Question:
maybe its sleep apnea? can you help me?

for the last couple of months i have gained alot of weight and have noticed i have been getting some extremly bad headaches in the middle of the night only at first (and i honestly am not exaterating) i was getting about 12-15 of them at night i went to the dr and he ran some test and said everything was fine (i got so scared a few times i wanted my honey to take me to the emergency i thought i was having a stroke but then i changed my mind)....so i changed my pillow hoping that would help and it did for a while...now they are back but not so many maybe 2-3 a night and they hurt "so" bad i know that i have problems breathing at night and am consantly getting up but could it be because of that? could it be sleep apnea? also when i get up in the morning i am soo sore, my whole body, like i exercised the day before will this stop me from getting surgery? i have already been approved i am just waiting for my date....thanks    — LUVY L. (posted on January 11, 2002)

January 11, 2002
Sounds like it could be sleep apnea. I had the same thing pre op and they sent me to have a sleep study done before surgery. You may have to do that if you do have sever apnea that would effect your surgery in the way of anesthisia and putting you on a breathing machine. Another idea maybe are you drinking a lot of caffienated drinks? I used to get bad headaches from too much caffiene or not enough water intake. Let your doctor know so that you don't get delayed.
   — [Anonymous]

January 11, 2002
Hi Luvy...yes, this does sound like sleep apnea...and I'm only saying this because these are the exact symptoms I had. I was waking up in the middle of the night with these headaches that felt like I got kicked in the face/head. I would wake up crying from the pain. Also I was waking up constantly all night long and going to the bathroom like 4 or 5 times during the night. Hence, I got no restful sleep at all. This was compounded by my fibromyalgia which has its own sleep disorder. I was literally crazed from sleep deprivation. I had the overnight sleep lab done, was dxed with sleep apnea, and am now using a cpap. Last night I awakened only 3 times (that I remember)...the cpap is really a marvelous invention. No more nightime headaches! I am so happy about this because I was really going off the deep end with the headaches, they were so awful. It sounds like it would be very beneficial to get a sleep test done and check to see if it is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be life-threatening, as it does damage to the heart. And daytime sleepiness can cause you to have car accidents, problems with concentration, and depression. So I would definitely check it out. Keep us posted, Luvy. Much good luck with this! Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 11, 2002
I have severe OSA and that is exactly what it sounds like. You wake up and pee so much because your body is trying to get rid of carbon dioxide that it is storing because you are not breathing right. If you really want to know, get a video camera and record yourself, doesn't take much light to hear and see yourself gasping for air in your sleep. I use a CPAP now for that, maybe if and when I have WLS that will go away with the weight. If you don't get your OSA taken care of, you can develop central apnea, where basically your brain forgets how to breathe normally. Good luck and get to a doctor that can order a sleep study.
   — Samantha K.

January 11, 2002
Well, it's unanimous. I was stopping breathing 125 times per hour. Do the math. Was I breahting at all? The oxygen deprivation is a terrible thing. I felt as if my head was being clamped in a vice some nights. And once I got my CPAP, it became my very best friend in 4 hours flat. At least it does go away after surgery, but if you can possibly get started on CPAP now, you will fare better NOW, and immediately after surgery, because you'll be fully oxygenated.
   — vitalady