Worried I might have sleep apnea and could use some advice

[LML998]

Hi, 28-year-old male.

I have recently been having consultations with jaw surgeons to correct a mild to moderate recession of both my upper and lower jaws. I was initially interested for aesthetic reasons, but my CBCT scan showed that I had quite a narrow airway, which is apparently common in a situation like mine. I was then alerted to this being a risk factor for sleep apnea.

I've gone down a bit of a rabbit hole researching the disorder. From what I can tell, the most common symptoms are snoring, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, gasping for air, and waking up during the night. I have none of these symptoms and my partner hasn't noticed anything unusual when she's been awake, and I've been asleep, but apparently, you can have no symptoms and still end up having severe apnea. Most stories I've heard from Reddit mention the classic symptoms, but then others say they were diagnosed and felt fine. It seems current symptoms have no real bearing on whether you're suffering from a severe disorder or not, and that's what's scary.

I've got on the list now to get a sleep study, but that won't be for a month or so. My surgery, which will solve the issue of my airway, will be in six months to a year. I can also only have the at-home study where I live, because the in-lab ones are far too expensive, and I'd have to pay out of pocket.

So I've kind of been panicking after my research. I have OCD and health anxiety, and this has really set it off. I'm fearful I've been living with a severe breathing disorder my whole life, which, even if resolved soon, may have caused irreparable damage to my brain. I'm also worried I could have a stroke at any minute, and knowing this is a possibility is making me fearful of going to sleep at night, as I can't solve the problem immediately.

I'm otherwise very healthy with good blood pressure and go to the gym four days per week, and do cardiovascular exercise five times a week. My diet is also really good, and I work from home, and don't set an alarm so I can wake up naturally to ensure I have enough rest. I always do my best to prioritize my health, but I'm concerned I'm just a ticking time bomb now and could've been dealing with OSA my whole life without knowing.

I'm wondering whether it's worth just getting a machine second-hand (with a new mask) and using the OSCARS software to figure out a good pressure as a preventative method for the time being - what do you think?

Thanks!

[ChicagoGranny]

I'm wondering whether it's worth just getting a machine second-hand (with a new mask) and using the OSCARS software to figure out a good pressure as a preventative method for the time being - what do you think?

You could certainly do that. I would recommend using a free account from SleepHQ.com. It's easier to use, and in case you need help with CPAP, we can see more detail than with OSCAR.

I'm concerned I'm just a ticking time bomb now and could've been dealing with OSA my whole life without knowing.

From all the things you said, I think you are overreacting bigly, especially at the age of 28. You have no symptoms. Your partner has noticed no symptoms.

During the next 12 months, you might die in a car accident, but not from sleep apnea.

[mlmollenkamp]

For less than $200 you can get a sleep study online. They send you the hardware, you take the test, then you get an evaluation from a board certified sleep physician. There is a pretty wide selection of providers for this. My wife had very few symptoms other than daytime sleepiness. I arranged the test for her and she does have mild to moderate apnea. The test used similar hardware to the at home test I took through my pomologist. There are better studies for people with complex problems, but these tests are very good for screening.

[LML998]

I'm wondering whether it's worth just getting a machine second-hand (with a new mask) and using the OSCARS software to figure out a good pressure as a preventative method for the time being - what do you think?

You could certainly do that. I would recommend using a free account from SleepHQ.com. It's easier to use, and in case you need help with CPAP, we can see more detail than with OSCAR.

I'm concerned I'm just a ticking time bomb now and could've been dealing with OSA my whole life without knowing.

From all the things you said, I think you are overreacting bigly, especially at the age of 28. You have no symptoms. Your partner has noticed no symptoms.

During the next 12 months, you might die in a car accident, but not from sleep apnea.

Thanks for the reply. I will try SleepHQ if I end up going that route.

But regarding the lack of symptoms, is it usually the case that people do present with symptoms, then? From what some people said on Reddit, you can feel fine and still have severe OSA.

[ChicagoGranny]

If you have no symptoms, which symptoms do you expect CPAP to improve?

[ozij]

I'm fearful I've been living with a severe breathing disorder my whole life,

Sleep disordered breathing, if at all.

I'm wondering whether it's worth just getting a machine second-hand (with a new mask) and using the OSCARS software to figure out a good pressure as a preventative method for the time being - what do you think?

You could. But some people need time to get used to CPAP therapy, let alone find the correct pressure. And then, CPAP therapy may have carry over effects that make your sleep test unreliable. In other words, "interim CPAP therapy" doesn't seem to me like a good solution to your anxiety in the month leading up to your sleep study.