Need Some Answers on Sleep Apnea

[Countrync1986]

Hi everyone, I went into the doctor on base and informed them that i was having sleep issues. I told her that i would wake up numerous amounts of times during the night, often sweating, having to urinate, or just awaken and feeling like i was gasping for air. I also said that when i wake up in the morning, i literally have to drag my self out of bed and that i feel like i haven't even slept at all. I constantly have bags under my eyes and I am ALWAYS tired! So the doctor on base set me up with a sleep study downtown.

I just did the sleep study 2 nights ago at the Sleep Lab at our hospital around here. The technician that did the sleep lab said that she stopped counting how many times i stopped breathing after about 30 times. She said that i am probably going to be one of them border line patients (no idea what that means), but i have to wait a whole month to actually go back in for the consultation  with the doctor. When i woke up the morning after the Sleep study the technician was like omg your eyes are soo puffy. all i said is welcome to my life. they will be this way all day long as i am struggling to stay awake as the puffiness turns to bags. then i will go home lay down to go to bed and not be able to sleep, when i finally get to sleep i will continually wake up, finally get up and do it all over again!

Can somebody help me out on this? What does border line mean? Will i more than likely get a CPAP mask to help me sleep? Has anyone else had this same thing happen to them? What do you think the possible treatment will be? i am just tired of being tired all the time. i want a normal life back!

[Countrync1986]

anyone out there that can help at all?

[Suri123]

Hi Countrync1986, how are you doing? Sleep apnea is a disability, caused by upper airway blockage, usually when soft tissue at back of throat collapses during sleep resulting in no breathing during sleep for anywhere from 10 seconds to more than a minute and happens hundreds of times over a single night. Habitual snoring and gasping for breath during night is a usually earliest sign with excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, feeling unrefreshed, night sweats, morning dry mouth or sore throat and headaches. There may be a family history. Overweight, large neck circumference, an overbite, enlarged tonsils, a recessed chin, and a structurally abnormal airway, smoking, alcohol and sleeping pills can be some causes. Losing weight is one of the best things to do, avoid alcohol, smoking and sleeping on to your back. There are few devices to assist you sleep and in severe cases, a surgical correction can be done depending on the cause. You need to wait till the sleep specialist reviews the sleep study results. Take care.

[KatEyes]

I don't understand why the tech stopped counting after 30 - EVERY event is counted to reach a diagnosis. But it is a scoring tech who will interpret your results and give them to the doctor. If your results come back borderline, ask the doctor to review the data for the night to see if the results were accurate. If your study meets the criteria (and you describe what certainly sounds like apnea) you will probably be given a cpap machine. Some people adjust easily, others take time and effort. The consequences of not making treatment work can be harmful to ones health. I've been using cpap for a few years now. I no longer wake up feeling as if I'm suffocating, and I'm more alert during the day.

[Suri123]

Hi Countrync1986, how are you? Have you consulted the doctor who would probably be attending to evaluate your sleep problems? Can you post the result of the study in detail? I do agree with KatEyes, the observation of the study should have been complete and incomplete or inaccurate data might mislead the physician in arriving at correct diagnosis and to plan the care accordingly. CPAP is also advised for severe cases and not otherwise, so need not get fussy about it right now as you need to wait for doctor's interpretation and opinion. Take care and update your progress.

[Countrync1986]

thank you for your help. I won't know the results until 5 June is what it is looking like. i really haven't had a chance to get up with the doctor yet. I actually just had re constructive surgery done on my ankle and foot the other day so i am pretty laid up right now, but when i get a chance i will call to find out if they can tell me anything sooner. The tech that did the night study said that the doctor will review the whole night study before they see me on the 5th. i guess i will find out soon enough. i will keep yaw all posted!

[jimgreg]

yea if ur borderline..then you should be on the cpap..cuz if ur having that much problems staying awake during the day..ur brain will wake you to shake ur legs so you can breath  the more you stop breathing  the more oxygen it robs from ur heart...SLLEP APNEA CAN MAKE YOU REAL OLD QUICK..if left untreated...and once ur on a cpap  or bi pap  your  blood pressure will go down...you need to have a 2nd study with the cpap nasal mask...GOOD LUCK TOO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Suri123]

Hi Countrync1986, how are you doing and how is your ankle? Hope you would recover soon. Relax and try to overcome your stress with rest. Your sleep might be disturbed if you are still in hospital due to change in place and your routine. You can see your sleep doctor as scheduled and know your sleep study assessment. Do update on the opinion of the doctor and take care.

[Countrync1986]

just a lil update to everyone. i haven't had my follow up yet with the doc to go over the results step by step yet, but the clinic did call me today and tell me that they are placing an order for a CPAP machine for me. i will update farther after the app with the readings from the test.

[Suri123]

Hi Countrync1986, how are you doing? Hope you are doing better and able to get good sleep? How is your ankle and are you discharged to home? It would be too early to comment whether you really need the CPAP machine to assist your sleep as you have not be evaluated by the sleep doctor nor the sleep study has been reviewed by the doctor. Anyway, you need to relax and take rest till you consult your doctor. Keep physically active by stretches and brisk walks if your ankle lets you. Avoid sleeping on your back and late night bed habit. Take care and keep updating your progress.

[Countrync1986]

update! i went in for the follow up, turns out i have sleep apnea and that restless leg syndrome stuff. i am going in sunday night to get fitted for the CPAP machine....my foot is getting better from the surgery, although they have me on antibiotics right now bc it got infected....and i am going through a divorce....so yeah life pretty much ***** right now....

[pennst8r]

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in February and finally received my BiPAP last month. I was not at all happy about sleeping with that thing on my face. But I toughed it out and forced myself to wear it. It has made a big difference in my life. I no longer go into work in the mornings looking like "nigh tof the living dead" (except on Mondays, of course, lol!)
I have more energy.  

As a side benefit, my blood pressure has gone down. I have been on BP meds, but have been told I may someday be taken off. With my meds, my BP had been around 119/78. Since I have been using my BiPAP, it has been around 105/67.

It does take some gettign used to, but it's really worth the effort.

Penn