If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Enchanter
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If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by Enchanter » Thu Apr 16, 2015 8:18 pm

I'm a male and I measured my neck size it's over 17 inches. And I do feel pressure in the throat/neck area as if I'm being choked of air. As I mentioned in another thread, I wake up every single day and feel as if my brain didn't receive proper oxygen and I'm not refreshed EVER under any circumstances no matter what. Is there a chance that a bigger neck can cause symptoms that aren't sleep apnea? Now I do have some allergies to dust and things like that, but I keep my room clean, and use an air purifier. Plus, when I was getting shots for many years, it never helped. I would think that some allergies that I have are separate from my possible apnea, though can definitely worsen symptoms at times. On the other hand, I used to have bad allergies when I was younger and never had the symptoms I am describing, so I'd think they are still 2 separate things.

The reason I feel I don't have apnea is because I don't sleep in the day once I'm up. Like I said, I've never napped my whole life and have never known what it's like to. Falling asleep is hard enough as is, so napping is something that sounds impossible to me. But anyways, I am scheduled for a doctors appointment so we'll see if we can find anything.
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Julie
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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by Julie » Thu Apr 16, 2015 8:37 pm

You don't have to have a big neck circumference to have apnea - it's the size of your airway inside that counts, though of course a big neck can make that airway narrower... depending. But there are very many issues that can affect your neck that have nothing to do with apnea or even respiratory issues - it's quite a complex area, so don't even think about diagnosing yourself with anything... let the doctor do that. And allergies are a whole other thing, again not directly related to apnea or neck size. And some of us never had daytime sleepiness - myself included - but that alone does not mean you don't have apnea, again a reason to be tested formally by professionals... there are many things that get tested in a sleep lab that you can't anticipate on your own.
Last edited by Julie on Thu Apr 16, 2015 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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LSAT
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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by LSAT » Thu Apr 16, 2015 8:40 pm

As I suggested in your previous post...GET A SLEEP STUDY....That is the ONLY way to determine if you actually have Sleep Apnea.

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Enchanter
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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by Enchanter » Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:33 pm

LSAT wrote:As I suggested in your previous post...GET A SLEEP STUDY....That is the ONLY way to determine if you actually have Sleep Apnea.

Thanks, I made an appointment with my doctor. It's just that I'm desperate and am always preparing for the worst.
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Enchanter
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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by Enchanter » Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:35 pm

Julie wrote:You don't have to have a big neck circumference to have apnea - it's the size of your airway inside that counts, though of course a big neck can make that airway narrower... depending. But there are very many issues that can affect your neck that have nothing to do with apnea or even respiratory issues - it's quite a complex area, so don't even think about diagnosing yourself with anything... let the doctor do that. And allergies are a whole other thing, again not directly related to apnea or neck size. And some of us never had daytime sleepiness - myself included - but that alone does not mean you don't have apnea, again a reason to be tested formally by professionals... there are many things that get tested in a sleep lab that you can't anticipate on your own.

Interesting. So you don't fall asleep or nap during the day? Now keep in mind, even though I'm not sleepy during the day, I am indeed pretty fatigued and sluggish, and I'm definitely most sluggish just right after I wake up. You know how when you eat lots of ice cream, you get a brain freeze? Well when I wake up, I get sort of any oxygen freeze if that makes sense. At least that is how I feel even though I can't prove it.

And I do lots of exercise, but still sluggish with the exercise. So how did you know u have apnea? Do u snore loud? Can u have apnea without snoring loud? A long time ago as a kid, someone told me I snore really loud. But as an adult, one of my friends said I didn't snore. I don't sleep next to anyone, so really it's hard to say.
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Uncle Flapp
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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by Uncle Flapp » Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:51 pm

The sooner you know the better the outcome - regardless of the test results.

- Flappy

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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by Bill44133 » Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:52 pm

Take 15 minutes and review this youtube video it will help you understand what maybe going on with with you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gie2dhqP2c

This video put the whole thing in perspective for me. It should be required viewing for any one who is new.

I wish you well

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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by kteague » Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:53 pm

Enchanter wrote: The reason I feel I don't have apnea is because I don't sleep in the day once I'm up. Like I said, I've never napped my whole life and have never known what it's like to. Falling asleep is hard enough as is, so napping is something that sounds impossible to me.
To have or not have one particular symptom from a list is not unusual. Out of a list of symptoms, any one person may exhibit only a few. Keep in mind not everyone gets sleepy. For some, the stress hormones that accompany sleep apnea keep them at a heightened sense of alertness, sometimes looking like anxiety. Hopefully you'll get tested soon and settle things in your mind.

