severe versus mild sleep apnea
-
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:47 pm
severe versus mild sleep apnea
I know this is silly(without a polysomnography or definitive tests). But are there telltale signs of sleep apnea severity? Sleepiness scale or brain fog? I know it affects everyone differently. But are there any broad patterns? Just to give people who're still in the process of ongoing diagnosis a general idea.
_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
Mask: Single Size SleepWeaver Elan™ Soft Cloth Nasal CPAP Mask |
Last edited by tiredandscared on Sun May 03, 2015 4:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
- SleepWellCPAP
- Posts: 370
- Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:44 am
- Location: Naples Florida
- Contact:
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
Here are a couple of links that may help.
http://epworthsleepinessscale.com/about ... leepiness/
http://epworthsleepinessscale.com/epwor ... -scale.pdf
http://epworthsleepinessscale.com/about ... leepiness/
http://epworthsleepinessscale.com/epwor ... -scale.pdf
Jim Swearingen
Author of the book Sleep Well & Feel Great with CPAP, a definitive guide
For a free copy inquire with your local county librarian
CPAPtalk featured - Also available through Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Author of the book Sleep Well & Feel Great with CPAP, a definitive guide
For a free copy inquire with your local county librarian
CPAPtalk featured - Also available through Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
While daytime sleepiness and brain fog are common symptoms of OSA, they do not always indicate the severity of the OSA. In other words, there are people with fairly mild OSA who have severe problems with sleepiness and/or brain fog and there are people with severe OSA who have very few problems with daytime symptoms.tiredandscared wrote:I know this is silly(without a polysomnography or a definitive tests). But are there telltale signs of sleep apnea severity? Sleepinesso scale or brain fog? I know it affects everyone differently. But are there any broad patterns? Just to give people who're still in the process of ongoing diagnosis a general idea.
The most tell-tale sign of the severity of the OSA may be whether the bed partner reports witnessing repeated apneas every night. When the apnea is mild (or even moderate), the bed partner may only notice a few apneas/hypopneas a week. When the apnea is severe, the bed partner is more likely to notice apneas/hypopneas almost every night.
_________________
Machine: DreamStation BiPAP® Auto Machine |
Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: PR System DreamStation and Humidifier. Max IPAP = 9, Min EPAP=4, Rise time setting = 3, minPS = 3, maxPS=5 |
- zoocrewphoto
- Posts: 3732
- Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:34 pm
- Location: Seatac, WA
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
tiredandscared wrote:I know this is silly(without a polysomnography or a definitive tests). But are there telltale signs of sleep apnea severity? Sleepinesso scale or brain fog? I know it affects everyone differently. But are there any broad patterns? Just to give people who're still in the process of ongoing diagnosis a general idea.
I think some of the symptoms and how bad we feel has to do with how long we have been dealing with it. Even somebody with mild sleep apnea can feel horrible when they have been suffering for years. Also, we don't really notice how things creep up on us. I thought I was coping just fine. I only got tested for 2 reasons. I learned that it could be causing my high blood pressure, and that scared me. And I was tired of being yelled at when sharing a hotel room. Otherwise, I felt fine.
Once I had a single great night with the machine, I realized just how bad my sleep was. I also learned that a lot of symptoms I had were caused by the sleep apnea. I had been assuming other reasons for those problems.
So, if you have asked me before cpap how bad my sleep apnea was, I would have said my snoring was bad, but I felt fine. I now understand just how bad it really was.
_________________
Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
Additional Comments: Resmed S9 autoset pressure range 11-17 |
Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
A recording O2 meter might give you a fairly good idea. Not nearly as good as a real sleep study
but a good screening tool .
http://www.amperordirect.com/pc/help-pu ... apnea.html
but a good screening tool .
http://www.amperordirect.com/pc/help-pu ... apnea.html
_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine |
Mask: Ultra Mirage™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier |
Additional Comments: SleapyHead software |
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
+1 to both the bed partner observations and the recording oximeter (less than $50 in our case).
My apnea was diagnosed in response to my wife's sleep deprivation. She didn't dare sleep because of the suspense of waiting for my breathing to resume.
My apnea was diagnosed in response to my wife's sleep deprivation. She didn't dare sleep because of the suspense of waiting for my breathing to resume.
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
We are all different, we all react different to everything. I'd say it doesn't matter which one, if you die in your sleep from it. Jim
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire
"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire
-
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:19 am
- Location: Rhode Island USA
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
Goofproof, I really like your signature advice.
_________________
Machine: AirSense 11 Autoset |
Mask: TAP PAP Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Improved Stability Mouthpiece |
ResMed AirSense 11 AutoSet
Mask: ResMed N30i with cushion
Mask: ResMed N30i with cushion
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
It sounds like a good idea. But the oximeters that register over night basically are way too expensive. The ones you're talking about only give registrations per usage.css28 wrote:+1 to both the bed partner observations and the recording oximeter (less than $50 in our case).
My apnea was diagnosed in response to my wife's sleep deprivation. She didn't dare sleep because of the suspense of waiting for my breathing to resume.
-
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:47 pm
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
I followed your advice. And bought one with a recording ability(about twice of what yours cost, but this gives me the ability to record the oxygen drops during sleep).css28 wrote:+1 to both the bed partner observations and the recording oximeter (less than $50 in our case).
My apnea was diagnosed in response to my wife's sleep deprivation. She didn't dare sleep because of the suspense of waiting for my breathing to resume.
I'm not going to die from it. But I aim to preserve as much brain power as possible. I'll have my peace of mind if I'll know I'll be able to do that.css28 wrote: We are all different, we all react different to everything. I'd say it doesn't matter which one, if you die in your sleep from it. Jim
Re: severe versus mild sleep apnea
I have no idea what you're referring to with "register".Guest wrote: But the oximeters that register over night basically are way too expensive. The ones you're talking about only give registrations per usage.
RECORDING oximeters which will record the spo2, and heart rate are available for < 40$, and comfortable wrist worn ones that record multi sessions of spo2, heart rate and perfusion index are available for < 100$.
that's unlikely to be "way to expensive"
Get OSCAR
Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.
Accounts to put on the foe list: dataq1, clownbell, gearchange, lynninnj, mper!?, DreamDiver, Geer1, almostadoctor, sleepgeek, ajack, stom, mogy, D.H., They often post misleading, timewasting stuff.