POLL: Apnea & Thyroid Probs

[Muse-Inc]

Curious...again

[BeanMeScot]

My dosage has been stable for over 12 years. I was only diagnosed with apnea last year.

[gasparama]

I've not heard of they thyroid affecting apnea or vice versa, but I've been on Synthroid for about 10 years and in the past year have increased the med by 50mcg. Right now, I am so fatigued that I can barely move at times. My endo doesn't know if it's from the thyroid or brachytherapy which will be over tomorrow. But if the endo doesn't consider a natural hormone replacement, then I may see a doctor who will. This thyroid is making my life miserable in more than one way. From what I understand, your TSH and T4 can be normal, but if you are still experiencing the symptoms, then the hormone replacement should be adjusted. And while I'm complaining (Aren't you sorry that you asked?), my doc tests only the FT4 and the TSH. It seems to my untrained mind that if a patient is weak and extremely fatigued with other symptoms, that the doc would check more than just the FT4. Thank goodness that my AHI is between 2 and 3 and I'm not sleepy all the time.

[Catnapper]

Here is my story. An ultrasound showed a nodule in the thyroid. I went to an endochrinologist who does her patients' ultrasounds personally. While doing that, she told me I needed a sleep study because of the way I was breathing. (She nailed that diagnosis.) The next thing she did was check me for diabetes. She said that the 3 go together. If you have 1 of them, you are likely to have all of them.

Catnapper - Joanie

[sleeplessinaz]

Dear Catnapper---you have an Excellent Doctor!! I have all three ---sleep apnea, hypothyroid and diabetes --UGH!
Carrie

[LouC]

I've been through 4 surgeries & 8 weeks of radiation for thyroid cancer. The apnea was diagnosed by my 2nd surgeon (phenomenal guy BTW) after my neck resection. Since then we've been diddling with dosages etc. Hard to sort out the effects of Synthroid changes from swelling and radiation after effects. I've noticed as my Synthroid has gone up, the effectiveness of my APAP has diminished. I'm now waking up 2-3 times a night -though my APAP stats remain about the same. It's also monsoon season here in AZ. So all this may be coincidental.

When I was "hypo" for 4 weeks (before the 3rd surgery) I could barely hold my head up, like walking thru a fog all day. Slept 12-14 hours a day. If you have low thyroid, I could see more time in the rack - with more opportunities for Apnea and less awareness of the problem. Interesting postulate though.

[gasparama]

I'm a three-wayer also: diabetes, thyroid, and apnea +cancer. At this point in my life, I think it's important to find a doctor who will adjust thyroid treatment until symptoms are gone. The lab tests apparently don't indicate exactly whether or not you need treatment. And I intend to become difficult if a natural hormone replacement isn't tried.

[Babette]

Were you watching Oprah yesterday, too? And jumping up and down yelling "SLEEP STUDY! GET A SLEEP STUDY!"

Cheers,
B.

[Tom Holsinger]

My second sleep apnea specialist (the first moved out of state) suggested a thyroid check at my first examination by him. My family doctor said the result showed that my thyroid had been dead and buried for years. Thyroid medication quickly restored my thyroid level to normal, but that didn't do a thing for my OSA, which was cured by surgery several years later. My OSA has recurred, 15 years after the surgical cure, and seems to be caused by the worsening of a long-standing autoimmune disorder that had gone unsuspected until recently.

I.e., my hypothyroid condition does not seem to be related to my OSA.