Does Anyone Here Have Memory Loss and/or Brain Fog Issues?

[Johnny C]

You people are awesome. Sorry if I got defensive in my other thread. I'm just used to people telling me I am wrong when I try to discuss this topic... especially my family doctor. I try to tell him that my memory seems to be suffering and I deal with brain fog. He said that has nothing to do with sleep apnea and that I am fine. I'm beginning to wonder if the guy is a quack. I had to find a specialist on my own, and I went in for a sleep study. It came back inconclusive because they had me trying to fall asleep on my back, and every time I would nod off I would snore and my airway would get blocked and I would wake up immediately. They said they couldn't study me if I couldn't fall asleep. I think they just want to bill me for another sleep study. It seems pretty obvious to me that I have sleep apnea. I have woken up in a what seemed like a near-death brain fog gasping for air and feeling as if I had almost suffocated. I would jump out of bed gasping for air and feeling as if I almost died several times. Now I am beginning to wonder if I have had permanent brain damage, because my memory is not very good anymore, and I get headaches if I drink alcohol, even in small quantites... which never used to happen to me before. I stopped drinking althogether about a year ago because of this. I also get headaches from taking aspirin or Vitamin E now. Does anyone else here get headaches like this?

Since I got the runaround from my doctors, I took my health into my own hands and bought a Resmed AutoSet Respond APAP machine with a Respironics Comfort Gel mask on Ebay for $600.00. It only had one hour on it. I know you're not supposed to be able to buy these without a prescription, but I didn't know that at the time I bought it (about a year ago), and Ebay allowed the listing to stay up long enough for me to buy it. I tried it for several months, but every morning I would find the mask on the floor. Now I have been using a PureSleep mouthpiece for about a month and it allows me to sleep the night through without any apnea episodes, and I don't have the brain fog that I was having all the time. However, the PureSleep mouthpiece has changed my bite and I think it may have cracked one of my front teeth. I'm going to the dentist tomorrow to find out for sure. I'm not going to tell him it was from the mouthpiece because I know he will scold me for not buying one from him for $3000.00.

This seems like a very warm and caring community. I think I will register for a membership.

[Johnny C]

Also, I find that I am thirsty all the time. It's not from diabetes because my blood sugar levels are fine (I bought a kit at WalMart and checked them). This constant thirst has been with me for about a year or so now. I keep a water bottle with me at all times and drink from it constantly. Does anyone else here deal with this? Could it be related to sleep apnea effects?

Thanks!

[Johnny C]

P.S. - I am 45 years old, for whatever it's worth.

[Snoredog]

this is a question for Slinky

[kteague]

Till Slinky steps in to whack Snoredog with a 2x4...

Brain fog and memory loss - welcome to Apneaville. The thinking gets disjointed when sleep is not restorative, not to mention any oxygen loss. While some of us must have had too much damage for too long, and haven't gotten everything back, the good news is than many report recovering from these symptoms.

Kathy

[Arthurs]

Oh yeah, I certainly have experienced it for the past year or two, didn't recognize it until I started researching my condition online, until then I was getting really frustrated forgetting short term stuff, thought I was beginning to lose it! It wasn't until I started CPAP that I started feeling so much more alert and sharp during the day!

[Shellie_p]

Oh yea the memory loss I have. And while it did get somewhat better after getting on CPAP it never all came back. But I was in such a bad state durring my youngest sons pregnancy suffering from SEVERE sleep apnea and not getting treated because it was 13+ years ago and my OB/GYN hadn't even heard of sleep apnea much less knew how to treat it. And was attributing my constant falling asleep as part of my difficult pregnancy.

It wasn't untill i went into labor and complications arose that they transfered me to a teaching hosptial in the capitol that sleep apnea was diagnosed, (Couldnt even stay awake long enough to talk to the docs about my yet unborn son!) That they gave me a sleep test. It was quite unusual to go out of a c-section and into a sleep study all in same day but I was in a bad state.
So foggy that I could barely think, and had virtually NO short term memory.

Now my memory still suffers. I have serious troubles remembering dfoctors appointments and such but I have learned to adjust and adapt and its as big of a problem now.

Specialist told me that the memory loss was due to serious oxygen deprivation in the brain from the apnea. I was 26 when diagnosed. So it wasn't age. lol

[ca_hosehead]

Hey it's just this amateur's opinion but...

Brain fog, memory loss, tiredness, snoring, waking up choking -- all these are common symptoms of sleep apnea.

