B12 and other deficiencies/causes of sleep apnea??

As some of you know I've only been diagnosed with OSA for a little over a month now. Prior to my diagnosis I'd been 'sick' for lack of a better word for well over a year...ever since (approximately) the birth of my son. I was tested/evaluated by several physicians, put on anti depressants which did nothing, told it was all in my head, you get the picture. So I finally get a real medical diagnosis and, along with it, validation that I'm not nuts. So this is good! BUT...no one seems concerned with WHY this started at the age of 35. I have gained weight but the weight gain came AFTER months of being ill. (I gained 9lbs while pregnant, weighed less at my 6 week post partum appointment then I did when I became pregnant...so weight gain during pregnancy was not a cause.)

OK, now I'm babbling...anyway...as I said, no one seems concerned about the cause. I have been doing some research and it appears as though there may be a correlation between B12/folic acid/amino acid/other deficiencies and PLMD. Is this the case for sleep apnea as well? Besides weight gain and anatomy problems (like sinus issues, etc.) what are some other causes? And has anyone ever seen a naturopathic doctor in addition to their MD and gotten any good results? I see my internist on the 6th and I will ask him to check my B12 level...can he check the others as well? What else should I ask him to check? (Thyroid, anemia, sugar have all been checked and are normal.) And anyone know whether this is a commom post partum problem that people just don't know about?

Appreciate any input! Thanks!

BrensTiredMom wrote: I have been doing some research and it appears as though there may be a correlation between B12/folic acid/amino acid/other deficiencies and PLMD. Is this the case for sleep apnea as well? Besides weight gain and anatomy problems (like sinus issues, etc.) what are some other causes? And has anyone ever seen a naturopathic doctor in addition to their MD and gotten any good results? I see my internist on the 6th and I will ask him to check my B12 level...can he check the others as well? What else should I ask him to check? (Thyroid, anemia, sugar have all been checked and are normal.) And anyone know whether this is a commom post partum problem that people just don't know about?

Appreciate any input! Thanks!

The B-vitamin cocktail you mention is many times suggested to stroke victims. It is thought to lower homocysteine levels. While that topic remains somewhat controversial, a UCSF Neurology professor who reviewed my stroke case once put me on that same cocktail, seems it can have other benefits besides lower ones homocysteine level and reducing risk of stroke.

They seem to think that Folic Acid aids in blood flow to the brain. More blood flow to the brain, the more oxygen that reaches the tiny vessels in the brain. Folate also seems to aid in the development of healthy DNA which also is thought to aid in damaged brain tissue development.

But he put me on prescription strength Folate or Folic Acid with a higher dose than you can get OTC. As you know you can buy OTC Folate or folic acid over the counter but about 800mcg is about the largest dose you'll probably see. You can always take 2 tablets I guess. Normally, you take B-12 and Folic Acid always together because one can "mask" the effects of a deficient condition of B-12. As you know a deficiency in B-12 can cause permanent neurological damage. Vegetarians sometimes run into that problem because they don't consume meat the primary source of B-12 intake.

Keep in mind you can also develop a toxicity to B-Vitamins. B-vitamins can aid with energy helping form healthy cell regeneration, but on the flip side too much can cause anxiety from the toxic side of things. My understanding is a severe deficiency in B-12 can be dangerous, when you take Folate it can mask those deficiency symptoms, so that is why you should always take them together.

While there is one study recently claiming that too many vitamins are not good for you, there are at least a 100 more with an opposite opinion. If you look at the ingredients in some of these energy drinks, they taste so bad because they are mainly B-vitamins and water.

So if you drink 10 Red Bulls a day to survive and also take a B-vitamin supplement and you are climbing the walls with anxiety attacks, you may want to consider your B-vitamin intake carefully, not saying that combination equals a toxic level of B-vitamins by any means, just know there are limits in anything you take. Absorption rates and how well your body absorbs B-12 can play a part in that equation.

But personally, I take that cocktail of B-Vitamins.

BrensTiredMom wrote:BUT...no one seems concerned with WHY this started at the age of 35...as I said, no one seems concerned about the cause. ... Is this the case for sleep apnea as well? Besides weight gain and anatomy problems (like sinus issues, etc.) what are some other causes?

There is no known cause for sleep apnea that I am aware (if its not something obvious like anatomy)

It is frustrating for sure. I'm 38 and wonder the same thing sometimes. The standard treatment is CPAP and once diagnosed thats how its typically dealt with. Clearly there is a underlying cause since our tongues didn't always fall back into our throat... hopefully someday someone will figure out the why and then maybe someone can come up with a cure...

BrensTiredMom wrote:"And has anyone ever seen a naturopathic doctor in addition to their MD and gotten any good results?

I've seen a couple. The make great promises but basically just took my money...

PS I've taken B12 injections for years since I am a vegetarian so that can't be the the cause alone...

I have both UARS (a form of sleep-disordered breathing similar to apnea) and B-12 resistance.

I can tell you that the tiredness I get from lack of B-12 and the tiredness I get from my UARS are very different feelings, and that treating one does not help the other. Which reminds me, I'm overdue for my B-12 tablet (I have to take sublingual tablets a couple times a week because my digestive system can't process it). *goes off to take tablet*