severe versus mild sleep apnea

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
tiredandscared
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severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by tiredandscared » Sat May 02, 2015 1:47 pm

I know this is silly(without a polysomnography or definitive tests). But are there telltale signs of sleep apnea severity? Sleepiness scale or brain fog? I know it affects everyone differently. But are there any broad patterns? Just to give people who're still in the process of ongoing diagnosis a general idea.
Last edited by tiredandscared on Sun May 03, 2015 4:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

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SleepWellCPAP
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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by SleepWellCPAP » Sat May 02, 2015 2:17 pm

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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by robysue » Sat May 02, 2015 2:34 pm

tiredandscared wrote:I know this is silly(without a polysomnography or a definitive tests). But are there telltale signs of sleep apnea severity? Sleepinesso scale or brain fog? I know it affects everyone differently. But are there any broad patterns? Just to give people who're still in the process of ongoing diagnosis a general idea.
While daytime sleepiness and brain fog are common symptoms of OSA, they do not always indicate the severity of the OSA. In other words, there are people with fairly mild OSA who have severe problems with sleepiness and/or brain fog and there are people with severe OSA who have very few problems with daytime symptoms.

The most tell-tale sign of the severity of the OSA may be whether the bed partner reports witnessing repeated apneas every night. When the apnea is mild (or even moderate), the bed partner may only notice a few apneas/hypopneas a week. When the apnea is severe, the bed partner is more likely to notice apneas/hypopneas almost every night.

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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by zoocrewphoto » Sun May 03, 2015 2:48 am

tiredandscared wrote:I know this is silly(without a polysomnography or a definitive tests). But are there telltale signs of sleep apnea severity? Sleepinesso scale or brain fog? I know it affects everyone differently. But are there any broad patterns? Just to give people who're still in the process of ongoing diagnosis a general idea.

I think some of the symptoms and how bad we feel has to do with how long we have been dealing with it. Even somebody with mild sleep apnea can feel horrible when they have been suffering for years. Also, we don't really notice how things creep up on us. I thought I was coping just fine. I only got tested for 2 reasons. I learned that it could be causing my high blood pressure, and that scared me. And I was tired of being yelled at when sharing a hotel room. Otherwise, I felt fine.

Once I had a single great night with the machine, I realized just how bad my sleep was. I also learned that a lot of symptoms I had were caused by the sleep apnea. I had been assuming other reasons for those problems.

So, if you have asked me before cpap how bad my sleep apnea was, I would have said my snoring was bad, but I felt fine. I now understand just how bad it really was.

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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by Woody » Sun May 03, 2015 4:00 am

A recording O2 meter might give you a fairly good idea. Not nearly as good as a real sleep study
but a good screening tool .



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css28
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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by css28 » Sun May 03, 2015 7:27 pm

+1 to both the bed partner observations and the recording oximeter (less than $50 in our case).

My apnea was diagnosed in response to my wife's sleep deprivation. She didn't dare sleep because of the suspense of waiting for my breathing to resume.

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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by Goofproof » Sun May 03, 2015 7:54 pm

We are all different, we all react different to everything. I'd say it doesn't matter which one, if you die in your sleep from it. Jim
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!

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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by surf_rower » Sun May 03, 2015 9:37 pm

Goofproof, I really like your signature advice.
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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by Guest » Mon May 04, 2015 4:47 am

css28 wrote:+1 to both the bed partner observations and the recording oximeter (less than $50 in our case).

My apnea was diagnosed in response to my wife's sleep deprivation. She didn't dare sleep because of the suspense of waiting for my breathing to resume.
It sounds like a good idea. But the oximeters that register over night basically are way too expensive. The ones you're talking about only give registrations per usage.

tiredandscared
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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by tiredandscared » Mon May 04, 2015 6:28 am

css28 wrote:+1 to both the bed partner observations and the recording oximeter (less than $50 in our case).

My apnea was diagnosed in response to my wife's sleep deprivation. She didn't dare sleep because of the suspense of waiting for my breathing to resume.
I followed your advice. And bought one with a recording ability(about twice of what yours cost, but this gives me the ability to record the oxygen drops during sleep).
css28 wrote: We are all different, we all react different to everything. I'd say it doesn't matter which one, if you die in your sleep from it. Jim
I'm not going to die from it. But I aim to preserve as much brain power as possible. I'll have my peace of mind if I'll know I'll be able to do that.

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Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea

Post by palerider » Mon May 04, 2015 10:40 am

Guest wrote: But the oximeters that register over night basically are way too expensive. The ones you're talking about only give registrations per usage.
I have no idea what you're referring to with "register".
RECORDING oximeters which will record the spo2, and heart rate are available for < 40$, and comfortable wrist worn ones that record multi sessions of spo2, heart rate and perfusion index are available for < 100$.

that's unlikely to be "way to expensive"

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