After reading Hunter1's story about seeing an apnea report on Discovery Health, and VenDexter finding a new doctor who sent him in for a study, I just wondered how everyone realized they had apnea.
What led you to discovering you had apnea? And we may as well add how long you've been under treatment.
What led you to your diagnosis of apnea?
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SleepingBeauty
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:57 am
- Location: California
Mine was a result of the fact that I blew up like a baloon, retaining fluids so my MD put me in the hospital thinking I had heart failure. Should have seen his face when the blood enzime test came back normal. Took him 4 days to deside it was SA.
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Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting: "Wow what a ride!"
I still play Cowboys and Bad Guys but now I use real bullets. CAS
I still play Cowboys and Bad Guys but now I use real bullets. CAS
Hypertension
My diagnosis was a referral from the cardiologist. I have high blood pressure, but I don't fit the usual high-risk categories. (I'm not a smoker, I'm relatively young, etc.) So my cardio thought that maybe this could be what's going on. Stanford Hospital has treated me well over the years.
Doug.
Doug.
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Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup
Hi gooeydoug. Being an Evergreen Alum myself, its always its nice to see a gooey-anything.
My own high blood pressure, always feeling tired, weight gain, serious snoring, dsythymia and my father's premature death during sleep resulted in me strongly suspecting I had OSA. My doctor was not interested in OSA but I convinced him that rather than going through the expense and hassle of a sleep study (that he was not convinced I needed) that I had a plan to self-diagnosis and treat by trying an APAP. (I had previously had a holter monitor test that showed nighttime stress/irregularities) He was willing to prescribe after I presented him with the research that self-titration can be done.
I paid for my setup out of pocket and I started my treatment in April and even with a pretty open range of 5-15 APAP I started in the the 7-10 range for AHI but now I have it dialed in to an AHI under 2 and 5-7 day streaks under 1. Even a couple of zeros. I have my APAP set 10.5-13 and I am experimenting with CPAP setting to see if sticking with my sweet spot of 11 is overall a better plan.
I am 100% compliant at home but have missed probably 6-7 days since April being out of town or camping. I average about 6.5 -7.5 hours a night on the hose.
My blood pressure is down from around 140-145/100-110 to around 125/85. I have lost a few pounds and I definitely have more energy and my mood and concentration are better. Also my wife gets to have a better night of sleep.
My own high blood pressure, always feeling tired, weight gain, serious snoring, dsythymia and my father's premature death during sleep resulted in me strongly suspecting I had OSA. My doctor was not interested in OSA but I convinced him that rather than going through the expense and hassle of a sleep study (that he was not convinced I needed) that I had a plan to self-diagnosis and treat by trying an APAP. (I had previously had a holter monitor test that showed nighttime stress/irregularities) He was willing to prescribe after I presented him with the research that self-titration can be done.
I paid for my setup out of pocket and I started my treatment in April and even with a pretty open range of 5-15 APAP I started in the the 7-10 range for AHI but now I have it dialed in to an AHI under 2 and 5-7 day streaks under 1. Even a couple of zeros. I have my APAP set 10.5-13 and I am experimenting with CPAP setting to see if sticking with my sweet spot of 11 is overall a better plan.
I am 100% compliant at home but have missed probably 6-7 days since April being out of town or camping. I average about 6.5 -7.5 hours a night on the hose.
My blood pressure is down from around 140-145/100-110 to around 125/85. I have lost a few pounds and I definitely have more energy and my mood and concentration are better. Also my wife gets to have a better night of sleep.
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
A lifetime of hearing "You snore AWFUL!!!" was what got me to Googling one day about "snoring." That Google search four years ago kept turning up "sleep apnea." Got me thinking...and strongly suspecting...jpd23 wrote:serious snoring --
resulted in me strongly suspecting I had OSA.