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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by Bill44133 » Thu Apr 16, 2015 11:26 pm

If you really think you have a problem and you don't want to wait to see your doctor, you could go to your local drug store/walmart and purchase a pulse oximeter.
Get one that records and comes with software. If your oxygen levels are dropping below 90 during your sleep you can show the results to the doctor that may
fast track things a bit.

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Julie
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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by Julie » Fri Apr 17, 2015 3:01 am

My ex told me that I had apneas (no breathing x long time, then big gasps, etc.) overnight and then I found out (sleep study) I was desat-ing for long times, but I've never gotten much sleep my whole life, though don't think I had apnea til I was older.

While you may not sleep in the daytime, you also may be so used to not being at your best that you literally have forgotten or don't know what normal feels like now.
Last edited by Julie on Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:12 am, edited 2 times in total.

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TexasTom
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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by TexasTom » Fri Apr 17, 2015 4:46 am

Get the oximeter. I had one when I used to fly to check oxygen level on long flights (usually I was under 10,000 ft.... but occasionally higher).

Despite BMI and neck size (18) I was not a couch patato. Yes, I did snore so that usually means a obstructive apnea. Didn't nap, fall asleep during the day. Oddest part is with or without CPAP I have the same energy. Well, ended up going to a sleep study as I only sleep 3 hours a night. Good night maybe five hours. Still alert during the day.... my breathing is just odd at night (border collie would wake me up before I got CPAP).

Turned out my internal regulator is off. Yep, this is with the CPAP... so much better. Sleep study showed central apnea's. If in doubt oximeter will help to see if you have an issue (first clue for me was in the hospital ER room that sat ox machine kept dropping till 80 until I would wake up, cough, and fall back asleep... not good)

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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by purple » Fri Apr 17, 2015 5:44 am

Oversized neck might be Goiter, oversized Thyroid.. Low Thyroid might be related to brain fog....I have both 'Sleep Apnea' and low Thyroid. Might seem contradictory, but it is easier to treat 'Sleep Apnea.' Treating "Sleep Apnea' can be incredibly frustrating for some. Low Thyroid can be nearly impossible in practice as my doc giving me Thyroid pills will cause my own Thyroid to make even less hormone, plus taking Thyroid hormone pills can, eventually, almost surely will, cause Thyroid cancer.

Insofar as anxiety, several years ago there was a report of a study in which it was suggested that nearly all anxiety attacks are cardiac related, not emotional.

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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by TexasTom » Fri Apr 17, 2015 6:14 am

purple wrote:Oversized neck might be Goiter, oversized Thyroid.. Low Thyroid might be related to brain fog....I have both 'Sleep Apnea' and low Thyroid. Might seem contradictory, but it is easier to treat 'Sleep Apnea.' Treating "Sleep Apnea' can be incredibly frustrating for some. Low Thyroid can be nearly impossible in practice as my doc giving me Thyroid pills will cause my own Thyroid to make even less hormone, plus taking Thyroid hormone pills can, eventually, almost surely will, cause Thyroid cancer.
I've been on 200 mcg Synthroid for over 40 years, since my early teens. First I've never heard of long term synthroid causing Thyroid Cancer. Blood is tested every six month to monitor.

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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by ambidex » Fri Apr 17, 2015 6:19 am

purple wrote:Oversized neck might be Goiter, oversized Thyroid.. Low Thyroid might be related to brain fog....I have both 'Sleep Apnea' and low Thyroid. Might seem contradictory, but it is easier to treat 'Sleep Apnea.' Treating "Sleep Apnea' can be incredibly frustrating for some. Low Thyroid can be nearly impossible in practice as my doc giving me Thyroid pills will cause my own Thyroid to make even less hormone, plus taking Thyroid hormone pills can, eventually, almost surely will, cause Thyroid cancer.

Insofar as anxiety, several years ago there was a report of a study in which it was suggested that nearly all anxiety attacks are cardiac related, not emotional.
Breathing air causes cancer as well, but that doesn't mean you should stop breathing to avoid it.

Life is all about risks and rewards, sometimes being untreated is worse than the risk of getting cancer.

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Re: If your neck is over 17 inches but don't have apnea

Post by chunkyfrog » Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:57 am

Neck size by itself is a poor way to predict apnea.
It is next to useless for diagnosis.
But it is CHEAP!

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