i have mild sleepapnea

[daisy32775]

If mild apnea is not treated. Then what am i to do about my 80% O2 saturation while asleep.Also is that the reason i am having trouble with my sleep and waking up in the mornings and feeling tired upon awaking.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The nasal strips do help, if there is an obstruction at the nose level. The mild sleep apnea is at the level of the inner air passage. The problem is of the tongue (falling backwards on lying down on back).

Losing weight is a very good way to keep the apnea away.

Regards

[daisy32775]

I really don't know if it is true or not. It would be nice to know if it does.That is if i could tolerate wearing it. Because i tried the ones for stuffy noses. And it gives me a headace everytime.But everyone is different. Good luck to you.

[Terabyte]

I've had similar sleep problems since gaining weight but had heard that the nasal strips for snoring help with sleep apnea.  Is this true?

Although I haven't actually lost weight, I've lost inches (converting fat to muscle, I think) and this has alleviated the problem with waking up due to my soft palate closing.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

I am sure you will find your solutions, and I hope things get better from here on.
Wish you all the best.

Regards

[daisy32775]

Thanks again. when i said my life and marriage i should have explained. I am sleepy all of the time which causes me to be short patiented. and just tired. And as far as my marriage. When i go to bed i am immediatly dead sleep. And when it's time to wake up. I have to make myself get up.Because of my ruff night, i don't want to be bothered by anyone not just my husband.Somedays it takes a while to wake on up then i am fine until the sleep hits me again. But anyway i go see a physician at an primary care center next month. And i will see what he says. Because i really don't think the pulmonology dr wants to see me.i have heard about the oral aplliances but i think a person should know why they have the apnea first. And that i don't know.I just hope this dr. next month will help get this problem taken care of.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello again.

I am sorry for the bad phase you are going through. If the mild sleep apnea is causing problems in your life and marriage, it is not actually mild. But I guess if the problems in marriage are due to the sleep apnea, the two of you should sit together and ask yourselves, is it really the problem. I know this is easier said than done, but life is all about taking up challenges and fighting problems together.

You may go ahead and try oral appliances for your sleep apnea. They are known to be effective in mild to moderate sleep apnea. This has to be used after consultation with your doctor.

Wish you good luck.

Regards

[daisy32775]

Thanks for your comment.But i didn't make the choice not to treat the mild apnea. the pulmonology dR. did. i have tried sleeping on my left, right side, stomach and back nothing helps. I don't drink or smoke or take all kinds of medecations. i am 32yrs old, 5' 7"  162lbs. i was not even aware of my oxygen level until i requested info from the sleep lab. The dr. didnot tell me it was low. I was only told that i had mild and they don't treat mild. i don't even know why i have it he didnt even check me or listen to my lungs heart or anything. He told me to go to primary care center. I'm sure it's because i don't have insurance.i woud love for my problem to be taken care of . I no longer know what a good nights sleep is. not to mention it is causing trouble in my life and marriage. i got to pay 1500.00 for the sleep study and no one has helped me. So what do i do now. i don't want to be like this. i wish it would just go away. aslo i forgot to mention in 2003 i had a problem with broncitis also mild asthma and that is really when my troubles started and i having been struggling every since. Sorry to talk so long but i don't know what else to do. just want to get some sleep.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The early awakenings and the tired feeling upon awakening are a result of your disturbed nightly sleep. Sleep is the natural way our nervous system rejuvenates itself. If the process is disturbed, it is going to feel like a worn out machine.

Why should you not think of treating the mild apnea ? Your Oxygen saturation is not coming back to normal due to the sleep apnea. You can't increase the oxygen saturation without treating the root cause.

Treatment does not mean 'medicines' only. You can make some Behavioral changes. You can lose some weight, and sleep on your side.

Sleep apnea increases in severity with time. It may go on to become mild to moderate in future. Taking necessary steps at this stage itself will help prevent any further complications.

Regards