A basic apnea question.

[Gregg]

I've got an appointment to see my GP to get a prescription for an overnight oxymetry test. I called the people who provide the oxymeter, and had a few questions that led to what I am asking here.

With obstructive apnea, the oxymeter guy was saying that it's not a hit and miss thing. That was in response to me asking if I could have the test for several nights. The reason being, I felt horrible yesterday, but I feel great today.

So is it true that with apnea you feel lousy every day? That's not what I've read on this forum. Sometimes I feel great for a month. And then whammo, I'm ill as a dying dog.

So now I want to discover this before going forward with my appointment.

[Swordz]

So is it true that with apnea you feel lousy every day? That's not what I've read on this forum. Sometimes I feel great for a month. And then whammo, I'm ill as a dying dog.

I believe it comes down to how high you AHI is, but also remember some people can handle more fatigue then others. The body is quite efficient with dealing with fatigue, but still you're going to feel like crap at some point.

My AHI was 52/hr and I felt like crap everyday. With it now being 3/hr, I still feel like crap. Whoo! But how you feel is more than AHI, it's your other health factors, lifestyle, diet, how active you are, etc.

But the simple answer: Yes, I feel like crap everyday.

[Gregg]

There's got to be someone here who has good and bad days.

Otherwise, I am lost again. Ten years of work has led me to believe this is apnea. Now I get ready for the test, and they bring this little detail up.

I have so many of the apnea symptoms. The stories match.


Thanks Swordz! And I'm really sorry to hear you feel like garbage every day. That is awful. I hope you find relief. I read one of your posts on rem. Maybe time will tell.

Gregg

[roster]

Results from my sleep test showed low AHI sleeping on my side but very high AHI sleeping on my back. You might want to try to sleep on your back the night of the oxymetry test.

[IBTeri]

I've had good and bad days. Until these last few months. I was told if my oxymetry test showed that I was dropping below 90% when sleeping I had a problem. And I did. I had the oxymetry test before they would even think of a sleep study. Than had sleep study and it showed I only had apenia when I was in REM sleep. Also showed I didn't get enough of REM. I am still waiting on some good REM sleep. But the cpap has made a differance in my life.

[Gregg]

These are exactly the things I have been thinking.

That I have apnea mostly when on my back. And that is where I would sleep for the ox study.

Which leads me to the other post about REM. I also have been under the impression that my apnea (if that's what I actually have) is mostly when in rem. And that I rarely get into rem. Which might explain why I almost never dream.


But I still am anxious to hear more testimonials that describe hit and miss apnea.

[Wulfman]

So is it true that with apnea you feel lousy every day?

No. My problem was zonking out in front of a computer screen. I never had drowsiness while driving. With enough sleep on the weekends, I could make it till the middle of the week before the drowsiness would hit me. If I could rest my eyes for a few minutes (when it hit me), I could go for a few more hours.
Never really had headaches (except those caused by external sources)
I can't say that I really felt "lousy".....but then this stuff usually sneaks up on you over a period of years and you become adaptive to many of the symptoms.

Also, I was diagnosed with severe apnea (AHI of over 70) and very low desats (60's).

Den

[jskinner]

So is it true that with apnea you feel lousy every day?

Nope, for me for a couple years I only felt terrible about every other day. It was like clock work, one good day, then one really bad with headaches. That lasted for a long time, eventually however it progressed so that I felt bad every day.

[Gregg]

Aha! Thank you folks.

jskinner, I believe you have the winning answer. That's exactly what I'm going through. The headaches. Bingo!


I'm going to continue on into the study. Or even studies.

And I really believe what Wulfman said about being adaptive to many of the symptoms.

Thanks a million you guys.

[snork1]

I have used my pulse ox quite a bit and find a suprising amount of variation from night to night, and depending on how I am oriented when sleeping. Of course some of it is a flakey connection in my old pulse ox.

And it really bugs me that at a sleep study they require me to GO to sleep on my back. I NEVER GO to sleep in that position, so I stare at the ceiling for hours in the study when a few minutes on my side, i would be out like a light. And its non-negotiable when I ask them.

Hey Swordz! Bummer you are still feeling bad. Weren't you trying out some alternative treatments? What happened? Your experimenting was part of the inspiration for me to try a dental device which HAS worked out for ME. And I am feeling darn lucky about that!