Teenager...Sleep apnea????

[Tired Linda]

trytryagain, I have been talking to my daugher (20 y.o.) about getting set up for a sleep test, and referred to your post in a conversation with her this afternoon. She is constantly tired and can sleep at the drop of a hat. She's had migraine headaches for the last 6-7 years, for which she's had numerous tests, but we've never been able to determine a cause. Sometimes she snores.

She's still covered under our insurance, so testing wouldn't be a problem. She just doesn't want to have to sleep with "something stupid on her face." It's getting to a point, though, where her tiredness/sleeping are starting to cause problems with her boyfriend. He's even encouraging her to get tested. She's got an appointment coming up with her neurologist, and we've been encouraging her to ask about sleep testing. Maybe she has OSA, maybe not, but at least that would be something else that could be a possible source for her migraines.

[Muse-Inc]

...She's had migraine headaches for the last 6-7 years, for which she's had numerous tests, but we've never been able to determine a cause...

I stopped mine by taking 400 m gms magnesium citrate a day (RDA for women is 320 mgms/day). Don't take magnesium oxide, i'ts only use is as a laxative (think Philips MOM). It's now a common alternative 'treatment'...worth asking her doc about trying.

[LoQ]

Can you imagine a beautiful/model type 18 yr old using a cpap machine?

Are you suggesting that it would be more acceptable for an ugly old person to use a CPAP machine? I sure hope not. I hope I am misunderstanding that.

If she has SDB, a positive mental attitude will serve her greatly. Keep your own misgivings to yourself.

[elena88]

Can you imagine a beautiful/model type 18 yr old using a cpap machine?

Are you suggesting that it would be more acceptable for an ugly old person to use a CPAP machine? I sure hope not. I hope I am misunderstanding that.

If she has SDB, a positive mental attitude will serve her greatly. Keep your own misgivings to yourself.

She is very bright/smart but has been rebellious

I think maybe mom was trying to look at it from her daughters point of view..... and also, its a big shock for anyone when they think about
wearing something for the rest of their life...

and being eighteen, and dating, and all that.. well, its not easy to wrap your brain around it at first...

There are quite a few logistics to consider.. but, true, being positve will help immensely..

Once you see it will save your life, and stop a host of future horrible health problems, its a whole lot easier..

[trytryagain]

Thanks Elena, I didn't mean to infer because shes young and pretty, it would be less acceptable. I'm sorry , I didn't mean to offend anyone. I myself have been very positive about my recent diagnosis and have been showing off all of my new gadgets. She is my youngest daughter , and has 5 older sisters, Yes 6 daughters. So far she is the only one to possibly follow in my footsteps with the sleeping issues. Shes a great kid, by saying she has been rebellious, I meant she being the youngest of 6, often thinks she should have the same privileges as her sisters and she uses the I'm 18 now I can do what I want. She has a great heart though and shows her affection to family, even in Public! I don't know why I'm going on here, just wanted everyone to know I really love and care about all of my children..PS. She has been reading all of the replys to my original post.Thanks again.

[Tired Linda]

she uses the I'm 18 now I can do what I want.

I hear ya, mine will be 21 in February. Smart kid, hard worker, stubborn as hell. (must get that from her dad). At 18-21 they think nothing will ever happen to them....

I think I finally got to her yesterday while mentioning some of the long-term effects of sleep apnea. My mom (grandma she was very close to) passed away of heart issues recently. Same sorts of things that can happen as a result of severe sleep deprivation. I'm sure there will be more conversations about this, but here's to hoping we're going in the right direction.

Linda

[M.D.Hosehead]

I'm glad she's reading the posts. This message is for your daughter.

I'll bet every one of us here had the same denial at first. The first time i looked at all the masks stuck on the plastic heads my first reaction was "That can't be me!" Most of us get over that quickly if cpap makes our lives better.

Testing is the most important thing now. If you don't have SA, you can tell your mother to lay off. If you do have SA, then you'll have some thinking to do. No one can compel you to use cpap, unless you decide it's the best thing for you to do. And it is not a permanent commitment for the rest of your life. Each night you decide to uses cpap, it's a decision for that night only. Any time you decide it's not working, or it's not worth it, you can quit.

And as far as dating and mating, it does happen that a young woman's imperfection (scars, physical disabilities, cpap) turns out to be a blessing in disguise. It helps weed out superficial men.

[LoQ]

And as far as dating and mating, it does happen that a young woman's imperfection (scars, physical disabilities, cpap) turns out to be a blessing in disguise. It helps weed out superficial men.

Oh, what wise words.


I would also suggest that any man not capable of distinguishing sex from sleep is probably not a very good lover.

[SleepingUgly]

Testing is the most important thing now. If you don't have SA, you can tell your mother to lay off. If you do have SA, then you'll have some thinking to do. No one can compel you to use cpap, unless you decide it's the best thing for you to do. And it is not a permanent commitment for the rest of your life. Each night you decide to uses cpap, it's a decision for that night only. Any time you decide it's not working, or it's not worth it, you can quit.

Excellent post, M.D. Hosehead! Thinking of having to do anything for the rest of your life is overwhelming, but thinking of trying something on a day-to-day basis is not so overwhelming. First, do the sleep study, which is no big deal--my son had two when he was 5 and didn't even complain about it. Then see what the results are. By my early 20's, I was volunteering for sleep studies, hoping they would get to the bottom of what was wrong with me and fix it. You may have a crack at a much better quality of life, and that's at least worth looking into.

[chunkyfrog]

Time to trot out the list of celebrity hoseheads--is there a link?
Or point out the likelihood that apnea causes obesity;
---and encourage her to start shopping for 'fat clothes'.

[roster]

she uses the I'm 18 now I can do what I want.

Nothing changes.

I am in my seventh decade and I can do whatever the hell I want.

[socknitster]

I"m so glad!

[trytryagain]

Well we made the appointment for a consult with a top Sleep Doc in the Boston Area. Its not until Nov 18th though. I'll keep you posted.

[JayC]

It is possible that is my doc........private msg if you wish to check that or discuss!

[tony72]

why so late of an appointment?she needs help IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!. a sleep study at 5 years old?wow.