posted on September 29, 2000 09:23:23 AM new
After two months of waiting and trying to get in to see the doctor I finally got the results from that sleep study.
I have severe sleep abnea (Spelling?).
During the test in the middle of the night the technition came running into the room calling my name. I didn't know why till yesterday.
I stopped breathing for so long he was afraid I had expired on his watch. Bummer.
So I am the proud winner of the sleeping machine behind door number 3. From now on until who knows when I will be hooked up on oxygen every night when I go to bed.
I may seem like I'm whinning but you could hook me up behind the tractor and pull me around the corn field and I wouldn't complain if it got me just one good night of sleep.
I'm actually looking forward to it.
Now maybe I will have enough energy to do all the stuff I have wanted to.
I have been tiling the bathroom and putting down wood parquet in the hall. I do it four or five tiles at a time and then I have to take a rest.I'm sure my husband just thinks I have just become lazy in the last few years but I'm just exhausted most of the time. He never gets sick and doesn't understand those of use who do.
So if your having any sleep problems see a doctor. There may be something they can do.
posted on September 29, 2000 09:54:45 AM new
I should have more pride than to admit this on a public board - but, I don't, so -
My husband swears that he doesn't understand how I get any sleep at all at night. He says that I not only snore the roof off but grind my teeth at the same time. I also talk in my sleep - very long and loud conversations that make absolutely no sense. He says I'm more active while I'm sleeping than when I'm awake.
I can relate to being sleepy a lot - I'm glad they have your apnea under control - it can be really dangerous.
posted on September 29, 2000 10:49:43 AM new
Mybiddness:
I found this site that has a quiz to see if you might have a sleep disorder.
http://www.newtechpub.com/phantom/question/quiz.html
I answered yes on so many of the questions it's scary.
Try it, you might want to have your doctor check you out if you get too many yes answers.
posted on September 29, 2000 12:40:55 PM new
Just wanted to make sure I explained that I did NOT answer yes to the bed wetting question
I have problems but thank goodness they aren't that bad.
posted on September 29, 2000 09:46:48 PM new
Thanks for the info Peachy77 & Tegan I answered no to most of the questions. I think I'm breathing fine - just very loudly. I'm also curious as to whether the doc prescribed anything other than the oxygen? I've also heard of people having apnea because of a sinus blockage.
posted on September 29, 2000 10:51:27 PM new
I did find a cure for regular snoring. If my husbnad won't roll over on his side, and I can't roll him off the bed entirely, I just stick two fingers up his nose. One up each nostril. He usually wakes up and leaves the room on his own, and we all sleep better! Problem solved!
seriously though.. I hsoulnd't make light of the peeing in the bed thing.... I can't even sneeze without peeing on myself.
posted on September 30, 2000 05:12:14 AM new
Right now the only thing we are going to try is the CPAP machine. It gives you a continuous flow of oxygen under pressure to keep the airways open.
If that doesn't work there is surgery to remove tissue in the back of your throat but he doesn't think it will come to that.
He said he seldom has to do that.
As far as removing tonsils like the first doctor suggested this one told me it works really well in children but the success rate in adults is really low. He doesn't like to do it because of that.
If it were just a case of snoring there are special pillows and some dohicky that looks like braces you can put in your mouth to keep your jaw in line while you sleep both are supposed to help. I have a friend that uses
those "Breath Right" strips on his nose every night and his wife said his snoring has almost ended completely.
posted on September 30, 2000 07:46:51 AM new
Oh my. Can't believe I'm going to admit this here. But, I too snore...and loudly. Let me start by saying that I am 5'2" and weigh approx 105lbs. I am active in karate, snow skiing, rollerblading, all kinds of activities. When I first talked to my doctor he couldn't believe my snoring was as bad as I claimed. Hubby had been complaining but when our neighbor that lived above us mentioned that he could hear snoring during the night I figured I might better go get checked. I asked hubby if I quit breathing during the night and he said that he didn't think so, I was just super loud. Anyway, my doctor sent me to a sleep clinic. The results surprised him! On a scale of 1-10, I rated a steady 8, hitting 9 quite often during the night. They put me up there with the obese, alcoholic men over 60!! The good news was that I do not have sleep apnea. The bad news was that they couldn't figure out why I was snoring. I asked my doctor about a treatment I had heard about where they shave the uvula (the flap in the back of your throat) with a laser, reducing it in size and quite often that reduces or eliminates snoring. He said that mine was in proportion and he didn't believe that it was the problem. I told him I had tried special pillows, breathe right strips, a gizmo that went in your nostrils and propped them open at night, every over the counter stuff I could find. Finally, after having tubes stuck up my nose and down my throat, he discovered some polops (sp?) in my throat and decided to do surgery since they could cause snoring. During surgery, they also discovered scar tissue from when my adnoids had been removed (many, many moons ago) which could cause snoring, and then discovered that my nasal passages had never fully developed and were still the size of a childs, which can cause snoring. So they removed the polops and the scar tissue, and broke some bones and cartilage to enlarge my nasal passages.
That was about three years ago and guess what. I now snore louder than ever!!
So, if any one opts to have the surgery, discuss with your doctor the success rate and chances of the snoring coming back.
And if anyone does discover a miracle cure, please, please, please let me know!!!!
posted on October 1, 2000 04:59:17 PM new
[i]And if anyone does discover a miracle cure, please, please, please let me know!!!![i]
I agree - I'd love to find a cure for this. It not only keeps me from getting a good night sleep - but hubby as well. I've tried some of the over the counter stuff - but no miracle cure yet.
posted on October 1, 2000 10:39:21 PM new
Really glad you found an answer tegan... I remember your last sleep thread. I still have the night wanderings but not all night anymore unless I've got a lot on my mind. I'm down to getting up and wandering only a few times on an average night. Would give anything to sleep through the night every night...
Interestingly I have found that my older son sleepwalks every now and then and I used to sleepwalk as a child. Wonder if it's hereditary. Hmmm
