Questions from a newbie

[beth0277]

I'm a newbie and have some questions...anyone who is willing to answer them is greatly appreciated...

My first question is just a general question...I know there are tons of health risk factors if you have apnea, but if you are being properly treated with a CPAP, are these risks diminished? I guess I fear that being so young (27) that I am going to be plagued with all of these health issues even if I do the proper treatment.

Okay...now a few more questions..

1. How old were you when you were first diagnosed (or first started having symptoms)?

2. Were you overweight? If yes, and you have lost weight, did your symptoms decrease?

3. Do you find that using the CPAP puts a damper on your relationship? (A big fear of mine as I am a cuddler).

4. Do you have GERD? If so, is it silent or "regular" GERD? Has CPAP treatment helped or exacerbated your symptoms?

5. If you had silent GERD, how was it diagnosed? How is it treated?

[Perrybucsdad]

I'm a newbie and have some questions...anyone who is willing to answer them is greatly appreciated...

My first question is just a general question...I know there are tons of health risk factors if you have apnea, but if you are being properly treated with a CPAP, are these risks diminished? I guess I fear that being so young (27) that I am going to be plagued with all of these health issues even if I do the proper treatment.

Okay...now a few more questions..

1. How old were you when you were first diagnosed (or first started having symptoms)?

2. Were you overweight? If yes, and you have lost weight, did your symptoms decrease?

3. Do you find that using the CPAP puts a damper on your relationship? (A big fear of mine as I am a cuddler).

4. Do you have GERD? If so, is it silent or "regular" GERD? Has CPAP treatment helped or exacerbated your symptoms?

5. If you had silent GERD, how was it diagnosed? How is it treated?

Hey Beth and welcome to the forum. I don't know if there is a 100% guarantee that you will not have issues in the future if our apnea is treated, but I think I can say with 95% certainty that if you don't treat them, you will have problems in the future. As far as 27 being too young, consider yourself lucky that you found out now as opposed to 10 years from now. A lot of damage could have been done in those ten years. Also, I know of a little girl who is two years old who was just diagnosed with sleep apnea, so it can effect all ages.

Okay, to your questions... I was diagnosed this year at the age of 42. I started having symptoms though a long while ago and just didn't pay attention to them. I'd say at least a good ten years ago. I used to drink too much and I thought that was what was causing all the snoring and apnea. Well, I stopped drinking completely and it continued. I finally listened to my wife and went and got a sleep study and found out what she had been telling me all these years was true.

Was I overweight, heck no... I'm on the thin side, but I could use to lose a few pounds that I have put on.

Did it put a damper on my relationship... nope.. in fact it made it better. I now have the stamina in the bedroom department where before all I wanted to do was sleep. My wife and I have grown closer and she is in a much better mode more often than not because she is getting a good nights sleep now without me playing my nose tuba all night.

As far as GERD, I don't have that so I will have to let one of the others answer that.

So my question is have you been diagnosed and have you started using the CPAP? Don't be afraid of it, as it will improve your life. I won't go to the extent of saying I'm a morning person now, but I no longer have to drag myself around all day exhausted. That in of itself is a HUGE blessing.

Good luck!

John

[beth0277]

Thanks for the reply, John.

To answer your question...no, I have not been diagnosed, but I am being set up with a sleep study.

My issues started about 18 months ago when it was discovered (by accident, really) that I had silent acid reflux. I have never had heart burn in my life. Before being treated for the reflux, I went through a period of time that I would wake up very often in a panic attack and also was snoring so heavily that my husband slept on the couch quite often. I have always been a little bit of a snorer, but this was new and very loud. I have had early morning headaches for as long as I can remember. When I mentioned the panic attacks to my therapist, she recommended a sleep study because it sounded like it could be sleep apnea, but I pushed it off.

In my research about silent reflux, I came across the correlation between that and apnea. A lightbulb sort of went off and I thought that maybe my reflux caused apnea, especially since I have been treated for the reflux, I haven't had many apnea symptoms (though I am still having the early morning headaches).

I will be set up with a sleep study after the new year (my GP's office is closed this week, but they are scheduling it ASAP). It would make sense, but I know I can't know anything for sure until I get it.

[Ticman]

Beth,

Try raising the head of your bed. I use two blocks cut from a 4x4. Two 2x4 blocks stacked together would be the same thing. This more than anything I have done helped my wife and I with GERD. I had the scope down the throat as well. No barrets/issues so I was good.

I was 45 when diagnosed. I'm 6 3 about 230 athletic build. Weight can be a factor but I work with a lady who plays hockey and soccer that's 5 2 and 110 pounds of pure muscle. Probably could kick my rear. She has had apnea for many years. Apnea can affect any size person.

Perrybucsdad is 100% correct about question 3. Pretty much everyone I know has said the same thing as well. (Male and female)

Good luck with your sleep study. I hope you don't have apnea but it you do this is the right place to come for help.

[Perrybucsdad]

Beth... well it sounds like you are taking a good first step in finding out if this is the case with you. You state that you have morning headache's and that is one of the symptoms of sleep apnea. Some others are:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Loud snoring, which is usually more prominent in obstructive sleep apnea
• Observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep
• Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, which more likely indicates central sleep apnea
• Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)

Good luck with the sleep study and keep coming back here. We all were in your shoes and many of us (me included) were in denial over the whole thing. If you have sleep apnea though, the good news is it IS treatable and you WILL feel better and your body will be healthier and thank you for it.

John

[beth0277]

Thanks for the responses, all. I am leaning more and more towards this being what has been going on with me, but I won't know for sure until the sleep study.

