Gagging spells wake me up

Spitups! · Post by **Spitups!** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:31 pm

My husband has Epilepsy and Sleep Apnea. He uses a Respironics CPAP machine. He wakes up at night, and will start to gag/cough. Sometimes he turns blue and is sweaty, other times he just gags. I can always tell when he is going to have an episode because the tone of his breathing changes.

After gagging he wakes up, sometimes confused, sometimes not. The neurologist said it is not a seizure. Sometimes he wakes up 2 or 3 nights in a row. The frequency of these episodes have greatly increased. He has more of them if we have sex, if he watches WWE wrestling, or puts wood on the outdoor Woodmaster (exposure to smoke)

He also chews tobacco and sometimes either goes to sleep with the chew in his mouth OR regurgitates the chew he swallows.

I am about ready to get a divorce. I need my sleep

What is causing his gagging episodes? His mask is over the nose and mouth.

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:36 pm

Wow - I'd ditch the tobacco first! Since the neurologist couldn't find anything, I'd also suggest he see his primary care doc to discuss or get a second opinion from another neurologist or perhaps an ENT or gastroenterologist.

Good luck!
Mindy

Debjax · Post by **Debjax** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:46 pm

He has to stop going to bed with the tobacco in his mouth at a minimum, and stop it completely if he can. He also proably needs to see his primary to see about getting a cardio and/or a pulmonary workup. The turning blue and diaphoresis (sweaty) is not a good sign. You said his breathing changes before he has he episode, what is it like? Is it harder for him to breath, is he gasping? Does he have any chest pain while this is happening?

I would get him to a doctor sooner than later, divorce may not be necessary....you could wind up a widow if he is having cardiac events.

Spitups! · Post by **Spitups!** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:53 pm

His primary care physician knows about it, he HAS been evaluated by a pulmonary specialist, the chew is an ongoing FIGHT between him and me...for over 7 years mind you. No GI issues, that has been checked out..no GERD. Even tried Protonix for a while before University did tests and said its not needed.

The turning blue only happens once in while. This last episode he somehow hurt his eye. He does not stop breathing before hand, it is just the tone that changes. He used to whimper beforehand but now its just a different frequency. No insurance. The last sleep study was about a year and a 1/2 ago.

I would not miss him if he died, he is the most immature human being I have ever met but that is another thread and not worth discussing here. He has chewed since a teenager and lied to me for 7 years, puts chew in his mouth and tells me he IS NOT CHEWING.

anotherRandy · Post by **anotherRandy** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:56 pm

Two things you need.

1. Separate bedrooms.
2. Life insurance paid up.

And maybe 3. a kindly neighbor to haul his carcass to the curb for pickup someday soon.

Sorry about your situation.

Georgio · Post by **Georgio** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:07 pm

"goes to sleep with the chew in his mouth OR regurgitates the chew he swallows" - isin't going to cut it.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:43 pm

Yes, you need your sleep too. Especially if you have to deal with someone who won't do the things he can to help himself. Makes it hard to have patience with someone like that. I agree with sleeping separately. Catch up on your rest. See how things look from there. Sorry I can't be of any help about the gagging.

nate fry · Post by **nate fry** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:19 am

I had the gaging problem and my ent thought i shought have a tounge advancement. It worked great. My tounge does not gag me anymore. It is a problem that is fixable and life is so much better. nate

Spitups! · Post by **Spitups!** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:02 pm

What is a tongue advancement? He has had 2 nose surgeries and the palate removal. The ENT never said anything about his tongue. He has an exaggerated gag reflex, AKA as vagus nerve or syncope.

It is a one bedroom 1800's farmhouse. Well, ok, its got 2 bedrooms but the 2nd bedroom is tiny and is a den for the computer. The couch sucks, I'd rather he slept on that but then he won't use his machine.

Took the machine in today, found out its got a very low humidifer setting and we bumped it up a bit. The exhaust was blowing on ME last night and I woke up with dry membranes - eye - nose, throat etc and was coughing phlegm in the shower this morning.

Had a fight with hubby of course today, he does not want to work because his eyes are light sensitive. Guess what. He delivers pizza. I won't tell you what town, but watch out for fat Pizza Hut drivers. He knew everyone in the store, no one else would give him a job. Said he was light headed. Has not had chew for 2 days he tells me, I said it was withdrawal, but does he go to work - nope. Go figure.

Spitups! · Post by **Spitups!** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:06 pm

I am not sure what the trash removal guys would say, its a small town!!!

I do have a wonderful neighbor who owns a tractor though, and my mother lives on the river...

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:44 pm

Apart from everything else (what a lot!), have you asked his MD whether or not the meds for his epilepsy could be 'fighting' with his OSA and/or Cpap?

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 4:23 pm

Hey Spit Ups you have my sympathy. I think if my husband came to bed with chew in his mouth and / or regurgitated it I might opt for the divorce. That is pretty icky.

Spitups! · Post by **Spitups!** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:48 pm

The only reason we stay together is because I need his income to pay for the horses, I don't want to live in town and neither does he. Maybe this will be the year I actually get him to RIDE HIS horse...right now he is just there to keep my horse company I guess.

Its not really gross, I just usually dig in his mouth to see if anything is there and often find some chew. Not like there is brown crap on his pillow. Used to be he did bleed from his nose and the pillow would be icky..that does not happen anymore.

Who would want me? I am no prize either. Swear like a trucker, smell like a horse, and almost deaf to boot.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:34 am

Please do not foist your husband on a horse...

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 6:02 am

nate fry - thanks for your "voice of experience" on the subject of gagging and tongue advancement. Probably not a lot of us with personal experience. It's been discussed on here before, but more in relation to OSA, Was yours done because of gagging or OSA (or both). My guess is you had a progressive doctor. How difficult was your surgery and recovery?

A tongue tethering procedure has also been discussed. I wonder if anyone on here has had it and what its success rate is compared to the advancement.
Kathy

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