I didn't have a doctor. I've always been healthy. But I sure snored badly.jpd23 wrote: My doctor --
That was my plan, too, after having spent several weeks lurk-reading everything I could find on sleep apnea forums about the disorder and the machines people were using.jpd23 wrote:rather than going through the expense and hassle of a sleep study ... I had a plan to self-diagnosis and treat by trying an APAP.
The only doctor I intended to talk to about it was the one I was going to call up and ask for an "autopap" prescription.
Mine was, too.jpd23 wrote: He was willing to prescribe --
After using a borrowed cpap for several months starting in October 2003, I did the same....bought my setup out of pocket from an online cpap store.jpd23 wrote:I paid for my setup out of pocket and I started my treatment in April
Ditto.jpd23 wrote:I am 100% compliant --
My story:
viewtopic.php?p=5977#5977
My eventual sleep study:
http://www.apneasupport.org/viewtopic.php?p=7956
ResMed S9 VPAP Auto (ASV)
Humidifier: Integrated + Climate Control hose
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3M painters tape over mouth
ALL LINKS by rested gal:
viewtopic.php?t=17435
Humidifier: Integrated + Climate Control hose
Mask: Aeiomed Headrest (deconstructed, with homemade straps
3M painters tape over mouth
ALL LINKS by rested gal:
viewtopic.php?t=17435
Mine was a long road. My mother noticed the episodes at night when I was a child. But never got it looked at. My high school years were like a double life. I was so full of energy and light that no one knew that every second I spent at home and out of the spotlight I was sleeping. It was during that time that other health problems started creaping up. The drs thought it was stress and/or depression related....and this would be the theory for another 10 years. I was treated on and off for depression. I finally hit rock bottom at the begining of the year. My job was on the line, I was snapping at my daughter, and I didnt think I could go on. I dont have high blood pressure. I did gain a LOT of weight. Finally I let loose and told my dr about everything. I told him that the anti depressants werent helping all that much and that I couldnt live like this anymore. I told him about the break time and lunch time naps. I told him about everything. He sent me to a sleep specialist just to rule it out. Never really expected it to come back as OSA.
Funny thing is that less than a year prior I had worn a holter moniter for 2 days and the cardio who did that told me the results were normal. lol Sleep study showed O2 in the 70s. I would pay good money to see those holter results.
So sleep study showed AHI of 42. Pressure setting 14. The depression symtoms are all but gone. I am awake during the day. I am a nicer person in general. I still think I can do better, and am working at it every day. I am 100% compliant. Started CPAP June 4th of this year.
Funny thing is that less than a year prior I had worn a holter moniter for 2 days and the cardio who did that told me the results were normal. lol Sleep study showed O2 in the 70s. I would pay good money to see those holter results.
So sleep study showed AHI of 42. Pressure setting 14. The depression symtoms are all but gone. I am awake during the day. I am a nicer person in general. I still think I can do better, and am working at it every day. I am 100% compliant. Started CPAP June 4th of this year.
I had read about sleep apnea years ago - I think it was in Time magazine.
I had been waking up with headaches and a stuffy nose, thought it was my so called "allergic tendencies".
Was always tired, coming home from a stressful job and falling into bed - that must be the job.
Couldn't fall asleep - jerked awake by rapid heartbeats and a feeling of anxiety (well I'm an anxious person, aren't I?)
But when I started waking up gasping and snoring - and with headaches even worse - I figured it was time to be diagnoses for sleep apnea.
Oh, and night sweats - but that's age related, no?
Told the docotor I snore and she said "You snore?!" and sent me to an ENT who wanted to do a somnoplasty - I said "I'ld like a sleep study before you do that, and can you give me some references to papers about somnoplasty?" He said "you can find them on the internet" and I sure did - which is why I never retutned to him.
No more headaches.
No more stuffed nose
No more snoring
No more exhuastion
No more jerking awake with anxiety
No more night sweats
No more waking up gasping
No more being too tired to enjoy concerts.
O.
I had been waking up with headaches and a stuffy nose, thought it was my so called "allergic tendencies".