[Mary Z]

Some hints for the sleep study. If you have or think you might have trouble sleeping perhaps ask your doc for a sleeping pill, or try some benadryl. If you have a special pillow or any other sleep comfort (portable!) item take it with you. They will put leads on your legs so wear loose pj bottoms, also a loose top because they will be putting leads on your chest. I wouldn't use any lotion to aid in the adhesion of the sticky pads. Don't hesitate to ask (they have microphones in the rooms) if you have to use the bathroom. They disconnect all the wires from the main connection so it's really no big deal. Be sure you're comfortable temperature wise- they should have extra blankets or in-room temp control. I find the goop they put on your scalp to hold the leads to come out easily with shampoo.
Don't sweat the study. Think of it as an adventure- it is very interesting. Prepare to get up early (every study I've had they got me up about 6). Good luck, keep us posted, I'm anxious to hear the outcome.

[Perrybucsdad]

Yep, the study is no big deal. I was encouraged to bring my own pillow, which I tend to prefer. I had my study done at a very nice hotel, so the rooms were very nice. I actually was a bit uptight going to the study, but it was a breeze. I didn't sleep very well, but then again, I wasn't sleeping well at home either because I had sleep apnea.

John

[retrodave15]

I was diagnosed in October of this year, I am 41 years old, I have battled sleep issues since I was 30ish

I am not overweight, I am 6' tall and weigh 180 pounds. I do have a larger neck as I wear 17 1/2 shirts

Do I feel better - Yes

I have GERD - the good old fashioned kind. Traditional diagnosis, endoscope. Treatment is more effective on CPAP. I have only had a few bouts of heartburn, before it was almost constant. I was at the top end dose of Priolosec as my insurance will not pay for Nexium until you have a positive diagnosis of Barrettes. Hopefully we can cut back on the Prilosec, but I am going to wait for my yearly followup with the GI doc later next year.

Did it hurt my relationship - No, my wife went on the hose about the same time I did. We have found ways around the hose, plus I sleep so much better, as the grizzly bear is now quiet, that's what our youngest called mom when she was sleeping. I also have more stamina in bed and my ED is not much of an issue anymore. If more men found out that there is a relationship between sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, men would line up at the sleep doc's office.

I have several friends on CPAP, they have had no spousal issues, all have had very accepting partners and have found "ways" to work around it. My best friend describes CPAP as "Life Changing" and if he had not gone on CPAP he would most likely be "Pushing up the daisies"

Don't stress out about the sleep study, it was nice to have a quiet night away from the kids. As other people have said; if you think you will have trouble sleeping, ask your doctor for something. I took my normal melatonin and trazadone at my first sleep study, and had at the time what was my normal crappy sleep. The titration study was much different and was one of the best nights of sleep that I had had in a long time.

Dave

[jabman]

I'm a newbie and have some questions...anyone who is willing to answer them is greatly appreciated...

My first question is just a general question...I know there are tons of health risk factors if you have apnea, but if you are being properly treated with a CPAP, are these risks diminished? I guess I fear that being so young (27) that I am going to be plagued with all of these health issues even if I do the proper treatment.

I would say that yes the health risk factors are diminished. Good sleep helps to keep the body healthy and restored.

Okay...now a few more questions..

1. How old were you when you were first diagnosed (or first started having symptoms)?
I was 38 (2 weeks before my 39 birthday) when I was Dxed, over a year and a half ago but I had symptoms for at least 10 years befor that and probably longer.

2. Were you overweight? If yes, and you have lost weight, did your symptoms decrease?
I was over weight when I was Dxed but I was not when the symptoms started. I have lost over 30 lbs since my dx but my pressure needs have not changed so for me weight loss will probably not effect my needing xpap.

3. Do you find that using the CPAP puts a damper on your relationship? (A big fear of mine as I am a cuddler).
No it has not put a damper on my relationship if anything it has helped because I am no longer snoring and my wife is not scared that i will die in my sleep

4. Do you have GERD? If so, is it silent or "regular" GERD? Has CPAP treatment helped or exacerbated your symptoms?
I beleave I did have GERD though it was not dxed. it was not silent and it went away once i started xpap.

5. If you had silent GERD, how was it diagnosed? How is it treated?

XPAP has been a Godsend to me, i took to it right away and have felt the positive effects right away. I wish you luck on your sleep study.

[rlyndecker]

My first question is just a general question...I know there are tons of health risk factors if you have apnea, but if you are being properly treated with a CPAP, are these risks diminished? I guess I fear that being so young (27) that I am going to be plagued with all of these health issues even if I do the proper treatment.
Okay...now a few more questions..

1. How old were you when you were first diagnosed (or first started having symptoms)?

I don't remember but I am pretty sure I was close to 27 (+/- a couple years but pretty sure I was 27) when I was first diagnosed. I am now 38 I ended up having my Tonsils/Uvela & some of the soft palate removed because on top of the Sleep Apnea, I had MAJOR tonsilitis (sp.?) (as in every month or so) After that my Apnea almost went away but then over the years it started to get worse until finally Aug. I went back to the ENT to get another sleep study done & sure enough it was A LOT worse again

2. Were you overweight? If yes, and you have lost weight, did your symptoms decrease?

Yes, very & no losing weight did not help me at all...

3. Do you find that using the CPAP puts a damper on your relationship? (A big fear of mine as I am a cuddler).

unfort. I wouldn't know about this

4. Do you have GERD? If so, is it silent or "regular" GERD? Has CPAP treatment helped or exacerbated your symptoms?

Yes, regular but not sure about CPAP treatment helping or exacerbating because at the same time I started medication for it...

5. If you had silent GERD, how was it diagnosed? How is it treated?

As previous people said, go for the sleep sutdy, it's nothing just ask for TONS OF DETAILS (that was my mistake) and find out what you are "ALLOWED/NOT ALLOWED" etc. Unfortunately I found this forum too late to do much about most of my issues but the people here are really amazing & know what they are talking about!