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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Sleep Apnea or Something Else?
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Sleep Apnea or Something Else?
by Susan__0__0, Jan 29, 1999 12:00AM
: : Hi. My husband has been having 'episodes' for the past year or so, where he
: : becomes disoriented, unsteady on his feet, slurrs his speech, and generally
: : acts as though he is drunk - but he's not drinkng anything or taking any
: : drugs. After the episode, he sleeps for anywhere from 15 minutes to
: : several hours. When he wakes up, he is fine, although he often remembers
: : little to nothing of the episode. When the episode happens, he is coherent, but
: : can not recognize that his voice is slurred, or any of the other symptoms.
: : Finally, (after much persuading) he's gone to his doctor for evaluation.
: : He was diagnosed with high blood pressure (160/100), and put on medication for
: : that. He went to a nuerologist who gave him a full exam, and believes that
: : the episodes are in response to sleep apnea, since he snores badly, and often
: : stops breathing (or at least that's how it sounds to me late at night!).
: : He is scheduled to go into the hospital to the sleep lab for analysis now.
: : When I researched sleep apnea, I found lots of info on what causes it, but
: : I didn't see symptoms like this. Does this sound like a reasonablediagnosis?
: : His regular doctor had told us the Neurologist would probably order an MRA,
: : but she didn't - just the sleep lab analysis. Any information you could provide
: : would really help! Thanks so much for your time!!!
: ==========================================================================
: your husband may well be suffering from sleep apnea but this is certainly
: not the full story.
: The episodes you mention while awake cannot be accounted for by a reaction
: to sleep apnea in my opinion.
: Episodic problems like this can be due to seizures, since the sleep study
: is closely related to the EEG test it would be a good idea to have a full
: EEg study done at the same time as the sleep study.
: This would permit a more thouough evaluation of these episodes as, even if
: sleep apnea is proven it will not explain these episodes fully.
Based on your opinion, do you think we should talk to the neurologist?
My husband is concerned thatif he does, he is 'telling the doctor' what to do,
and worries that his level of care will decrease, because he is annoying the
doctor. Instead, he feels we should just wait and see about the sleep apnea.
I'ld appreciate your professional opinion on this.!
=============================
I you do not talk to the neurologist nothing will be done, as it stands I
feel that there is more going on here than will be accounted for by sleep apnea,
You can deal with this after the sleep study if necesary but it needs to be
addressed at some point. By the way, asking question does not lead to a
lower standard of care, frequently the opposite is the case, it shows you are
well informed and should be taken seriously.