Was always tired, coming home from a stressful job and falling into bed - that must be the job.
Couldn't fall asleep - jerked awake by rapid heartbeats and a feeling of anxiety (well I'm an anxious person, aren't I?)
But when I started waking up gasping and snoring - and with headaches even worse - I figured it was time to be diagnoses for sleep apnea.
Oh, and night sweats - but that's age related, no?
Told the docotor I snore and she said "You snore?!" and sent me to an ENT who wanted to do a somnoplasty - I said "I'ld like a sleep study before you do that, and can you give me some references to papers about somnoplasty?" He said "you can find them on the internet" and I sure did - which is why I never retutned to him.
No more headaches.
No more stuffed nose
No more snoring
No more exhuastion
No more jerking awake with anxiety
No more night sweats
No more waking up gasping
No more being too tired to enjoy concerts.
O.
_________________
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And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Good advice is compromised by missing data
Forum member Dog Slobber Nov. 2023
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Good advice is compromised by missing data
Forum member Dog Slobber Nov. 2023
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Guest
Wife bugged me for some years about not breathing at night. This past year I gained some weight and was diagnosed with depression. I suggested to my doc I was not sleeping well and told her what my wife said about not breathing.. Off to the sleep lab I went. Diagnosed with OSA in July.
Three and half weeks later I feel so much better. In fact ,today was my best night with an AHI of 2.5.
Kevin
Three and half weeks later I feel so much better. In fact ,today was my best night with an AHI of 2.5.
Kevin
My life with OSA
I'm going to go back very far -- in utero -- since I've been puzzling about how I ended up this way for a long time. My mother went over her due date and I had to be delivered by forceps. I was grabbed around the throat and have a strawberry birthmark on the back of my neck. During her pregnancy and during my childhood my mother was very stressed because she was estranged from her large family. In some of my baby pictures I look "anxious." By not going through the usual birth maybe my lungs did not get the sort of stimulation that occurs during normal vaginal deliveries.
As a baby I was strapped into my crib. Apparently this was done around Boston in the 40s. My body has always been extremely inflexible. I don't remember ever playing much on the floor, and as an adult it is very hard for me to even get down to the floor. I slept like a corpse for years until I had a cast from foot to knee after foot and ankle fractures.
I am a lifelong very shallow breather. As a young child I had severe asthma and allergies. I was severely traumatized by scratch tests when I was 4 and at ages 4 and 7 had tonsils/adenoids removed.
Health status as an adult: Allergies continued, as did shallow breathing. Infertile until pregnancy at age 39. After delivery, reduced weight to 115 but started putting on weight every year. Around menopause (mid-to-late 40s), started gaining a lot of weight, mostly around the middle. At age 53 was in a violent wreck, trapped by steering wheel, broke ribs and collarbone and had severe chest trauma. By time of diagnosis at age 65, blood pressure up to 180 over something. No energy. Profound upper body weakness. Difficulty breathing when climbing. Snored so loudly my husband started sleeping in the attic. Hair became terribly limp and lusterless. Fell asleep while trying to watch TV. Yawned when I drove, even first thing in the morning before I was even off our lane; some days it took great effort to keep my eyes open and focus on the road. Eyes watered profusely and were very itchy. Nose stuffy, crusty, bloody. Moods up and down. Concentration and short-term memory shot. Internist vaguely mentioned apnea but never suggested a sleep study and I knew nothing about the disease. He knew I had heart valve disease and was in the care of a cardiologist (who did not refer me for a study either).
I had high cholesterol and was prescribed a statin drug, which I was reluctant to use based on reading about side-effects. I had read about specialized blood testing which differentiated among plaque particles by size and stickiness but could not have this done in my area. Just by chance I met a cardiac intensive care nurse who worked at a teaching hospital and asked if she knew about the subfractionation test; she offered to check it out. The person she asked was knowledgeable and I ended up consulting with him: within minutes of examining and assessing me he suspected OSA; testing revealed I was at triple the baseline for severe OSA and I started therapy 14 months ago.
