A question for the LADIES only

[boosmum]

Ok sorry guys but you might not want to read this... LOL


For any ladies out there, can you tell me if you noticed any differences in your menstrual cycles after starting CPAP??

I only ask because I have always been severely anemic and many years ago my doctor suggested using the contraceptive pill continuously for up to 6 months at a time as during my cycle I would get VERY sick with no iron and many times came close to needing a transfusion. I have been doing that for 8 years now with no problems and my iron levels stabalised although still low.

This morning things are not as usual (breakthrough bleeding which has never happened in 8 years!!) and the ONLY different thing is the CPAP machine and finally getting fantastic sleep and having some crazy weird dreams LOL.

I read somewhere that REM sleep is connected with some hormone production in the body so wondering if that could be whats causing this? I will ask my doctor at my next appointment but have feeling he will not know the answer or look at me like i'm crazy LOL.

Has anyone else notcied anything at all different?

[cindy58]

Sorry boosmum, I'm past that stage of life. But I have experienced a very, very welcome change in my moods and emotions. Was constantly irritated and the littlest thing set me off into a horrible rage. My co-workers were on edge and, as you can guess, the situation at home wasn't any better. So IMHO, any return to normal sleep quality and patterns would be marked by the body's return to more normal functioning. I'm not a Dr so hopefully one of the professionals here will also read your post soon and answer your question.

[sleepymama]

I haven't noticed that myself but i was thinking (after reading your post) that maybe if the hormones do change in our body once we are being treated and having better REM sleep that maybe those birth control pills are either too weak or too strong. i'm thinking weaker. i was on the pill before (a diff. one then now) and had break through bleeding so i got put on a diff. pill. nothing changed really, i just one day started having to need a stronger pill.

[Bons]

If you can wait two weeks for an answer, I may be able to find out. I just arranged to transfer my care to a sleep center located in a prestigious teaching hospital. They have a clinic that tries to connect sleep disorder treatments with hormonal changes in women, and the doc I'll be seeing is the director of the clinic.

[boosmum]

Thanks ladies for your imput on this

Bons : that would be WONDERFUL if you can let me know anything you find out sounds quite promising!!

[Jaylee]

Nothing different going on here.

[Bons]

Thanks ladies for your imput on this

Bons : that would be WONDERFUL if you can let me know anything you find out sounds quite promising!!

I'm at "that age" when I can ask about menstrual irregularities and break through bleeding

[OceanGoingGal]

I am well past the age of menstruation. I can say that in the years I have been in menopause I have never had a hot flash. I have no problems with osteoporosis either. I remember when I started menopause having the night sweats. All of that was long before I started cpap therapy. As for other old age ailments I seem to have been very lucky. Before therapy I used to have problems with arthritis in my ankles and feet. This was at it's worst during the cold months and extremely humid months. I moved to Florida to get away from the cold of NH. My first year in Florida I had horrible ankle and foot pain from arthritis. I was afraid I would have to ask for a disability placard. I started the therapy in July 2008 and did suffer that summer. Once the therapy began to make a difference in my life the arthritis pain lessened. I do believe the therapy has repaired damage not even related to the OSA. I had seasonal allergies also which have subsided since my therapy. So I really think that a lot more than OSA can be relieved with this therapy. Of course this is not an official medical study. These are just my personal observances.

Laura

[Shellie_p]

Can't say I noticed any changes in my cycles, But the year I was diagnosed I was pregnant. It was my inability to stay awake during the discussion of when/how they wanted to do my EMERGENCY C-section that a doctor who actually knew about sleep apnea (This was in 1995 when few knew) saw that I needed tested.

But if you have been been suffering with apnea for a while all sorts of things with your body would be out of whack,
Ive always had Menorrhagia(Super heavy cycles) since after the birth of my first child (have 3) and I've had doctors tell me that increase/decrease in physical activity can make it heavier/lighter so can major increase/decreases of weight especially loss since hormones get stored in body fat and released when you lose weight. Both of which can occur as you get your apnea under control and start resuming non sleep deprived life again.

And I also have had issues with my iron and have to take double suppliments, which just so happen to keep my cycles lighter as long as I stay on the suppliments. While still no where near *Normal* they are lighter.

[Tired Linda]

Bons, interesting thread. Although I'm 56 and done with "that" I have noticed that shortly after I began therapy, my face broke out like a teenager. It's finally beginning to clear up. I have always been careful about keeping my skin clean, and haven't changed soap or moisturizer. The breakouts are NOT where my mask sits, and reminded me exactly of how I broke out before periods when younger. I couldn't help but wonder if it was something hormonal. My twentysomething daughters had a heyday pointing it out, my husband knows better.

I wish I had thought of asking my sleep doc about it last week. I would love to hear if there is any sort of correlation.
Linda

[BlackSpinner]

Past all that too...
However everything works different when you are getting enough O2 and sleep. Caffeine affects me differently, other have found they needed to adjust their medications too, usually to a lighter dose. But it makes sense if your hormones are working stronger you might need a heavier dose of The Pill.

[sleepylady]

Nope, it's the same as it was before therapy.

[Bons]

Okay, here's what my new women's sleep clinic says: estrogen stimulates breathing, so that we keep better ventilated while pregnant and keep our babies oxygenated. It also stimulates the tongue muscles, which helps keep the airway open. Once the baby factory shuts down, the need for the ventilation system slows down, which is why lots of us start experiencing OSA when we hit our fourties and head into the early stages of perimenopause. I don't know how that would impact the spotting question, though.

I had so much fun asking that of a male doctor and his two male interns, especially since the doctor turned out to be the son of my former equivalent of a bishop.

[cflame1]

Okay, here's what my new women's sleep clinic says: estrogen stimulates breathing, so that we keep better ventilated while pregnant and keep our babies oxygenated. It also stimulates the tongue muscles, which helps keep the airway open. Once the baby factory shuts down, the need for the ventilation system slows down, which is why lots of us start experiencing OSA when we hit our fourties and head into the early stages of perimenopause. I don't know how that would impact the spotting question, though.

I had so much fun asking that of a male doctor and his two male interns, especially since the doctor turned out to be the son of my former equivalent of a bishop.

Ok... that would have been priceless to ask... LOL

[boosmum]

Okay, here's what my new women's sleep clinic says: estrogen stimulates breathing, so that we keep better ventilated while pregnant and keep our babies oxygenated. It also stimulates the tongue muscles, which helps keep the airway open. Once the baby factory shuts down, the need for the ventilation system slows down, which is why lots of us start experiencing OSA when we hit our fourties and head into the early stages of perimenopause. I don't know how that would impact the spotting question, though.

I had so much fun asking that of a male doctor and his two male interns, especially since the doctor turned out to be the son of my former equivalent of a bishop.

LOL thank you so much for asking and posting the reply!! Thankfully I only had the one episode happen so fingers crossed it was just a fluke.