleep and didn't wake up until the next morning. Then for two days after, I just felt out-of-it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♦ nivek ♦ Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Have been DX'd with sleep apnea. One of the few fears I have is being in a mask of which I no control over. Tried all the recent newly released toys for adults, will not (know the difference between will and can not) use the damn thing. Did have a snore guard built at outrageous expense via dentist. Now using an off the shelf advertised thinigamabob that also stops snoring. do know snoring and apnea are not same thing, however the damn snoring does not keep rest of house awake at nights. kL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller2 Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 I snore terribly even under a full apnoea mask but a nasal cushion type stops it otherwise the cpap air jets out my mouth so I think my mind has been trained not to snore since dxs with SA. Cpap has been a gudsend to me and not constantly exhausted n falling asleep all the time.i have a couple of resmed machines-one at my place and one at my burds house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 Have been DX'd with sleep apnea. One of the few fears I have is being in a mask of which I no control over. Tried all the recent newly released toys for adults, will not (know the difference between will and can not) use the damn thing. Did have a snore guard built at outrageous expense via dentist. Now using an off the shelf advertised thinigamabob that also stops snoring. do know snoring and apnea are not same thing, however the damn snoring does not keep rest of house awake at nights. kL Even reducing snoring can help. Glad you found something that works for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 A friend of mine had the narcolepsy test, it sounded unpleasant. Still, it was worth it for him to get diagnosed with it. He now takes something for it, Modavigil I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipVanWinkle Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Fweethawt: Yeah, I've thought of that possibility. The whole procedure is such a pain in the ass. But maybe it just takes perseverance. Tanks. bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 Fweethawt: Yeah, I've thought of that possibility. The whole procedure is such a pain in the ass. But maybe it just takes perseverance. Tanks. bill It does take perseverance... more than a few nights sometimes. I was active in a sleep apnea forum at the start of my time using CPAP and some people there would take 2-3 weeks to get used to using it. There's all kinds of tips and tricks that can make a difference to comfort. Getting the mask to sit correctly can be more art than science too. Machine settings matter - there is a ramp function on most machines that sets the pressure to slowly increase at the start. Too much or too little pressure at the start can be uncomfortable. Most professionals do not have the time to help you tweak all these things, and that's where a forum can help. Here's the one I used: http://www.cpaptalk.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fweethawt Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Another thing for any night shift workers here... Your body natuslly produces the amount of melatonin necessary to help you get good rest. However, the body can not produce it when its exposed to sunlight. Your body can only produce it in the dark. So, if you work nights and sleep during the day, cover those windows with dark plastic or blackout curtains. It makes a HUGE difference! Trust me. I've worked nights mist of my life. I know this info isn't apnea related. But it'll help SOMEBODY out there tossing and turning in their brightly lit bedrooms. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Often apnea is related to other sleep issues. I've been taking Melatonin supplements at night to help me sleep for a long time. It seems to work and it seems safer than drugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipVanWinkle Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 FreeThinker: Thank you for yu suggestions and information. Tell me: What dosage of Melatonin do you take at night? I use 1.5 three mg pills. If I take two pills, I have bad dreams, which wake me up. Also, a friend of mine said there is a test in which a medical clamp that works like a clothes pin is put on a finger during the night while one is sleeping. It tests the oxygen level in one's blood, If it is low during sleep that is an indication that an overnight sleep test would be in order. Have you heard of this? bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 FreeThinker: Thank you for yu suggestions and information. Tell me: What dosage of Melatonin do you take at night? I use 1.5 three mg pills. If I take two pills, I have bad dreams, which wake me up. Also, a friend of mine said there is a test in which a medical clamp that works like a clothes pin is put on a finger during the night while one is sleeping. It tests the oxygen level in one's blood, If it is low during sleep that is an indication that an overnight sleep test would be in order. Have you heard of this? bill I take 1mg of Melatonin at night. My doctor originally prescribed 2mg (its only available on prescription here) but I found out 1mg is sufficient for me. The test you refer to is a pulse oximeter which measures the amount of oxygen in your blood through shining an infrared light through your finger. You have probably had this if you've ever been in hospital. It can be used to screen for sleep apnea and the need for an overnight sleep study. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller2 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I read recently that with snoring the soft palate is often to blame and u can excercise this with gargling water.i think I'm gny give this a shit as I would like to stop the snoring at least . apparently it takes a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipVanWinkle Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Thanks. Free ThinkerNZ, bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeThinkerNZ Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 I read recently that with snoring the soft palate is often to blame and u can excercise this with gargling water.i think I'm gny give this a shit as I would like to stop the snoring at least . apparently it takes a while. The snoring sound is caused by vibration of the soft palate, but snoring itself is caused by narrowing of the airway, lower down. This is due to a number of factors, including the fact that the tongue can fall back and occlude the airway, and throat muscles relax during sleep. The only scientifically proven ways to prevent snoring are CPAP and related therapies, surgery if indicated, or devices that bring the tongue and/or jaw forward. People are always coming up with other "cures" eg eating bananas for the potassium in them, but there is no scientific evidence supporting these things. The best medical advice is to get a sleep study from your doctor, and then you know what you're dealing with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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