Adjustment to CPAP was difficult and stressful. I was told my machine collected compliance-only data. It was not until 9 months in when my sleep dr saw evidence of "large leaks" that I knew there was more data to be had but I have not procured a card reader and software. I don't have the energy to pursue this although I know it would be the key to feeling better. I am in awe of members of this forum who have taken control of their treatment and are functioning at a much higher level than I am. Regarding my current status: My BP is lower. I still get short of breath. Body still incredibly weak. Energy has improved but not optimal. Feel more rested when I wake up but not as much as I would like. More alert driving. Concentration better but not great. Short-term memory unimproved, which is very distressing. Gained more weight until an ECHO cardiogram in April revealed further valve calcification and the prospect of surgery; this scared me enough to start a serious diet and I've lost 20 pounds so far. I hope I'll be able to get a more sophisticated CPAP and learn to interpret the data to improve my therapy.
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP
As a baby I was strapped into my crib. Apparently this was done around Boston in the 40s. My body has always been extremely inflexible. I don't remember ever playing much on the floor, and as an adult it is very hard for me to even get down to the floor. I slept like a corpse for years until I had a cast from foot to knee after foot and ankle fractures.
I am a lifelong very shallow breather. As a young child I had severe asthma and allergies. I was severely traumatized by scratch tests when I was 4 and at ages 4 and 7 had tonsils/adenoids removed.
Health status as an adult: Allergies continued, as did shallow breathing. Infertile until pregnancy at age 39. After delivery, reduced weight to 115 but started putting on weight every year. Around menopause (mid-to-late 40s), started gaining a lot of weight, mostly around the middle. At age 53 was in a violent wreck, trapped by steering wheel, broke ribs and collarbone and had severe chest trauma. By time of diagnosis at age 65, blood pressure up to 180 over something. No energy. Profound upper body weakness. Difficulty breathing when climbing. Snored so loudly my husband started sleeping in the attic. Hair became terribly limp and lusterless. Fell asleep while trying to watch TV. Yawned when I drove, even first thing in the morning before I was even off our lane; some days it took great effort to keep my eyes open and focus on the road. Eyes watered profusely and were very itchy. Nose stuffy, crusty, bloody. Moods up and down. Concentration and short-term memory shot. Internist vaguely mentioned apnea but never suggested a sleep study and I knew nothing about the disease. He knew I had heart valve disease and was in the care of a cardiologist (who did not refer me for a study either).
I had high cholesterol and was prescribed a statin drug, which I was reluctant to use based on reading about side-effects. I had read about specialized blood testing which differentiated among plaque particles by size and stickiness but could not have this done in my area. Just by chance I met a cardiac intensive care nurse who worked at a teaching hospital and asked if she knew about the subfractionation test; she offered to check it out. The person she asked was knowledgeable and I ended up consulting with him: within minutes of examining and assessing me he suspected OSA; testing revealed I was at triple the baseline for severe OSA and I started therapy 14 months ago.
Adjustment to CPAP was difficult and stressful. I was told my machine collected compliance-only data. It was not until 9 months in when my sleep dr saw evidence of "large leaks" that I knew there was more data to be had but I have not procured a card reader and software. I don't have the energy to pursue this although I know it would be the key to feeling better. I am in awe of members of this forum who have taken control of their treatment and are functioning at a much higher level than I am. Regarding my current status: My BP is lower. I still get short of breath. Body still incredibly weak. Energy has improved but not optimal. Feel more rested when I wake up but not as much as I would like. More alert driving. Concentration better but not great. Short-term memory unimproved, which is very distressing. Gained more weight until an ECHO cardiogram in April revealed further valve calcification and the prospect of surgery; this scared me enough to start a serious diet and I've lost 20 pounds so far. I hope I'll be able to get a more sophisticated CPAP and learn to interpret the data to improve my therapy.