I can't understand why they would do that on a sleep study. If your airway gets blocked so quickly you can't even fall asleep then I don't know what they are waiting for. Don't go back to them.

People with sleep apnea commonly report morning headaches and headaches from tiredness during the day. I haven't read anything about bad effects from alcohol or aspirin related to sleep apnea. I think a test of liver function might be a good idea, the liver is what processes alcohol out of the body. This article mentions liver problems and diabetes as possibles:

http://www.doctorslounge.com/neurology/ ... -6387.html

The constant thirst is a new one to me. It is commonly associated with diabetes but as you've checked for that it could be something else. This article might have some clues for you (it also mentions liver problems and diabetes)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency ... 003085.htm


Since the PureSleep is doing well for you, you might be a good candidate for something professionally fitted. I would pursue it.

You might want to work with the CPAP machine some more. You probably took the mask off because you found it uncomfortable while you were sleeping. If you have any clues about why that would be, then work with that. If it pinches, itches, binds or whistles then you will find it uncomfortable while sleeping and take it off. You might need a different mask, one of the things you will learn from hanging out here is that comfort is a very individual thing. There are perfectly decent masks out there that some people swear by and others swear at. Getting a comfortable fit and getting good therapy can take a lot of effort and a long time, even with good help. (It doesn't always take a lot of effort, but be prepared for it.)

You definitely need to get a doctor that you can work with. A good doctor can get you breathing right at night and can check out your other symptoms to see if there is anything to be done for those.

Well done on taking charge of your own health. It's the first step, and always the most important.

[Julie]

Do yourself and your family, friends, etc. a big favor - get your sugar checked out by a proper MD, and not a kit from Wal-Mart!

[john_dozer]

Do yourself and your family, friends, etc. a big favor - get your sugar checked out by a proper MD, and not a kit from Wal-Mart!

Its probably best to have the doctor be part of the assessment.

OTOH, my mother found her diabetes when we did get a tester. Because of the family history, she kept bringing it up with her doctor who would do what amounted to a resting blood sugar test during her visits in the morning. My mother starting getting ill periodically. We bought a tester. She was over 400. We took her to urgent care where they gave her an insulin shot. And after that she finally started getting treatment.

Based on my mother's experience anyone concerned with diabetes should demand a glucose tolerance test where you consume sugar and they monitor your blood sugar over several hours.

If you administer this test at home, do it hourly during your day or at least before, during, and 2hrs after your meals or at least your largest meal of the day. You may not have the numbers that say you're diabetic, but you may have numbers that may say you're 'on the waiting list'.

However, the biggest problem with home testing is interpreting the numbers. I see no problem with home testing being used as an early warning indicator in addition to your regular doctors visits. But you have to inform yourself as to how to interpret the numbers.

[PhiloHypnos]

My Brain Fog is definitely linked to OSA and how well the CPAP therapy is working.

Without CPAP I am a brain dead, zombie. Totally dysfunctional. Can't compute. BSOD.

When my CPAP was set with too low pressure and lots of leakage, I did feel more functional comparatively, but still had massive brain fog, drowsiness, & headache (with tinnitus, facial tightness, and strangely, irritatingly itchy gums!). And yes, in my case too, certain foods seemed to make these symptoms worse. Especially foods containing high concentrations of glutamic acid (MSG, ancovies, soy sauce, eggs). Not sure why.

These problems have gradually cleared with each pressure increase and adjustment to get rid of leakage.

Best of luck with your treatment!

edit: I was worried about other possible causes for the brain fog such as diabetes, liver disease, or thyroid disease, so I asked my GP for blood tests. All three of those possible cuases have been ruled out by the blood test results. So my carers have concluded that the problem comes from the CPAP therapy and possible Central Apnea / REM dissorder. We're working on perfecting the therapy and I'll get a PSG to test for underlying sleep disorders soon.

So I'd definitely join the chorus and recommend that you get proper blood tests for Diabetes + liver function + thyroid function from an MD and possibly consider other sleep disorders if your prior PSG didn't rule those out already.

[Paul56]

My brain fog used to roll in later in the day... around 2pm - 3pm it would start. Sitting at a desk pushing a keyboard and shuffling papers I would get sleepy and mark it up to the usual afternoon blah's. I'd leave to go home and seemingly perk up likely due to the physical activity but end up feeling very drowsy around 7pm. I have spend many an evening dozing in my recliner while the TV operates in the background. At some point I arouse from the drowsiness, realize how tired I am and make my way to bed.

