do I have it?
6 posts
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do I have it?
have been "dreaming" that I can't breathe, it is so scary. When I finally wake up, I can feel the pressure on my lungs and I know it was not a dream. Do I have sleep apnea? This has happened several times lately, especially if I sleep on my back. Thanks for feedback. Gigi
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Guest
Hi Gigi, and welcome to our family,
Best way to tell is to have a sleep study. If you feel tired all the time, feel like you never get enough sleep, have concentration and memory problems, feel like you're in a fog, depressed, don't have the energy to do things you used to enjoy doing, snore, are over weight, these are all associated with OSA. (Obstructive sleep apnea.) If your partner tells you you stop breathing more than 5x a night, or you stop breathing and then gasp for air, and/or flail your arms, legs, or whole body when you gasp for air, this is a dead give away you have OSA. Other conditions include Restless Leg Syndrome or Periodic Limb Movements. (RLS & PLM.) If your bed spread or sheets are all in dissarry in the morning, that's a sign of RLS or PLM. OSA sufferers can also have these syndroms, complicating OSA even more. Both conditions can cause awakenings multiple times per minute. You never remember waking up, because it's so brief. But, you NEVER get a good night's sleep, regardless if you think you were unconcious all night. All you get is that period where you just start to drift off to sleep, and that's the deepest sleep you'll get. OSA sufferers actually reduce their blood/oxygen levels to amounts so low that if you were concious, you'd be on the phone to 911. RLS or PLM sufferers don't have that problem, but never getting into stage 4 sleep (where your muscles are paralyzed to keep you from acting out your dreams) is a problem both groups of people have. Most if not all insurances will cover an overnite sleep study. You'll be hooked up to wires and sensors galore, giving them brain wave functions, leg movements, snoring, chest movements, an oxymeter which measures blood/oxygen levels, and a few others I'm sure I've forgotten. They can diagnose OSA as well as RLS and PLM's. If your insurance doesn't cover that, there is a machine you can rent that is used by many OSA sufferes. You wear a mask for two weeks to a month, and then take it back. They'll download all the data and be able to tell you if you have symptoms of OSA. Ask your Doctor to be referred for either an overnight OSA sleep study or for an 'at home titration.' Realize tho, that the at home titration will not diagnose RLS's or PLM's. But the condition of your sheets/blankets/comforter will be a good indicator of that. Either condition is nothing to play with, as both can cause weight gain, and speed up any heart attacks or strokes you may have in the future. Severe OSA can also damage vital organs, speed diseases along at break-neck speed and lead to premature death. Realize that sleep is designed to be the time the body repairs and rejuvenates itself. It also replenishes hormones, enzymes, etc. required for a healthy mind/body. This is nothing to paly with or delay in seeking treatment. It can help speed premature death along as easily as a deadly shotgun blast to the chest. Any questions, refer to this forum, or feel free to PM me.
Peter
Best way to tell is to have a sleep study. If you feel tired all the time, feel like you never get enough sleep, have concentration and memory problems, feel like you're in a fog, depressed, don't have the energy to do things you used to enjoy doing, snore, are over weight, these are all associated with OSA. (Obstructive sleep apnea.) If your partner tells you you stop breathing more than 5x a night, or you stop breathing and then gasp for air, and/or flail your arms, legs, or whole body when you gasp for air, this is a dead give away you have OSA. Other conditions include Restless Leg Syndrome or Periodic Limb Movements. (RLS & PLM.) If your bed spread or sheets are all in dissarry in the morning, that's a sign of RLS or PLM. OSA sufferers can also have these syndroms, complicating OSA even more. Both conditions can cause awakenings multiple times per minute. You never remember waking up, because it's so brief. But, you NEVER get a good night's sleep, regardless if you think you were unconcious all night. All you get is that period where you just start to drift off to sleep, and that's the deepest sleep you'll get. OSA sufferers actually reduce their blood/oxygen levels to amounts so low that if you were concious, you'd be on the phone to 911. RLS or PLM sufferers don't have that problem, but never getting into stage 4 sleep (where your muscles are paralyzed to keep you from acting out your dreams) is a problem both groups of people have. Most if not all insurances will cover an overnite sleep study. You'll be hooked up to wires and sensors galore, giving them brain wave functions, leg movements, snoring, chest movements, an oxymeter which measures blood/oxygen levels, and a few others I'm sure I've forgotten. They can diagnose OSA as well as RLS and PLM's. If your insurance doesn't cover that, there is a machine you can rent that is used by many OSA sufferes. You wear a mask for two weeks to a month, and then take it back. They'll download all the data and be able to tell you if you have symptoms of OSA. Ask your Doctor to be referred for either an overnight OSA sleep study or for an 'at home titration.' Realize tho, that the at home titration will not diagnose RLS's or PLM's. But the condition of your sheets/blankets/comforter will be a good indicator of that. Either condition is nothing to play with, as both can cause weight gain, and speed up any heart attacks or strokes you may have in the future. Severe OSA can also damage vital organs, speed diseases along at break-neck speed and lead to premature death. Realize that sleep is designed to be the time the body repairs and rejuvenates itself. It also replenishes hormones, enzymes, etc. required for a healthy mind/body. This is nothing to paly with or delay in seeking treatment. It can help speed premature death along as easily as a deadly shotgun blast to the chest. Any questions, refer to this forum, or feel free to PM me.
Peter
Peter,Anonymous wrote:Any questions, refer to this forum, or feel free to PM me.
Peter
PMing you would be easier if you weren't logged in as "guest". Not to be a pain, but if the original poster wishes to take you up on it, I just thought I'd point out the flaw in the plan.
Oh, by the way, if you have questions, you're welcome to PM me as well.
--Liam, who by no means is trying to steal Peter's thunder.
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rested gal
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Here are 2 links where questions are asked about specific sleep situations.
However, please be aware that these are not scientific, nor meant to self-diagnose OSA. They are meant to simply highten your awareness of this disorder. Any results that concern you and any questions that you have should be discussed with your doctor.
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/epworth/quiz.cfm
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/publications/wakeup.cfm
However, please be aware that these are not scientific, nor meant to self-diagnose OSA. They are meant to simply highten your awareness of this disorder. Any results that concern you and any questions that you have should be discussed with your doctor.
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/epworth/quiz.cfm
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/publications/wakeup.cfm
Hey there,
Woops! Thank you for showing me I wasn't logged in. Didn't realize it wasn't doing it automatically as I thought it was. Thanks for pointing that out. As for my 'thunder,' I just wanted to respond to Gigi because no one else had. My 'thunder,' if I've inadvertantly misrepresented myself, is non-existant. I believe we are all here to help, each and every one of us. My words are no more important than someone elses, and I have admitted before that I could be wrong, that I'm no authority, and many others have FAR more knowledge and experience than I do. That's where I've learned a lot of my information, and have been able to better my treatment because of all the wonderful people on this forum. Thank you though, for the constructive critisim. I'm always open to that.
Peter
Woops! Thank you for showing me I wasn't logged in. Didn't realize it wasn't doing it automatically as I thought it was. Thanks for pointing that out. As for my 'thunder,' I just wanted to respond to Gigi because no one else had. My 'thunder,' if I've inadvertantly misrepresented myself, is non-existant. I believe we are all here to help, each and every one of us. My words are no more important than someone elses, and I have admitted before that I could be wrong, that I'm no authority, and many others have FAR more knowledge and experience than I do. That's where I've learned a lot of my information, and have been able to better my treatment because of all the wonderful people on this forum. Thank you though, for the constructive critisim. I'm always open to that.
Peter
6 posts
• Page 1 of 1