Bad News

ablong · Post by **ablong** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:16 pm

I just found out that a young man down the street was diag.
with sleep apnea around the first day of June . They sent him home
with no treatment. they found dead in his bed around 12-14. I saw the
police their but did not Know the family. So I asked a neighbor what was up.
So sad It makes you wonder how many have gone and how many will be
next.

So sad!

ablong

momadams · Post by **momadams** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:36 pm

The tech who did my sleep study and titration used to be an EMT. She figures she's happier saving lives well ahead of time.
S

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:17 pm

I know of 2 people that died from untreated OSA in their sleep, both of them were thin, one was only 27 years old, good friend of my brother in law, the other was only about 45-50 when his mother found him dead the next morning.

chriml · Post by **chriml** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:35 pm

How does one get sleep apnea if they are thin? These listing really scare me.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:37 pm

That is very disturbing. Now I know why I used to wake up sweating and in a panic. What is happening to you is very, very scary.

I know I felt really weird during the two weeks between my titration and getting my machine. It seemed like, well, this is really serious, but lets just take our sweet time here.

The parting words from my sleep tech when she walked me to the elevator after the sleep study were, "stay off your back!" She was deadly serious. Now I realize just how serious she was.

I don't think I will ever sleep another minute without a mask on my face.

Thank you for telling us this. I wish I could send my condolences to the family. I will take my treatment much more seriously now.

Jen

jennmary · Post by **jennmary** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:23 pm

chriml wrote:How does one get sleep apnea if they are thin? These listing really scare me.

Many people who are thin have OSA. I was under 100 pounds until about 5 years ago....and had SA long before that.
You dont have to be overweight to for your airway to colapse. It could be a large tongue, small airway, recessed jaw. There are many many ways your airway could be blocked in your sleep. I think this is why many people do not get treated.....they think only the fat, old guy down the street could have something like this. I know I never thought a woman in her 20s could end up with it.....but I did. Now after all my research I know that it is not that uncommon.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:32 pm

jenmary,

I too was thin and athletic and in my early 20's when the symptoms started. At the time I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Now I know differently. Over the last 10+ years I gained a lot of weight as I got more and more tired and my activity level went down and I ate to try to keep up my energy and out of self-pity and boredom.

In my case, I have big tonsils, a big tongue and a severe underbite. My palate and uvula are actually quite "trim" according to the oral surgeon I saw so I'm not a candidate for the uvwhatever surgery. I am having my tonsils out next month, however. And I'm getting a tap. All of this is just to decrease the severity of my osa so I can hopefully get by with lower pressures and won't have so much trouble with aerophagia. My case is severe, so it is complicated!

Jen

chriml · Post by **chriml** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:42 pm

someone told me that you cant lose weight when you have sleep apnea and once you start treatment you will start to lose some weight. Is this true?

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:47 pm

You might. It depends on how many calories are going in (diet) and how many calories are being expended (exercise).

You might find you actually have the energy to exercise once you start sleeping. Also, crazy stress hormones from lack of sleep won't be holding you back--namely cortisol which is the hormone that encourages the body to put spare tires around our tummies.

Jen

jennmary · Post by **jennmary** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:50 pm

Yeah....I have the huge tonsills as well. We are talking about taking them out. I have had symptoms since childhood. My mom just never thought me waking up at night gasping and choking was something we needed to talk to the dr about.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:50 pm

Snoredog wrote:I know of 2 people that died from untreated OSA in their sleep, both of them were thin, one was only 27 years old, good friend of my brother in law, the other was only about 45-50 when his mother found him dead the next morning.

Not doubting what you wrote, Dog. But how does one determine that someone died of sleep apnea?

Yes, I know that SA can cause strokes or heart attacks. But can a doctor specifically say it was caused by untreated OSA?

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:58 pm

This is how one of my heroes died...and I quote here.

"One month later on August 9, 1995, Garcia's body was discovered on the floor of his room at the rehabilitation clinic at 4:23 a.m.[3][18] The cause of death was a heart attack exacerbated by sleep apnea.[3] Garcia had long struggled with tobacco, drug addiction,[3] weight problems, and sleep apnea,[3] all of which contributed to his physical decline."

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:05 pm

Thanks Jeff.

It's nice to know that the medical community is mentioning sleep apnea as a contributing factor to death.

How are you doing by the way -- after your surgery?

tuna · Post by **tuna** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:11 pm

socknitster wrote:You might. It depends on how many calories are going in (diet) and how many calories are being expended (exercise)

True, but I did exercise 3+ times a week and reduced calories, but could not loose weight. After becoming a hosehead I have lost 16 pounds.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:18 pm

Snoredog wrote:I know of 2 people that died from untreated OSA in their sleep, both of them were thin, one was only 27 years old, good friend of my brother in law, the other was only about 45-50 when his mother found him dead the next morning.

My youngest brother was 47 when he died in his sleep from OSA several years ago.
Ironically, that was the catalyst for me to finally do something about treating my sleep apnea. Sadly, my brother never treated his.

Humidifier

Additional Comments: Pressure 16 cm H2O at altitude 6550ft

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i