After CPAP the above has essentially disappeared. Yes, I sometimes I still have a lull in the afternoon but not nearly severe as before. During the evenings there is no more feeling drowsy and sleeping in the chair... except for one or two exceptions when I truly was very tired.

The treatment truly has had a profound effect on my life and I'm certain saved me from some bad health issues happening. I'm convinced that as I continue my journey my situation will improve. My current challenge is to lose weight... which is a real struggle as some of you who have been there know all too well.

[DreamDiver]

...Now I have been using a PureSleep mouthpiece for about a month and it allows me to sleep the night through without any apnea episodes, and I don't have the brain fog that I was having all the time. However, the PureSleep mouthpiece has changed my bite and I think it may have cracked one of my front teeth. I'm going to the dentist tomorrow to find out for sure...

Johnny C,

First, I'd like to say 'Welcome' to the forum. You may find some strong opinions here about the puresleep device on this forum, mostly against the device. I suspect you won't take offense though, because you have found what others have - that it changes tooth alignment and in your instance may have cracked your teeth.

Puresleep's site suggests that the device is useful for snore reduction. It in no way intimates that it will reduce brain fog or stop morning headaches. They have very carefully omitted the word 'headache' and 'brain' from any page on their site and from their television commercial. While I'm sure they would like to imply that it will reduce brain fog and morning headaches, thus implying a useful tool for sleep apnea, they legally cannot do so, since the device has not been proven effective as a sleep apnea reduction device. The small print at the bottom of the home page expressly says [my emphasis in bold] this :

PureSleep is not intended to treat sleep apnea or any other disease. PureSleep should not be used by anyone under 18 years of age; anyone who has been diagnosed with central sleep apnea or a severe respiratory disorder; or anyone with loose teeth, oral abscesses, severe gingivitis, full dentures, or temporomandibular disorder. The Pure Sleep Company recommends against use of PureSleep by anyone currently undergoing orthodontic treatment or anyone who has had a dental implant within the last year. PureSleep has been known to cause mild and most often temporary soreness as the teeth and jaw acclimate to its use and it is normal to experience a modest and temporary bite change in the morning after use. If sharp, severe, or ongoing pain occurs, or if bite changes persist, use of PureSleep should be discontinued immediately.

I'm pretty skeptical about companies that advertise this way. I suspect the company has done private sleep studies that disprove the claim and has simply buried the results because they already have FDA approval - a very expensive licensing procedure - that allows them to charge $70 for $2 worth of plastic as an anti-snore device. In my opinion, it's a glorified mouth guard. I suspect you could get the same results from the $2 mouth guard at Walgreens. The only person this device helps is your sleep partner or spouse. They're finally getting a decent night's sleep if you're a heavy snorer.

The $3000 dental device may have had some studies done, since dentists can charge what they do for it - I don't know - but most insurance companies won't pay for it yet.

Untreated sleep apnea only gets worse. If you suspect, it might be worth your while to get a sleep study. As you can see from the many responses on this thread, brain fog, waking headaches and dry mouth are all symptoms associated with sleep apnea. This is your life we're talking about. It is worth every penny to get sleep tested and properly titrated. Yes, it's expensive, but most insurance will pay for it. If you don't have insurance, you still have the machine. It may be worth attempting to self-titrate. A number of other forum members have done so, and might be willing to give you the benefit of their experience with that as well as the 'mask-on-the-floor' thing.

To date, xpap therapy is the only truly proven method for sleep apnea reduction. I hope you decide to get tested today.

[skittles]

I dealt with chemo therapy about 9 years ago, and have what is commonly known as "chemo brain".

Top that off with sleep apnea, and you get one definitely fogged up head!!! I could not even walk from one room to the next and remember why I went there.

I am still in the "experimental" phase of my OSA, but I know that I am getting better slowly but surley with the fogginess. I don't think I will ever be 100% again - chemo brain can last up to 11 years, so I will let you know in 3 years if I can remember any better.

Take Care

Skittles

[DreamDiver]

I could not even walk from one room to the next and remember why I went there.

Skittles,

Sleep apnea will do it too!
My family calls it 'Threshold Syndrome'.
All you have to do is cross a threshold between rooms,
and you're totally clueless as to why you went there.

Sometimes if you go back where you came from, you
can jog your memory to get it back. Have you ever
shuttled multiple times between rooms forgetting
more than once? That's the worst. You start feeling like
a badminton shuttlecock.