Sleep Apnea in Children

[TheWife]

Now that my husband has been diagnosed we're on the way to recovery (only about day 4 on the new setup, but he goes to bed so late it's hard to tell if he's tired because of not enough hours, or if his setup needs adjustment, but at least he's not "leaking" any more--sheesh, sounds like I'm talking about my toddler ).

I've been wondering about my 11yo daughter. She has some of the same symptoms as her Dad (in fact she's so much like him I wonder if my genes had any role in her makeup), except that she doesn't snore. She delays going to bed, tends to have nightmares/terrors. Waking her is like waking the dead, and she's tired in the mornings, and most of the day, tending to get "energized" in the late evening, a phenomenon I've heard referred to as "sundowning".

What things would you look for in children to see if they have OSA? Are children diagnosed with this if it's not severe? She tends to get nasal congestion and end up mouth breathing, so that affects her quality of sleep too. I'll ask the GP, but I'd like to come equipped with a bit of knowledge first.

Thanks. Theresa

[CollegeGirl]

I wish I had some information for you, but I don't. All I can say is - PLEASE get her tested if you think there's any chance at all she might have it.

I now believe I have had OSA since I was born (my mother reports that I snored from day 1, but she thought nothing of it). I was always the tired kid, the kid who always tried to come up with excuses for staying home from school so I could sleep, the kid who never had energy to do anything.

As the grown-up version of that child, I'm begging you - get her tested. I don't even want to think about how much better my life could have been if my parents had done that. It makes me too depressed.

Good luck, and our thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes are with you!

[wahooker]

for many young children, Tonsils and Adenoids can play a major factor in Sleep Apnea. Once my 4yo had his removed, his apnea went away. I'm not sure if 11 is still in that same age range.

I would definatly make a visit to an ENT or other sleep specialist to check it out.

Oh, and apparently, a tonsillectomy is a lot less painful not than it was years ago. You always hear the story of 2 weeks of nothing but soup and icecream... My son was eating Cheetos and a granola bar 4 hours after the surgery with no pain at all.

[Grimace]

I was in the same boat as collegegirl. When I was a child, my tonsils were so large that they would totally close off my windpipe when I slept. The problem was discovered after I started school and began to fall asleep in class and the teachers couldn't wake me up. I had my tonsils removed when I was five and the problem was solved.....at that time. Unfortunately it came back, but at least this time around I didn't have to go under the knife to fix it.

[TheWife]

I think I will get a referral to a specialist. She IS tired all the time. I had my tonsils out when I was 8. She has a lot of respiratory problems, mostly caused by allergies. Given how similar she is to her Dad, I want her to avoid all the problems he had growing up (and still has).

Do children use CPAP machines? Has anyone heard of a child who used one successfully? Thanks.

Theresa

[apneaicinisrael]

Hi Theresa,

Welcome!
If you haven't yet found it, also check out the pediatric sleep apnea chat group on apneasupport.org, it is another chat site that has a specific place for discussing kids. The moderator, SleepyDave, I think, is extremely knowledgable. Keep posting here, too, though, we also want to know what happens!!

Regards,
AII

[Julie]

Hi, just for the record.. 'sundowning' is a term used for Alzheimer's patients (who do get restless in the evenings), but I've never heard it used for children (though who knows ). She sounds like her natural bio-clock makes her an evening person rather than a morning person - too bad her school sched. couldn't be re-set to allow for it! But of course do check into her problems with her doc.

[TheWife]

If you haven't yet found it, also check out the pediatric sleep apnea chat group on apneasupport.org

Thank you. I've checked it out and yes, children do use CPAP machines, though it seems there's room for improvement in the treatment department.

Hi, just for the record.. 'sundowning' is a term used for Alzheimer's patients (who do get restless in the evenings), but I've never heard it used for children (though who knows ).

It was a child psychiatrist who used it in the context of our four year old, but it applies to my oldest as well. They just get that second wind when it's time for bed. But in the case of the oldest, it's putting off sleep because it's such an unpleasant experience for her.

Theresa

[wabmorgan]

I read recently that most tonsils are removed now due to apnea!!!!! Aprox 400,000 of the 500,000 surgeries done.

If you think she has apnea, you should get with your(her) doc about testing.

I know for myself, I think I have probally had the apnea since at least my teens!!!!!!!!!!!