What is Digg?59 Comments
- JackpotCity, on 10/24/2008, -1/+21This sleep apnea has some pretty damn serious side effects.
- bonoedge, on 10/25/2008, -0/+13I have sleep apnea and a CPAP (breathing machine). It's not that loud at all, and much better than the sound of snoring I promise you. Getting an overnight sleep study was the best thing I have ever done for myself, if you even suspect you have a problem please get checked out. After all it's how we lost Reggie White.
- MacBastard, on 10/25/2008, -1/+12I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea just 3 weeks ago, and now have completed 1 week of CPAP therapy. Getting checked for this was the best thing I have done for myself in a long time. Even after just this short amount of time with the CPAP I have more energy, I don't nod off in meetings at work anymore, and my coffee consumption has already dropped off by half.
I had no idea what OSA was doing to me until the doctor showed me my chart from the sleep study I took. I had obstructive events occur more than once per minute on average when I was asleep. My breaths were 24 seconds apart on average, and the longest I went without breathing was almost 2 minutes. During this time, the graph indicated my stomach and chest were still moving, trying to get air in, but no air was coming in. The graphs also show how my body rouses itself every time I stop breathing just to catch a breath.
Obviously, the sleep was far from deep. Part of the polysomnograph recording is EEG, and it verified that out of the 4 stages of sleep besides REM sleep, I was only getting as deep as stage 1 or 2. In order to have true restorative sleep, we're all supposed to get down to stages 3 or 4. No wonder I was falling asleep at my desk, in meetings, on the bus, etc. Almost anytime that my body was at rest and there was nothing to engage my mind, I would fall asleep or nod off and wake up constantly.
Please, if you are having problems staying awake during the daytime, have been told by your wife or partner that you snore loudly or that they've noticed long pauses in your breathing while you sleep, you owe it to yourself to get checked out by a reputable sleep medicine clinic. The current CPAP machines are small and quiet, smaller and quieter than ones from just a few years ago I'm told, and I only wear a little pillow mask that just fits under my nostrils and sort of perches on my upper lip. Yeah, it took a couple of nights to get used to it, but this thing is going to save my life, so I approached it with the attitude that I was going to get used to it or else.
I couldn't take the exhaustion I felt all day long anymore, so I checked with my regular doctor, who then referred me to the sleep clinic for a study to see if that was the problem. It was, and now I'm glad I didn't just chalk it up to some other cause and go along my merry, tired way until I had a massive heart attack or stroke. - bonoedge, on 10/25/2008, -0/+8The exercise/weight loss can be a hard one to battle, having sleep apnea can lower your metabolism so if you're not careful you could end up not being able to lose any weight at all. Also you don't have to be "fat" to suffer from sleep apnea either.
- nunlover, on 10/25/2008, -0/+8hey guys, i'm a registered sleep tech with 9 years experience dealing with this. sleep studies are actually very easy compared to other medical procedures. it's just a combination of tests that can be done individually, and you sleep with some wires and sensors on. most people shower and go straight to work after it's done.
cpap is great. it's immediately effective. sometimes patients will have it on for only a few hours and feel great in the morning. it's a pretty easy fix for a common problem. sometimes my patients are actually disappointed that they don't have sleep apnea, because they know it's an easy solution to their sleepiness. the only time you'll have problems with cpap is if you're claustrophobic. in extreme cases i've seen people panic with the mask on. but it's nothing that can't be overcome with time.
there are surgical remedies but i'm told they are only 50% effective. and in fact, i've never seen it work for a single patient. they all still needed cpap.
i do see sleep apnea directly effect the heart. during apneic episodes, i see the ekg speed up to compinsate for the lack of oxygen. there are also arrhythmia's, some that are dangerously close to flatline. don't wait until you're middle aged and hospitalized with a stroke. - biggdunc, on 10/25/2008, -1/+7I have SOSA, so bad infact, if I didnt use CPAP I would have a respiratory event, every 8 seconds.
PEOPLE LISTEN:
if you snore bad, wake up tired, mouth dry, constantly tired during the day.... GET A SLEEP STUDY.
Sleep apnea kills thousands each year.
It is treatable with CPAP, and is the best sleep i've had in years, after being on it for 2+ years now, i love it.
NFL star & GreenBay packer Reggie White died of Sleep Apnea.
Dont do what he did, which was refuse CPAP.
and some of you morons dont know what you're talking about.
Do your research, get a sleep study, and add years to your life - wit21, on 10/25/2008, -0/+6While I agree losing weight is the best way to treat it, normal treatment doesn't require "all kinds of crazy *****". A simple mouthpiece or CPAP therapy is plenty.
- Nidy1, on 10/25/2008, -2/+7"Cutter: Take a minute to consider your achievement. I once told you about a sailor who drowned.
Robert Angier: Yes, he said it was like going home.
Cutter: I lied. He said it was agony. "
~The Prestige
Just thought I'd leave this here. - wit21, on 10/25/2008, -0/+5Me too. When I sleep in a hotel room with other people, they don't even notice it.
