Question:
How did you know you have sleep apnea?

Obviously some of you knew because your doctor sent you for a sleep study, but if you discovered it before wls inquiry or before sleep study, what made you realize you had it? I've heard that having sleep apnea can be bad if your anesthesiologist doesn't know you have it. Thanks!    — beeda (posted on April 16, 2003)

April 16, 2003
I noticed that when I went to sleep I would only sleep for about an hour and wake up gasping for air and with a really bad headache. When I saw my dr two yrs ago, I told her the problems that I was having and she suggested a sleep study. I had my first sleep study done in Feb '02 and was told that I had moderate sleep apnea. Then I had to go back in May and have another study with the mask. I had a lot of trouble with the first mask and I have just gotten a new one with nasal pillows. When I met my surgeon in Feb of this year and I told him I had sleep apnea. He told me that I had to bring my machine to the hospital and that after surgery they would put me in a step down unit to monitor me.
   — Lisa N.

April 16, 2003
A girl friend told me that I stopped breathing when I sleep. I told her it was nothing... that I was just breathing very shallow. Was I wrong... I had sleep apnea for about 3 year or so without being diagnosed. I would wake up with headaches and blame it on sleeping too long. I would need naps in the afternoon and have a hard time staying awake during class. I thought it was because I was bored. I would have wild vivid dreams since I would choke during REM when the body releases the muscle relaxants and wake up. After the sleep study, I felt awesome! It was the first solid sleep I recieved in 3 or more years. My mind was "solid"... the best way to describe it. But it was too late to save my grades in law school though. I did manage to pull up my grades but can't overcome 3 semesters of bad grades. Oh well. <p>Take Care, Be Well, Be Happy!
   — John T.

April 16, 2003
Well when I went to my doc for a physical I told her that I was always fatigued no energy no matter how much I slept 6 8 10 hours I always felt like I didn't. She asked if I snored or if anyone has told me I stopped breathing also if I wake up sometimes with headachesSo she suggested a sleep study and sure enough I have it. It is only a mild case but I do have it and it affected my daytime activities alot. Hope I could help.
   — jnmcneil

April 16, 2003
I would get up, feed the cats, shower, go back to bed. I remember very well what that was like. Any of these sound familiar? Snoring,loudly, all night, in any position, maybe even as soon as you drop off. Wake up frequently, always sleepy (behind the wheel, in class/church/work), wake up with dry mouth--maybe keep water by the bedside, wake up with headaches, night sweats, bed is thrashed, skin tags. Seems like the more you sleep, the more sleep you need. Have trouble following conversations or forgetting everything. Not all for everyone, of course, but mine was "critical", as in don't drive home from the sleep clinic. I was lucky in that mine was caught in the pre-op work-up and treated while I played insurance games for 11 months. Saved my life (and sanity) til I had surgery, no doubt.
   — vitalady

April 16, 2003
Debra, if you have symptoms of sleep apnea (there is a very good self help quiz on www.sleephelpusa.com) please ask to be tested even if your surgeon doesn't require it. Not to frighten you, but, my dear friend Ginger Brewster, died because she had the surgery and was not tested for sleep apnea; consequently, no precautions were taken for her having sleep apnea. Between the anesthesia and the morphine she was given post op, she stopped breathing. Her sad story is on the memorial page of this website. Her death could have so easily been prevented if she had been tested for sleep apnea and precautions had been taken. So, PLEASE do get tested if you feel you have the symptoms even if your surgeon doesn't require it. Best of luck to you for a safe and successful surgey.
   — Hackett

April 17, 2003
I grew up with an undiagonosed sleep apnes person, my dad has it. I was aware of the symptoms, stop breathing, jumping, snoring so loud that you can hear it all through the house, etc. <P> Later after I grew up, and now looking into WLS, I was researching the symptoms of being obese. I read more and more about sleep apnea, and realized that I fit that category. Before my CPAP, I would snore sooooooo loud that I would wake myself up. I would drown out the TV, and I would dream of monsters. The louder I snored teh bigger the monster in my dream became. (Strange I know) I would be tired all day long and have constant headaches and migranes. I never knew if I stopped breathing. I finally went to my PCP and asked for a refferal for a sleep study. They sent me and it turned out that I basically stop breathing and wake up every 3 minutes, and I have EXTREAMLY loud snoring. Fortunately a low pressure of 5 does the trick and now I don't get as many headaches, I feel better, more rested, and in general better. I have had my CPAP since January. Now we are working on getting my dad in for a sleep study.
   — Pookie B.