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP
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drummergirl410
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:55 pm
- Location: SC
- Contact:
I probably have had my SA for a long while. Last April and May I had a bouth with my asthma. It was then that my mom, who is dagnosed with mild SA, heard my breathing and the noises I was making at night. She told me about it and I saw my primary care physycian as soon as i could. She referred me to a pulminologist. The rest is pretty predictable. I went for the first sleep study, got called back in for the titration study, and about a week or so later got my xpap. Things ahve been (mostly) great since!
Joined the Hosehead Club on 7/26/2007 100% Compliant for four months... and counting!
The first migraine that I remember happened on Mother's Day when I was 7. It was classic migraine, with nausea, sensitivity to light and sound. I ended up laying on the cool floor of my bedroom with all the windows covered with blankets while my family went out to have Mother's Day dinner.
During college, my roommate used to complain that it freaked her out to watch me sleep because I would stop breathing for several seconds and then gasp for air.
Since living with my husband he has complained about my severe snoring, wheezing and gasping in my sleep.
For as long as I can remember I have had dreams of being abducted by aliens that kept me from breathing.
In the last 4 years I had noticed that periodically I would wake up in a panic state with my heart racing so hard it felt like my whole body was shaking.
I discussed all these things with my former doctor, let's call him Dr Feelgood. He prescribed various medications, antidepressants for the moodiness, adderall for the adhd, heavy narcotics for migraines, more speed for allergies, etc etc.
A few months ago my former dr's practice sent me a letter stating that he was taking his practice in a different direction and didn't think that I was a suitable patient for his office. I got booted from my doctors office.
A coworker suggested that I try his doctor. So I set up my appointment and was shocked when I got there and he actually asked me questions. Questions about my past, my medical history, my family history, hobbies, passions etc. Towards the end of the appointment I was joking around about my husband complaining about my snoring. The new doctor immediately said he wanted me to get a sleep study. He said that sleep apnea could explain a whole lot of my symptoms that weren't being taken care of by the pharmacy of drugs that my former MD had me on.
I went for my sleep study the next day. I was shocked that my new doc was able to get me in so fast. I waited a couple of weeks for the results and was told that I stopped breathing an average of 7 times / hour, with each episode lasting 30 - 45 seconds. That part freaks me out since I tried to hold me breath that long and can't do it without ending up with a headache. I guess that would explain so many morning migraines. And I don't even drink!!!!
Anyway, I got in for my second sleep study the day after getting my results to get my CPAP settings and stuff. A few days after that I got a call from the sleep lab and then the DME company regarding coming in to get my equipment. As a side note, I've read many complaints about DME companies and I have to say that I feel blessed to be dealing with some really nice and seemingly knowledgable people there. They've made a couple of follow up calls. Have answered any questions that I've had. And when I started complaining about dry skin around my nose from my first mask they gladly replaced it free of charge with a different style. And I didn't even have to return the other one. So, I pretty much started out with a back up mask. So, so far, (knock on wood) I've had a great experience with my DME.
I was so flipping jazzed about getting started on the CPAP from the get go. My father had been diagnosed 2 yrs ago with severe apnea. I remember thinking then that I probably needed to start therapy too.
I've been 100% compliant from day one. And today is my 1 month anniversary. Yeah!!!!
I do wonder though if I should ask my DME to set my machine so that I can see if I'm still having apnea events. My machine is supposed to be able to give me that information if they set it up for me. Hopefully I'll be able to get that done this week.
Anyway, that's how I ended up getting diagnosed. I guess the best thing my former doctor did for me was kick me out of his practice.
During college, my roommate used to complain that it freaked her out to watch me sleep because I would stop breathing for several seconds and then gasp for air.
Since living with my husband he has complained about my severe snoring, wheezing and gasping in my sleep.
For as long as I can remember I have had dreams of being abducted by aliens that kept me from breathing.
In the last 4 years I had noticed that periodically I would wake up in a panic state with my heart racing so hard it felt like my whole body was shaking.