- Vladamir, on 10/25/2008, -1/+5Sleep apnea runs in my family. My paternal grandfather died from it, and my father has a breathing machine (which he refers to lovingly as a snorkel) which is apparently damned annoying, but its better than not breathing. Its actually pretty scary.
- inactive, on 10/25/2008, -0/+4What?
- inactive, on 10/25/2008, -1/+5Sleep apnea is a physical problem, not like your typical insomniac.
Often the airway gets temporary blocked causing the person to stop breathing for 10 or so seconds. This instantly pulls the person out of the much needed deep-sleep cycle. Deep sleep is what makes you feel fresh in the morning.
Often people with sleep apnea don't even know they have it. When they temporary stop breating, their brain jolts on, but not enough to make them actually wake up from subconsciousness. These episodes can happen over 100 times per night, and that's not an exaggeration.
FYI, don't take sleep tablets do NOTHING for sleep apnea. Your best getting a CPAP. - inactive, on 10/25/2008, -2/+5Sleep apnea shaves years off of your life. Serious bidness
- inactive, on 10/25/2008, -0/+3As I understand it, the older the equipment, the noisier it was / is. My wife doesn't notice mine and virtually any sound or light will wake her from a deep sleep.
- inactive, on 10/25/2008, -1/+4No one said you have to be fat, but many obese people do suffer from sleep apnea
Exercise and a good diet can get the cardiovascular system going again and will definitely help sufferers - inactive, on 10/25/2008, -0/+2He never said it was. I had sleep apnea as a child. By the time I was full grown it seemed to have completely gone away. I think that may mean it would be more likely to come back if I did let myself get fat. I would like the Darth Vader mask though.
- MicrosoftBob, on 10/25/2008, -0/+2Do you have any advice for those of us who can't afford a sleep study and a CPAP? Honest question.
- Sirocco, on 10/25/2008, -0/+2Try nasal pillows. I can't use them myself as they irritate my nose, but many people swear by them. I'd sleep with a full face mask if I could afford one :)
- inactive, on 10/25/2008, -1/+3You're a hoot with a capital H that's what you are!
- Stroggoth, on 10/25/2008, -1/+3..z.z.z.zzz...sgnk....sngkjg...... zz.z....... [wakes] HHHmm? What did you say?
- EtherGnat, on 10/25/2008, -0/+2Sleep apnea can be serious business, but for the record it's entirely possible to snore and not have sleep apnea, or not snore but still have it.
- apophenic, on 10/25/2008, -1/+3RIP Jerry Garcia :C
- inactive, on 10/26/2008, -0/+2I have that movie--But it's not really like that if Jesus is your Lord and Savior. Not when you LEAVE here. --Cause absent from the body--present with the Lord forever. happiness and Joy.
- EtherGnat, on 10/25/2008, -0/+2@MicrosoftBob
Search and post over at alt.support.sleep-disorder
It's been awhile since I've participated there, but I've seen posts before on organizations that help those who can't afford it (donated machines, etc).
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.sleep-d ... - MacBastard, on 10/25/2008, -0/+2My sleep studies were done at night. I checked in at 8PM, got settled in, and started the study about 11PM. I was done at 7AM the next morning and went straight to work after that.
However, I would think that the doctor would like to do a consult before the sleep study, along with a followup afterward, and those would have to be done during regular office hours.
What the hell kind of place does he work that won't let him go to the doctor, anyway? - ieee, on 10/25/2008, -0/+2The guy I saw on it looked like Darth Vader in the last sequel BEFORE they closed him up in his case. One fun side of spending the night in the sleep lab is that wrapped me up in all sorts of tight bandages with loads of electrodes popping out all over the place. They even laughed when they asked me how I felt and I said "I am Locutus Of Borg".
- jackhenderson, on 10/25/2008, -0/+1They'll schedule the study around his normal bedtime. They want to see what happens during his sleep, just as close to home conditions as possible. The sleep center I visited was in a hospital, but the room where the studies were done looked just like a hotel room. It's like a sleepover; he'll go to bed at his normal time, and they'll wake him up in the morning in time to get ready for work, so it shouldn't be a work issue at all.
Listen, I love doctors, but I HATE to see them professionally, so I think I know the reluctance your husband feels. I put this off for a long time, but it's something I should have done years ago, no question.
Here's how it went for me. If it looks like too much of a hassle, don't tell your husband about all of it at once:
In my case, my regular general practitioner had to refer me to the sleep center for the first study. For this, they hooked me up to a few bedside machines (EEG, etc.) but no CPAP, just to see how I slept without any breathing help. The results of this were discussed at an appointment with a sleep specialist. Then, a second sleep study was done with a CPAP machine, just to see how the machine I'd get should be set up. One last appointment, and I received my machine and some instructions in how to use it. The whole process was done in three weeks or so.
Someone above seemed to imply that the CPAP machine is noisy or cumbersome. It's not. Mine is about the size of a clock-radio on the night-table, and my wife says she never hears it at all. The masks vary in style and function, and they'll make sure he gets one that's right for him. Feels pretty weird at first, but you adapt.
