Off Topic- Sleep Apnia

[AR-10]

I got to thinking this morning about all the posts I see from people who feel their bloodwork is normal, but they still suffer from heart symptoms, head aches, and fatigue.

I had severe sleep apnia a few years ago. It came to a head just about the time I started showing signs of thyroid problems. I'm not sure if there is a link there or not, but my sleep apnia is much less of  problem now than it was when I was diagnosed with it.

I just wanted to mention that if you snore a lot or if your spouse complains that you do, you might want to consider having a sleep study done.

Sleep apnia robs you of restful sleep, is a huge strain on the heart, which can lead to chest pain and palpitiations, and lowers your oxygen intake, leading to  build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood, and headaches.

Untreated, it often contributes to premature heart failure.

My public service announcement for the day. :)

[DLA]

No sleep apnea here.  Had that tested last year.  Snore really bad, though.  My husband and son would really like that taken care of. ;)

[AR-10]

From the two links, it sounds like sleap apnia, changes in the soft tissue o the throat, and swelling of the tonsils and tongue could all be related to hypothyroidism.

I learned a lot today. :)

Hopefully the swelling will go down with the dosage change, kitty.

Take care.

[kitty9309]

AR,
I just scanned the article you reference.
I don"t have sleep apnea, but last summer I would occasionally wake up choking. I have large tonsils and though it was that causing it. They once thought I had lymphoma due to an asymetrically enlarged tonsil.
I noticed just before I was diagnosed with hypoT that my tongue is enlarged with grooves along each side from my teeth. It is still that way despite treatment, though I am going higher with the dose- we'll see.
There is a pic of it on the other forum. I'll try to get it put on my profile here.I wonder if both my tonsils and tonge are swollen due to hypoT?
I now have the right tonsil larger than the left, though both are big. I need to decide if I should see my ENT for it again.

[AR-10]

Thanks for the link, kitty, and the input from you both. Here is another link from the same site, and it mentions hypothyroidism and how it can affect the soft tissues in the throat.

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic163.htm

I guess maybe it is a topic thyroid patients should be aware of.

For the record, being overweight is not a requirement of developing sleep apnia. I am quite thin, and know others who are and have sleep apnia as well.

One thing that prompted the discussion here is the fact that for a week I have been trying to get my wife to use my Bi-PAP, because I don't need it right now, and I can tell from her breathing that she does. She's been having morning headaches, too.

She is ignoring me. :/

[Newbee2000]

I developed sleep apnea a few months prior to my hashimoto's thypothyroid diagnosis.I never experience this before. I'm not overweight and as far as I know I'm not a snorer!  As my TSH came down, the sleep apnea impoved. Now I hardly have it, though I wouldn't say it's stopped 100%, more like 80%. --Your post is interesting, about heart palps and headaches. I've had an increase in headaches since my hypo diagnosis. And I've had heart palps that started just prior to my diagnosis. The heart palps improved as my TSH came down, but they have stopped 100%. I sometimes have a mild heart palp when I lay down for a long period (even when I'm awake). Luckily, I don't have much fatigue. --I'm pretty sure (based on discussions w/ me endocrinologist and my gut feeling on being hypo) that hashi hypo is the cause of sleep apnea, as well heart palps, and headaches -- the link between sleep apnea, and headaches and heart issues is definitely one to look into and mention to MD!!!! Thanks for posting this!!!!! Great topic!!