I discussed all these things with my former doctor, let's call him Dr Feelgood. He prescribed various medications, antidepressants for the moodiness, adderall for the adhd, heavy narcotics for migraines, more speed for allergies, etc etc.
A few months ago my former dr's practice sent me a letter stating that he was taking his practice in a different direction and didn't think that I was a suitable patient for his office. I got booted from my doctors office.
A coworker suggested that I try his doctor. So I set up my appointment and was shocked when I got there and he actually asked me questions. Questions about my past, my medical history, my family history, hobbies, passions etc. Towards the end of the appointment I was joking around about my husband complaining about my snoring. The new doctor immediately said he wanted me to get a sleep study. He said that sleep apnea could explain a whole lot of my symptoms that weren't being taken care of by the pharmacy of drugs that my former MD had me on.
I went for my sleep study the next day. I was shocked that my new doc was able to get me in so fast. I waited a couple of weeks for the results and was told that I stopped breathing an average of 7 times / hour, with each episode lasting 30 - 45 seconds. That part freaks me out since I tried to hold me breath that long and can't do it without ending up with a headache. I guess that would explain so many morning migraines. And I don't even drink!!!!
Anyway, I got in for my second sleep study the day after getting my results to get my CPAP settings and stuff. A few days after that I got a call from the sleep lab and then the DME company regarding coming in to get my equipment. As a side note, I've read many complaints about DME companies and I have to say that I feel blessed to be dealing with some really nice and seemingly knowledgable people there. They've made a couple of follow up calls. Have answered any questions that I've had. And when I started complaining about dry skin around my nose from my first mask they gladly replaced it free of charge with a different style. And I didn't even have to return the other one. So, I pretty much started out with a back up mask. So, so far, (knock on wood) I've had a great experience with my DME.
I was so flipping jazzed about getting started on the CPAP from the get go. My father had been diagnosed 2 yrs ago with severe apnea. I remember thinking then that I probably needed to start therapy too.
I've been 100% compliant from day one. And today is my 1 month anniversary. Yeah!!!!
I do wonder though if I should ask my DME to set my machine so that I can see if I'm still having apnea events. My machine is supposed to be able to give me that information if they set it up for me. Hopefully I'll be able to get that done this week.
Anyway, that's how I ended up getting diagnosed. I guess the best thing my former doctor did for me was kick me out of his practice.
The morning that I woke with my dh checking my pulse convinced me to try again. I woke with him holding my arm and checking pulse and asked what he was doing to which he replied, " you had not breathed in so long, I was just checking to see if you had a pulse." I knew I had SA and I had tried a cpap long ago (before the time of autos) without a study because I had no insurance and could not afford the study. I have probably had it most of my life. I know now that both my parents had it. My mom also had lung problems and died when she had just turned 60 of a stroke caused by "poor oxygenation" so the Dr. said after her autopsy.
My children had all told me that there was "something seriously wrong" with me when they had heard me breathing when dropping off for naps -- which I frequently did.
I had gotten to the place that I just pretty much worked and slept. I was to the place that I came home and sat down and went to sleep every day. If I didn't sit down and sleep, I was so sleepy that I could hardly function. And yes I did doze off at work. Fortunately, I was always alone in my office when this happened and never was caught by anyone who told the wrong person. For so many years, I did not realize how much damage this could cause to your body. Only wish that I had done something sooner.
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP
My children had all told me that there was "something seriously wrong" with me when they had heard me breathing when dropping off for naps -- which I frequently did.
I had gotten to the place that I just pretty much worked and slept. I was to the place that I came home and sat down and went to sleep every day. If I didn't sit down and sleep, I was so sleepy that I could hardly function. And yes I did doze off at work. Fortunately, I was always alone in my office when this happened and never was caught by anyone who told the wrong person. For so many years, I did not realize how much damage this could cause to your body. Only wish that I had done something sooner.
