new do you think I have sleep apnea?

[cherryl]

Hi there. I am just newly thinking I may have sleep apnea. I am 42 years old and I think my symptoms began about 4 years ago beginning with not being able to get a full breath, needing to yawn to get a good lung full of air even in the daytime, but especially at night when I laid down. I went to the doctor at that time and was diagnosed as having anxiety. But 4 years later and having been on an anti anxiety med. I still have the not being able to get a full breath, and recently my hubby as commented a few mornings that I was snoring really really loudly, we have been married 20 years and this is new coming from him. I also have gained about 15 pounds this past year and haven't changed my eating habits (which aren't always so great I might add) but I saw when doing research that sleep apnea can result in rapid weight gain. So, excessive yawning to get a full breath, snoring loudly (don't know how frequent that is because my husband during the weekdays is gone to work well before I am done sleeping) and weight gain in the past year. What do you think?

[rested gal]

recently my hubby as commented a few mornings that I was snoring really really loudly

-----

What do you think?

I'm not a doctor. This is just my personal opinion:

The snoring alone would make me think obstructive sleep apnea. If you've got insurance that will pay for it, I'd go for a sleep study and find out.

As for four years of feeling as if you can't get a full breath, if you mean while awake during the day.... I think I'd be seeing a pulmonologist or cardiologist about that.

Welcome to the board and the interesting world of sleep apnea, Cherryl!

[mattman]

Hi there and welcome Cherryl!


First off, please remember that none of us (that I know of) are doctors and we aren't really qualified to make any actual diagnosis. I'm sure you know that but I need to get that outta the way.

It is really hard, bordering on impossible to make any real educated guesses about someones symptoms across a message board on the internet.

The snoring is obviously a key indicator of Sleep Apnea. It's not a giveaway though - many people without apnea snore as well.

Barring anything else you could always request a sleep study and find out. I wouldn't suggest that first though.

The shortness of breath though - that really concerns me. I would very, very strongly advise you to see a pulmonologist about that.
While that can be an indicator of OSA it can also be an indicator of many, many other more serious conditions. I would pursue this before worrying about the sleep study if I were in your shoes.

The weight gain could be attributed to any number of dozens of different things along with OSA so that's not something I could even comment on.

Please do get yourself checked out though - by a pulmonologist if at all possible or at the worst a cardiologist.

mattman

[mattman]

Bah! Beaten to it by RG whilst I was typing my own response!

[cpappychulo]

You have to be a little more specific, how many pillows do u use? What kind of antianxiety meds are you taking? Paxil + Xanax? Are you short of breath when going up the stairs? Do you have swollen feet? is that the only symptom? You should ask your doctor for a Chest xray PA and lateral. wild guesses for your s/s: Generalized anxiety, sarcoidosis, congestive heart failure. I hope this helps.

[cpappychulo]

I forgot you should tell your dr. to order also a TSH (to rule out hypothyroidism)

[LoriD]

Hi Cherryl, and welcome!

Well, I am not a doctor, either, but being I've seen plenty of them in my adult life, I could offer an opinion or two.

You mentioned snoring, which to me, would be a tip off of OSA (which I have)--trust me, I could have rattled a couple windows from snoring myself before I went on CPAP therapy, especially when I had a cold.

Someone mentioned getting a TSH level for thyroid, which is an excellent idea. I had this done as a routine blood test back in 2000, and it was found that I indeed did have low thyroid function and was put on Synthroid. You may also want to see a cardiologist about either having an echocardiogram (a painless ultrasound-like test of the heart) or a cardiac catherization (this can usually be done as an outpatient in less than a day) to rule out any blockages and/or any other abnormalities of the heart that could be causing your breathing concerns. Meanwhile, have a pulminologist check you over throughly for any possible problems as well; perhaps a sleep study is indeed in order.

Outside of snoring and other things you mentioned, do you notice anything else? The most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults are:

* Loud snoring. Almost all people who have sleep apnea snore, but not all people who snore have sleep apnea.

* Excessive daytime sleepiness, which is falling asleep when you normally should not, such as while you are eating, talking, or driving.

Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:

* Episodes of not breathing (apnea), which may occur as few as 5 times an hour (mild apnea) to more than 50 times an hour (severe apnea). How many episodes you have determines how severe your sleep apnea is. When you stop breathing or have slowed breathing during your sleep, it may result in less oxygen in your blood.

* Restless tossing and turning during sleep.

* Nighttime choking spells, gasping, sweating, and chest pain.

* Waking with an unrefreshed feeling after sleep, having problems with memory and concentration, feeling irritable and tired, and experiencing personality changes.

* Morning or night headaches. About half of all people with sleep apnea report headaches.

* Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth at night.

* In obese adults, swelling of the legs.

* Getting up during the night to urinate (nocturia).


Keep us posted on how you are doing.

[roster]

cherryl,

You are getting a lot of good advice here to discuss with your doctor. I would just add that my doctors prescribed anti-anxiety meds for me. Once I was finally diagnosed with sleep apnea and got a good cpap therapy going I no longer needed the meds.

good luck.

[tbrown1]

BEEN THERE DONE THAT - MY VOTE IS YES!!! My nightmare started in 1/05 - woke up at 4:00 a.m. gasping for breath. I was home alone so I called 911 went to the hospital spent all day there x-rays, walking on treadmill, MRI, ECG of both heart and lungs. Doc came in at 5 p.m. told me my heart & lungs were fine that I was having anxiety. He gave me xanax and zoloft and sent me on my way. I took the xanax as needed for anxiety which SURPRISINGLY only happened in the middle of the night and took the zoloft for 6 months. The night time "anxiety" attacks continued. Went to my regular doctor switched to Paxil - hated that stuff. Long story short I was put on 6 different anti-depressants with no relief and my regular doctor told me that those drugs do work and that I obviously needed psychiatric help! I wanted to slap him. Finally in October '06 I decided to take back control of my life had a sleep study and was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea AND Alpha Intrusion Disorder. I am now three months into CPAP plus meds to control the Alpha Intrustions. Not 100% yet but getting there little by little. TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH - have a sleep study ASAP. It is kinda of a drawn out process but well worth it in my opinion. Hope this helps

[oldgearhead]

I think I'd be seeing a pulmonologist or cardiologist about that.

I'm not a doctor either. However, I wonder if CHF may be involved here.
Please see a cardiologist, unless of course you already are...

[Mile High Sleeper]

Cherryl,

LoriD provided a great list of symptoms of sleep apnea. You can find some more tips under the light bulb above/our collective wisdom, expand all, article on Evaluating Your Sleep.

I'm glad that you're proactive in getting a correct diagnosis.