Not diagnosed yet.

Hello!!!
I have had sooooo many medical issues over the years ( mysteries) I always thought my sleeping issues weren't the cause or very serious. My fatigue is beyond explanation and my other random ailments might be other conditions...working on diagnoses for over 10 years.
So to my sleep symptoms, I wake up pretty much every hour during the night sometimes choking, sometimes heart racing and clinching jaw. I don't remember what feeling rested is like. I may lightly snore very rarely. Recently my red cells, hemocrat, hemoglobin is high and a doctor suggested sleep apnea. I have neurological symptoms that might suggest MS and from what I've read today MS lesions could cause central sleep apnea.. Planning on doing a sleep study and brain MRI within the next month, so I'm here to gain as much information as possible.

Lissa78 wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:58 pm

Hello!!!
I have had sooooo many medical issues over the years ( mysteries) I always thought my sleeping issues weren't the cause or very serious. My fatigue is beyond explanation and my other random ailments might be other conditions...working on diagnoses for over 10 years.
So to my sleep symptoms, I wake up pretty much every hour during the night sometimes choking, sometimes heart racing and clinching jaw. I don't remember what feeling rested is like. I may lightly snore very rarely. Recently my red cells, hemocrat, hemoglobin is high and a doctor suggested sleep apnea. I have neurological symptoms that might suggest MS and from what I've read today MS lesions could cause central sleep apnea.. Planning on doing a sleep study and brain MRI within the next month, so I'm here to gain as much information as possible.

Hopefully your upcoming tests will give you some concrete answers so it will be clear how to move forward. Your description of your wakings sounds classic for obstructive sleep apnea. But come to think of it, I would want to also rule out reflux. OSA can cause symptoms that can resemble other health conditions. It may be that some of your other concerns would be resolved with OSA treatment if diagnosed. I'm not too familiar with central sleep apnea, but I was under the impression one does not have the same struggles that cause rude awakenings as with OSA. Maybe someone else could speak to that. I'd get that sleep study sooner rather than later, get a copy of your report, then come back here and let us know what you find out. If diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are some posts at the top of the home page that can help you with things like equipment choices and getting started. Until then maybe you could try a few things to mitigate your symptoms while you wait for more targeted solutions. Raising the head of the bed just a bit is one idea. I just folded a comforter and placed it across the head of the bed under the mattress. This helped me with my reflux. Side or stomach sleeping is better for some than back sleeping if OSA is at issue. Preferably use a firm flat pillow so there's not so much sliding into positions that can compromise the airway. Avoid sleeping with your chin tucked. Good luck with everything.

Excellent advise from Ms. Teague! Please re read it again. Get a copy of the study and any prescription. Educate yourself here. Tho I hope you find the reason for your ailments, pray that you don't have this dreaded disease. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you can treat it and this is the one stop-shop to learn and ask questions.

Best Wishes, Sheriff

First of all, while most people who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea snore, some do not snore or do not snore audibly. Note also that Central Sleep Apnea is silent.

There are about eighty known sleep disorders. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is, by far, the most prevalent.

It's true that disordered sleep can bring on other conditions. It's also true that other conditions can bring on sleep disorders. In any case, you should treat any sleep disorder that they diagnose.