25 Y/O Dies in Sleep

dmsr · Post by **dmsr** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 5:42 am

Frequent lurker but first time poster. During the past year and a half I've gained alot of invaluable info from this forum and now feel the need to contribute after reading a story in todays (8/9) online edition of the Atlanta Journal. 25 Y/O restaurant owner Conor Lancaster died in his sleep ~ article states he suffered from both sleep apnea and athma.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/ ... ab_newstab

SleepingBeauty · Post by **SleepingBeauty** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:04 am

That makes me so sad. And also a bit angry. If it was known that he had apnea, was he using a CPAP? Or is this another situation where he was told it wasn't severe enough to need a CPAP? How many people have to lose their lives - both to dying overnight in their beds or dying of a stroke or heart attack before this diagnosis is taken seriously?

Prayers to that family.

lilsheba · Post by **lilsheba** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 8:48 am

Wow it's stories like that that make me glad I'm ON cpap now. Mine is on the low to moderate end but obviously this makes a difference.

gasp · Post by **gasp** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:24 am

Finding out I had a 52.8 AHI and the fear of losing excellent health (except for asthma) is what prompted me to go on CPAP.

I'm glad you joined and posted this reminder that xPAP is necessary.

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:39 am

Yes, lots of prayers for the family!

Geez, this really hits close to home! I'm only 33 myself! I also ahve a multitude of other health concerns to deal with as well, including asthma and severe allergies.

This further adds to my resoluteness in advocating for myself and others with SA. Doctors, patients, and DME's need to be serious about our treatment! And to think they give us the run-around and try to deny us the right to the proper equipment and information that is needed to make our therapy work. I was pondering that very issue last night as I was lying there awake, almost sick from the aerophalgia that the bare bones machine I was left with yesterday caused. It was hard to sleep without PAP! Not only did it become a comfort zone to me, but the subconcious thought of knowing you could have an apnea or some other complication and not make it to see the next morning! That's quite a sobering though! Not to mention treating SA with the right therapies SAVES money in the long run, as if that should be a primary concern anyway!

I, for one, am not going to allow anyone to deny me of the therapy I know I need and deserve! I would never want to see my family go through what this man's has had to.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:52 am

drummergirl410 wrote: It was hard to sleep without PAP! Not only did it become a comfort zone to me, but the subconcious thought of knowing you could have an apnea or some other complication and not make it to see the next morning!

Knowing I quit breathing for 81 seconds at a stretch at times makes me want to be very compliant.

Makes me wonder if someone told him he didn't need to worry about it because he was young/healthy/had a mild case, etc.

Susan M

drummergirl410 · Post by **drummergirl410** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:08 am

Yea, me too... or if he was on treatment and they offered him up a crappy machine that made him compromise his compliance! If I were a family member of someone who passed away dur that complications specifically for that reason, I'd sue the pants off them! I now I'm probably reading my own sitch into this one, but it does make you wonder!

needingu · Post by **needingu** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:23 pm

My DH had told my Dr. and me that I struggled in my sleep..Well, I took it on myself to have the sleep test 10 years before I received treatment.
I COULD NOT GO TO SLEEP while testing... then 10 yrs later ..On an echogram it was determined that the right side of my heart had become enlarged , therefore, the cardiologist said they were seeing that in people with apnea.
He then ordered the sleep test (I told him I had had 2 tests but could not go to sleep would he prescribe something to make me sleep. He gave me Ambien and I was able to sleep during this last test. So apnea damages our bodies in many different ways. All is well now.Healthy as a horse...Been on cpap for 1 1/2 years.
So I think it our duty to pass the word...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:30 pm

I personally know of 2 people that have died during their sleep, both were skinny, both didn't have any known heath issues in fact both looked healthy.

Sleep Apnea was suspect in both cases, one was 31 yrs old, the other about 45 yrs old.

luneman · Post by **luneman** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:57 pm

I live in Atlanta and saw that OBIT today as well. Very sad. I am glad I found out about my OSA!...

amandalee · Post by **amandalee** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:38 pm

That is so horrible.

I was talking with my counselor a few weeks ago (I still see her as she's been helpful--I dumped my shrink, though), and telling her how angry I was that it took forever to get diagnosed with sleep apnea.
I wondered aloud how many people either kill themselves because they feel like s--t and no one is taking them seriously; or die from lack of proper treatment. And that poor 25 year old guy is one of them.

It's so awful.

LukeIamYourFather · Post by **LukeIamYourFather** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:03 pm

I am sure Nancy Grace will be shocked to hear this!

If you wish to help educate her (if that's even possible) let her know by leaving a message here: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5c.html?24

For those that may have missed it, here is a link to her statement a few weeks ago: "That`s basically snoring, and you know, not breathing for a few seconds periodically through the night. You don`t die of sleep apnea. That is complete BS"

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ ... ng.01.html

Daddysaur · Post by **Daddysaur** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:23 pm

We could all send Nancy Grace a Georgia 7 course dinner (a moon pie and a six pack of bud) and help her gain some weight and snoring capability, but I think she burns 2000 calories an hour keeping her eyes open so wide.

Elle · Post by **Elle** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:05 pm

I heard nancy grace was about 5 feet tall. I assumed she was really tall b/c of her loud voice.

Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: Pursleep, Padacheek, Regenesis™ Pillow, Neti Pot, Travel Buddy hose hanger