Serious problem

I wanted to tell you all that I had a sleep study done this past weekend.  I just talked with the doctor today, and he told me that I have severe sleep apnea.  He said I am waking up every thirty seconds, because I stop breathing for ten seconds.  This seriously fragments my sleep at night, so I feel sleepy in the morning at my job, and have to drink a Diet Sunkist Orange pop for my client in the afternoon, so I won't nod off in her presence.  I drink a cup of coffee every morning, to get started.

The doctor wants to schedule me for another sleep study as soon as possible, and I told him I preferred Saturday night to Sunday morning, since that way, my husband would be available to take me to and from the hospital where it's done at.  They want to put a PAP mask over my nose, to test how I do with my sleep on that.  He expressed concern about my claustrophobia, but when he described how big the mask was, and that it would only fit over my nose, I told him it probably wouldn't bother me.

I am approximately 160 pounds overweight, and he said this is the major factor in why it's so severe.  I told him I am losing weight slowly.  He also told me that the apnea would improve if I lost at least 30 pounds.  He says it's hard on my heart & brain both.  I can well believe that.  So far, I've had normal EKGs (same this past time when I had my physical this past Tuesday), and I do have a mental disorder called Schizoaffective Disorder with Depression, which I take medication for. 

Just thought I'd let you all know.

Denise Phares/kitties4

 

 

Denise, I was just talking to a friend of mine in Atlanta today who just went for this same test.  She used to be severely obese and had bad sleep apnea.  She now weighs 165 pounds and it has come back just as bad as it was when she was obese.  Hmmm...I wonder what that tells us.  Anyway, she said that they put her on this new machine and she hasn't ever felt so rested in her life.  She is going to get one, but she hasn't gotten the results of her test back, yet, to get the orders.

I hope you get the chance to get the same machine she is getting and that you can get some rest!  

Mary

 
Dear Denise:

Twilight here. I too have Sleep Apnea. When I was tested over a year ago, I was told I stopped breathing 155 times during the night.  After I got my machine and adjusted to the pressure blowing and the mask; I started to really sleep well. I think the hardest thing, for me was to sleep on my back.(not a back sleeper.) I can now sleep on my back, for awhile, and on my left or right side.  The mask comes in all kinds of  shapes and sizes. I've try-ed the over the nose, in the nose, and I am now wearing a mask that goes across my face(on my cheek bones) taking the pressure of the bridge of my nose.(I hurt it when I was a little girl, can not stand any pressure on it.) I think I have try-ed them all.  One or two things the doctor mite not have told you, but when you use the C-Pap machine,  it decrease your belly fat (lose inches off belly) and if your a diabetic (as I am) It also helps your sugar readings be lower. I think it's because when you don't breath your body goes into stress mode, stress can make your sugar go up, along with increasing cortisol (belly fat).,Alas Improved breathing, improved sugar and reduced cortisol

I wish you well, I hope I have helped from one who has and is still there.
Yours: Twilight 

.

Hi Denise, I went through all that too. I hated doing the sleep studies, the second time with the mask, they had to give me something to get me to sleep so they could get the feedback they needed. I also have severe sleep apnea. During the first test I stoped breathing over 200 times in the 5 hour period I was actually asleep. The doctor ordered a CPAP machine for me to use at night. The mask I got goes over my chin, mouth, and nose (over the chin so you can still talk/open your mouth with it on). I've had it since spring '08, and am just now getting used to wearing it. I have anxiety and depression issues and for some reason the mask was triggering panic attacks. Not fun. I've been working with my councilor and I can finally fall asleep with the stupid thing on and leave it on (usually) all night. When I wear it, I feel much better, I don't wake up with terrible headaches, and I have more energy during the day. I can tell when I don't wear it, I wake up feeling like crud.

Good luck with your second sleep study, and don't be afraid to ask for a sleep aid if you can't fall asleep!

I'm another one with severe sleep apnea.  My oxygen level is below 80% on average and I have over 60 apnic episodes an hour.  I'm not yet on a CPAP as I'm waiting till next year so I don't have to pay my insurance deductible twice. The CPAP will cost me about $700 out of pocket initially.

One other thing you may not know that sleep apnea affects is memory.  Sleep apnea causes hypoxia which in-turn causes your mamillary bodies in your brain to shrink; in particular the hippocampi (plural).  Typically the left sides shrink more. The hippocampi are responsible for short term memory. THe mamillary bodies are also responsible for other cognitive abilities. It's quite possible that some of the emotional issues that you have could be a side affect of your sleep apea.

Here are some interesting links on OSA and how it affects your brain:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4345/is_/ai_n29203166
http://news.health.com/2008/06/11/sleep-apnea-damage-brain-memory/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18486338
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammillary_body

My girlfriend Deb AND her DH travel with their lil ole C-paps every where they go! Even camping!

It did not help Deb lose weight, but it has changed her quality of life so much that she dreads anytime she cannot use the machine. Like Kriz says, her memory came back in black and she has waaaay more energy.

Deb's hubby is a health nut, never has been fat, exercises like a fiend - he still has apnea, so while many fatchicks/dudes develop this, it is not really a fat peeps issue.

Give it lots of time to try it out - you may be a changed woman!!!

I work for a sleep specialist and thought I would see if I could provide some additional information for you. We see a lot of people who have problems with claustrophobia and who don't like having masks on their faces. There are many different types of masks that are available from full face masks, similar to the type that are used for oxygen, to nasal masks that basically cover your nose. You can do some desentisitation with the mask by just wearing it around while doing tasks at home or just relaxing before bed. Just so that everyone knows weight is not the only factor in sleep apnea. We see a lot of people who are totally fit in all other aspects but have sleep apena, we also see those who are obeese with sleep apena as well. After you start on CPAP therapy make sure you follow up with your Dr. espically if you gain or loose 40 pounds or more as this can have an effect on your pressure setting and will probably need to be revaluated. Good luck with your sleep study. Keep in mind it does take a little bit to get used to the CPAP and don't be afraid to ask for a sleep aid to help you adjust to the machine. Hope this information helps.

Taya