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP
Josie
-
Vettecraze
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:01 pm
My story starts maybe 4 years ago. I have been in the United States Coast Guard about 4 years active duty then. All I can remember was telling the clinic's PA that I had problems sleeping, and she mention that I needed a sleep study but did not refered me at the time, and since I tought that having sleep problems were just a hassle and that many people had them, I did not do anything.
Back in October 2006 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the MS makes me tired, so I never tought that it could also have been OSA.
Anyway, because of the MS the Coast Guard is giving me a disability retirement (August 23rd 2007), that is when I decided to have a sleep study done; in the Military if you do not have your conditions documented on your medical record they will not be considered service connected and you can not get the VA benefits for that condition. Well, I got my sleep study done and it is documented now, I had severe OSA with an AHI of 51, and of course I had a CPAP prescribed.
Now that I know the consecuenses of OSA I am glad that the service decided to retire me, since that is what prompted me to get checked. God knows how much longer I would have been undiagnosed.
I am now passing the word to everyone I know who has any kind of sleep problems to get checked for OSA.
God bless you all,
Ernesto
Back in October 2006 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the MS makes me tired, so I never tought that it could also have been OSA.
Anyway, because of the MS the Coast Guard is giving me a disability retirement (August 23rd 2007), that is when I decided to have a sleep study done; in the Military if you do not have your conditions documented on your medical record they will not be considered service connected and you can not get the VA benefits for that condition. Well, I got my sleep study done and it is documented now, I had severe OSA with an AHI of 51, and of course I had a CPAP prescribed.
Now that I know the consecuenses of OSA I am glad that the service decided to retire me, since that is what prompted me to get checked. God knows how much longer I would have been undiagnosed.
I am now passing the word to everyone I know who has any kind of sleep problems to get checked for OSA.
God bless you all,
Ernesto
I have been suffering with daytime sleepiness and exhaustion for years, and weight gain as well. It started with the pregnancy of my first child, who's now almost 18. It didn't occur to me that it might be sleep apnea, even though I was told I snored every night. But a few months back I decided to make a few changes in my life. I went off the anti depressant I had been on for 10 years, and started psychotherapy. I thought that was the end of it, but no I was waking up daily with a migraine. I went to a neurologist who specializes in head pain and was telling her about the herbs and vitamins I'm taking. I mentioned ginseng and she asked what it was for. I told her to try and get some energy during the day, and she sent me on a sleep study. I found out I stop breathing about 15 times an hour, and definitely have sleep apnea. The titration the next week set my pressure at 16! So I got setup with my machine, and I've been using it about a month now. I do feel much better during the day, but still get wiped about 8 or so at night.
Since then I don't get up to go to the bathroom several times a night anymore, I don't get up cause I'm restless anymore, my memory is getting better, and I'm actually getting some exercise. It's changed my life. So while migraines suck they did lead me to the road of getting better.
In the path to find a cure for the migraines I'm also having sinus surgery next week on Thursday. 4 more days :/....This will reduce the lining in my sinuses so they aren't so thick, blocking and trapping infection inside. This is also a result of the the neurologist. Once that's done the CPAP treatment ought to work even better. Plus I won't get sick every time I turn around, and have a stuffy nose and a nasal sounding voice all the time.
This doctor has improved my life in ways I can't count. I owe her a lot.
Jeanine
Since then I don't get up to go to the bathroom several times a night anymore, I don't get up cause I'm restless anymore, my memory is getting better, and I'm actually getting some exercise. It's changed my life. So while migraines suck they did lead me to the road of getting better.
In the path to find a cure for the migraines I'm also having sinus surgery next week on Thursday. 4 more days :/....This will reduce the lining in my sinuses so they aren't so thick, blocking and trapping infection inside. This is also a result of the the neurologist. Once that's done the CPAP treatment ought to work even better. Plus I won't get sick every time I turn around, and have a stuffy nose and a nasal sounding voice all the time.
This doctor has improved my life in ways I can't count. I owe her a lot.
Jeanine