How did you know something was wrong?

[Kiralynx]

Now, it turned out that the gut pain was gut spasms caused by the lactose in the pain medicine prescribed after the surgery.

Wow, really, it was in the drug? I've been reading about Prozac and other drugs that are mostly Fluoride and the side effects. Unbelievable.

Lactose is a favorite filler for many medications because it lets the automated pill-fillers or tableting machines do their thing. THe fact that many people have lactose intolerance is, of course, irrelevant.

When I quit taking the pain medication, the gut pain went away. As it should have, since this was August, and my surgery had been in April.

Turned out my O2 was going down significantly... just about the time the hip pain woke me up. Doc said significant numbers of her patients with chronic pain had the pain go away when their apnea was successfully treated...

So did the pain subside after xpap?

Pain went away completely. I was still waking up twice a night for awhile because my body was so used to it. I also noted that on some of my data, I would have a cluster of hypopneas right before I woke up.

All other things being equal, I can tell when I need to replace my nasal pillows because I'm not getting proper therapy. My hips hurt. I determined that the Swift FX is not a mask I can use because if I try, my hips end up hurting. Go back to the Headrest, and they don't hurt.

[Lizistired]

That's great information. I love it when the simple stuff works... less works. That's why I try to stay away from Pharma, it's a constant battle though.

[msla]

I had horrible headaches. ENT suggested sleep apnea but there was a severely deviated septum too. Surgery to take care of the septum. All was OK for a while but the headaches came back. Ent sent me to the neurologist who suggested SA and I did the sleep test, out of pocket since the insurance did not cover "treatment" for snoring. ( I paid in the morning and got a cash discount ) The few hours on CPAP were heaven; the best sleep I had had in years. 2 weeks later I rented a CPAP for 5 months until the insurance started an allowance for SA and the machine. The rest is history, 99.9% complient. The headaches have mostely gone away. I finally got the S9 and have the ability to see my complete data, surprising the RT at the DME since none of his other patients want to do that . I did find that last fall I had a BAD headache . I checked the data and found that my entire night of sleep was composed of a blizzard of centrals. I will be seeing the Dr soon for my annual review and will ask him about that episode.

[Maxie]

After surgery the anesthetist came in and told me. I was barely awake and she looked shaken so I was afraid to ask any questions but I went straight to my GP who sent me immediately to a sleep study which resulted in 55 apnea episodes per hour. I had no idea!

[Elle]

I too have my bed to myself and my daughter (in the next room) is too polite to tell me I honk all night. My doctor noticed I was getting dumber. She sent me to a neurologist for "cognitive decline". I think it was there that OSA was suggested. I asked my daughter if I snore and she looked at me like I was crazy....thought it was so loud that it must have been waking me too. Started the sleep study process and here I am. Can't say I am any smarter but I do feel less tired.

[Kairosgrammy]

I checked the ones I knew were related, sleepy during the day, not feeling rested on rising. I know now that the going to the bathroom all the time, gerd, swelling legs and a few others are also symptomatic. I hardly ever wake up to go to the bathroom anymore. Headaches would be hard for me. I do wake up with them but generally, they are sinus related.

[Kairosgrammy]

Don't worry. Have you driven people from a room? My two brothers and brother in law cleared the CCU waiting room one night. My sisters and I were sitting outside because we couldn't sleep and all of a sudden all these people came out, looking disgruntled. Realized why when one lady said, "Can you believe how loud those guys snore!!!!" Two of the three have now been diagnosed with sleep apnea!!!

My wife had spotted and article about sleep apnea and discussed it with me. I had just about decided that I ought to go see my doctor about it. I had reached the point where I was starting to literally dream when I blinked. Yikes! I knew something was wrong. Well, I went to sleep one night and stopped breathing like normal, followed by the loudest snore you've ever heard. Both our children awoke screaming. My wife just told me - you WILL go see the doctor, now you get one kid while I get the other. That was over 20 years ago. So, I know that my snoring *does* terrify women and children.

[SleepyToo2]

Headaches would be hard for me. I do wake up with them but generally, they are sinus related.

Don't be too sure about that. Sinus headaches are caused by inflammation of the sinuses. Migraines are inflammation of the blood vessels/nerves in the head. I was told by a neurologist that sinus headaches often turn out to be migraine headaches when investigated. I would often wake up with "migraine" headaches, feeling all stuffed up. A few months into CPAP I realized that this was not happening any more. Now I know that I will get them occasionally, but not nearly as severe. The neurologist also told me that sleep apnea is associated with a lot of inflammation. So, for me at least, the CPAP has been a very good thing - except last night, when I was having a great deal of difficulty sleeping!

[Kairosgrammy]

Wow! Thanks for the info. I just thought it was the humidity keeping my sinuses a lot clearer that accounted for no more sinus headaches. I may have been wrong. I was waking up last week with sinus headaches and I upped my humidity. Pollen count was 11.7 of 12. Go figure.

Headaches would be hard for me. I do wake up with them but generally, they are sinus related.

Don't be too sure about that. Sinus headaches are caused by inflammation of the sinuses. Migraines are inflammation of the blood vessels/nerves in the head. I was told by a neurologist that sinus headaches often turn out to be migraine headaches when investigated. I would often wake up with "migraine" headaches, feeling all stuffed up. A few months into CPAP I realized that this was not happening any more. Now I know that I will get them occasionally, but not nearly as severe. The neurologist also told me that sleep apnea is associated with a lot of inflammation. So, for me at least, the CPAP has been a very good thing - except last night, when I was having a great deal of difficulty sleeping!

[torontoCPAPguy]

My biggest indicator asides from those listed was awakening with my pyjama tops sopping wet from cold sweat. The tiredness, grogginess, daytime sleepiness, etc., are all indicators.

[Kaylis]

I had my first sleep study when my then-primary doc (a pulmonologist) suggested it because he was trying to figure out why I had Fibromyalgia. That study showed mild myoclonus (leg jerks), though I was told about that time that I kicked pretty hard sometimes . No apnea showed up, so he treated what did show and suggested a repeat in 5-10 years.

My more recent sleep study was triggered by a discussion with a newer primary doc (gp) about a high pain level, frequent wakenings, snoring, and feeling totally wiped during the day. That showed a medium level of hypopneas and no apneas, but also poor oxygen saturation (down to mid 80's) and no REM sleep at all.

Now I just have to find a way to get a sleep study for my constantly snoring (loudly) and feeling sleep deprived spouse who doesn't have insurance and doesn't think she has apnea either.

[SoooTired]

I couldn't stay awake to watch my favorite shows at night. I had a terrible time getting up in the morning - would sleep until 11AM and even longer, if I could. I never felt refreshed from my night sleep. I started taking naps, something I've never done in my life. Then I started to forget things - where I'd put things, what I going to do that day, words in a conversation. Last but not least, I started to fall asleep while driving.

Although I'd been to my doctor six months before and he'd said I probably has Sleep Apnea, the latter convinced me I had to have the dreaded Sleep Study done. I'd always been an insomniac and was sure I couldn't sleep in a sleep lab but I had waited so long, I could have slept on the floor of the intake room!

Oh yes, and my husband who used to be the snorer in the family, said I was snoring.

I have never faced a medical problem I've had a harder time managing and I was diagnosed in January 2010. I'm making some progress but "I couldn't get by without a little help from my friends" - medications my doctor has prescribed.

Things are improving and I'm confident that wihtin the next six months, I'll have it under control. Sometimes I even have dreams now!

[RipVW]

Thanks all for your responses! So interesting how we got here, so many different symptoms or events that enabled us to figure out that something was wrong.