It all does take some getting used to, of course, but it's better than rolling the dice every night with some of the really bad things that can come from ignoring the problem. Hope this helps. - Paranor01, on 10/25/2008, -0/+1can we say dick. dugg down for being a religious idiot
- AyaJulia, on 10/25/2008, -1/+2Scary. I've been trying to convince my husband to go get a sleep study done for months now. I KNOW he has this, from listening to his breathing at night. He takes the attitude that most people take about diets and regular dental cleanings: "yeah, I know I should, but...."
Could anyone pass along any information about having a sleep study done that might convince him it's not going to be that big a deal and just get it over with already? I think his biggest fear is asking for the time off at work from his bitch bosses... is it usually done at night during normal sleep hours, or do they demand it midday? (Yes, I know various facilities have various policies, but there's always a general trend.) - doctorschlock, on 10/25/2008, -0/+1I have an old CPAP machine and I am very claustrophobic. The kind that fits on your face like those face huggers from the movie ALIEN. I need a lighter model cause the one I have now just gets ripped off my face after 20 minutes.
- inactive, on 10/25/2008, -2/+3Sleep on your side, not your back. This improves a mild case. I've made a concerted effort to do so, and seem to get a better night's sleep.
- Paranor01, on 10/25/2008, -0/+1it doesn't :( I have OSA and smoke, but my CPAP works like a charm and the weed just makes me not care that I look like darth vader lol
- toastchee, on 10/25/2008, -1/+2I also have SOSA and sleep with a CPAP machine. It is a godsend. I was told that OSA is could reach epidemic levels in this country with the weight we're all carrying around.
Sleep studies are no big deal. Go get one, you'll be glad you did! - Sirocco, on 10/25/2008, -0/+1There really is no sense in classifying apnea cases as "mild" or "severe". Both will eventually destroy your body if left untreated. As you are unable to stay in delta phase while sleeping, your body will not be able to regulate and repair itself. Sleeping on your side or stomach may lessen the effects somewhat, but don't kid yourself -- you'll be dead in a few years if you don't get this treated. If your heart doesn't give out you'll eventually go insane from sleep deprivation and kill yourself. It can take years, but it *will* happen.
- AyaJulia, on 10/25/2008, -0/+1They let him--they can't legally refuse, after all--but they make him feel terrible about it. He works manual labor, receiving in a grocery store.
- nunlover, on 10/28/2008, -0/+1it without a doubt is associated with obesity. any person over a certain size will have sleep apnea. they just will, that's what i see. you see these big men weighing 350+ lbs and they all have it, every single one. and in those cases weight loss definately helps. i haven't seen anyone completely fix sleep apnea with weight loss, but the severity drops dramatically and they will sleep better and be healthier because of it.
- ieee, on 10/25/2008, -0/+1gquaglia, I wrote that the correlation is not a 100%. As my pulmonologist told me and I'll tell you google on "sleep apnea". The statistical correlation between it and being overweight is in the 90%s as is getting rid of it by losing weight.
I've been fat and buff several times in my life. I know being fat is a social crime, but like it or not there are scientifically documented health consequences with it. Sleeping with an oxygen mask on is no way to live.
Good luck - socialfly, on 10/25/2008, -0/+1Don't want to be flippant, but does this mean one should take out life insurance on ones partner .....?!
- sonar1, on 10/25/2008, -2/+2i keep having an earthquake nightmare lately, especially 10 min after i fall asleep.. starts with a rumbling sound, then the house cracking, ***** falling, and i cant move. i woke up taking a huge breath. i heard when you dont breathe your body convulses. maybe that just happened. ima record myself. goodnight
- Winkythecat, on 10/25/2008, -1/+1Well, it's either I have sleep apnea or I take some pharmaceutical drugs to combat it. Then I have to deal with diziness, dry mouth, constipation and stomach ulcers...
Is it worth it? Hells yes! - Winkythecat, on 10/25/2008, -1/+1Dugg because it's 3 in the morning and I can't sleep.
Mah heartz a thumpin' - inactive, on 10/25/2008, -2/+2Just like other problems that some attribute to weight, sleep apnea is not only a fat man's problem. ANYONE can have it.
- apophenic, on 10/25/2008, -1/+1I can't tell if this is a joke account or not.
- dstillw, on 05/09/2009, -0/+0Maybe OSA has a corelation with heart disease but I don't know about mild sleep apnea.
- rwac, on 10/25/2008, -1/+1Breathe-Right strips seem to help too.
- scythe33, on 10/25/2008, -1/+1Maybe this'll finally convince my roommate to do something about his damn snoring.
- bonoedge, on 10/27/2008, -0/+0Also the CPAP machine isn't that expensive (some can be, but there are "entry level" machines you can buy), I bought mine for around $250, it's not anything super special but it works fine. The big cost is the overnight study you have to do in order to find out what prescription you need the machine set to. I don't have insurance, so I just put it on a credit card, best credit card purchase I've ever made.
- inactive, on 10/25/2008, -2/+2This is my prayer, that I go home sooner as I can't take much more of this world (read cesspool)!
- Battlescar, on 10/26/2008, -1/+0Hey 4Christ The name RAM ring a bell?
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