How long with symptoms before diagnosis?

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:14 am

wading thru the muck! wrote:Don't be an "Angry LDuyer"

It's not nice.

Anger is not always a bad or not nice thing.
God knows you get plenty "angry" and we still like having you around.
And don't you recall that "Angry" topic in which you got plenty angry along with the others?
But I promise to play nice if you will.

LDuyer, NOT Angry

coffee · Post by **coffee** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 10:07 am

Stereotypes of the "typical" sufferer of an ailment can definitely color the ability of doctors to recognize that ailment in others. The widespread belief that you should be an overweight man with a thick neck to have OSA seems to be loosening up, but I still meet doctors who are surprised that I have OSA because I am thin.

I believe I've had sleep apnea for about 30 years (I am 48), that's when the snoring complaints began. It seemed to get worse about 10 years ago. Then I started consulting doctors about my growing exhaustion and my dance with Miss Diagnosis began. Physicals, blood tests, etc. I tried different types of diet & exercise. Anti-depressants were prescribed. Nothing was working and sleep apnea was never considered.
It wasn't until I met my wonderful wife 5 years ago that somebody noticed my breath stopping while sleeping. (previous complaints about my snoring, yes. concerns regarding it's effect on my health, no) This led to my first sleep study where the study's report saying the usual about AHI of 47 and the other tech stuff also said, "I had a thick neck (I didn't) and should lose weight (I shouldn't)" It was as if that was part of their standard statement and that it was included on my report by default!
It's painful to consider the years lost in fog because of the late diagnosis, but considering that OSA has been under the radar for so long it is not surprising.

Sleepless in New Mexico · Post by **Sleepless in New Mexico** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 11:54 am

I've had signs of sleep apnea for probably almost 40 years. It wasn't until I was diagnosed about a year ago that I understood those signs. I remember sharing a bedroom with my brother when I was younger and he would complain about how much noise I made when I slept.
About 25 years ago, I went to see a sleep specialist and he looked down my throat and said he couldn't see anything obvious that would indicate that I wasn't breathing at night. He said the only way to tell for sure was a sleep study that wasn't covered under my insurance at the time and would cost about $1000 dollars. It just as well could have been a million dollars because there was no way I could pay for that back then.
After 25 years of my wife prompting me to do something about it, I went and got my sleep study done. I was Diagnosed with severe OSA with 58 episodes an hour. No wonder I'm tired all the time! Almost a year on the cpap and as helpful as it's been I'm still trying to get a good night's sleep. I'm taking it a day at a time.

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 12:08 pm

coffee and sleepless...,

What interesting stories! Boggles my mind that you've experienced symptoms for so long. And it's interesting that both of you described what so many have on this forum, being made aware of your nightime breathing by a spouse or partner.

It's understandable that not so long ago doctors didn't know much about this, let alone know how to test for it or treat it. But now the knowledge is here. It is NOW important that someone with clear symptoms shouldn't be left in the lurch, that they should be tested earlier than the rest of us. I guess the good news is that more and more the condition is being discussed and understood. And spouses can nudge their loved ones towards some timely treatment.

Thank you for your stories!!

Linda

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:34 pm

moving this up the list

-Lduyer · Post by **-Lduyer** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:53 pm

LDuyer wrote:moving this up the list

Why?????

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:50 pm

"Guest"

I was moving it up the list so that people could still see it, in case they'd like to vote in the poll.

Admin did not post it permanently to the top, like Mikesus' poll, so I periodically move it closer to the top so people can still vote if they want.

That's the only reason.

auntiebeccaneedssleep · Post by **auntiebeccaneedssleep** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:20 pm

I think I was unclear about the doctor who did the stress test and my GP. I wasn't seeing my gp when I went to cardiologist for stress test. It was the cardio doctor who was the jerk. He also later lost his license and there was a big scandal he was involved in. He was the one who told me to stop eating, because I should look like his nurse and then I would be healthy. That's the doctor I refused to pay for my visit.
My GP did what he could, he just didn't think to order a sleep study. He is the doctor I will gently inform to think about OSA when someone has the symptoms I had. I love him as a gp, I will be going back to him. He put me on anti-depressants because he listened to me, and I am so thankful for that. My family was amazed at the difference in my moods. I see the difference when I am not on them, (even with c-pap).
I just want to make sure he is aware of the statistics of OSA, that's all. I didn't mean to start a heated debate

auntie

who hates confrontation, especially when she is involved!!!

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:26 pm

It's great if you find a doctor you like, isn't it? I'm glad you clarified. That cardiologist sounds awful, glad he lost his license.

I went to the cardiologist before I went to a sleep doctor. (I thought I was dying from an enlarged heart, explaining the racing heart I was having at night....little did I know...). I figured, since I was dying, what could a sleep doctor do for me?

Anyhow, I liked this cardiologist. He did everything himself. Even did the prep measurements some assistant always does (weight, blood pressure, etcl). He did it all, I was so impressed. And he took a lot of time with the test, and was nice with answering questions. I wished he was a GP.

Linda

snorklemouse · Post by **snorklemouse** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 2:17 am

I complained of constant fatigue, I would list "sleep" as a hobby, I dreaded Monday mornings (and still do) when coworkers would ask what I had done last weekend. When I would reply, "slept," they would laugh nervously, and I immediately redirected the focus on their weekend. Now, I reply, "restful" -meaning, I still sleep (but not as much) and I'm sensitive to the reality that people don't want to know that your life consists primarly of commuting to and from work, working, and sleeping. I would ask every new doctor to investigate my constant fatigue, and dutifully, they would order the standard tests - which invariably revealed nothing. I've been suicidally depressed on and off since I was nine - and who knows - this might also be connected to osa. I reached the point where, at 450 mg of Effexor, 200-400 mg of Provigil, and 36 - 54 mg of Concerta (did I mention the ADD?) and still struggling with fatigue and low mood, that I knew I had to refer myself. I expected a diagnosis of dsps, or plm, everything BUT apnea. I knew that I grind my teeth, thrash about, etc. But, I only snored when I have a cold, and (to my knowledge) breathed just fine. Nevermind kicking my spouse, throwing the covers on the floor, drooling all over the pillow, and feeling like I was crawling my way out of the grave every morning to get to work...still struggling with the right combo of pressure, mask and whether or not to go further with the surgical "suggestions" I recently received. And here I thought, all this time, that I was REALLY SKILLED when it came to sleeping. I feel cheated. So, I would weigh in with - longer than 15 years - and - as an "average weight, young female," as my former* psychiatriast claimed, "my symptoms didn't merit a sleep study."
*I fired his a$$.

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 4:20 am

snorklemouse wrote:I complained of constant fatigue, I would list "sleep" as a hobby, I dreaded Monday mornings (and still do) when coworkers would ask what I had done last weekend. When I would reply, "slept," they would laugh nervously, and I immediately redirected the focus on their weekend. Now, I reply, "restful" -meaning, I still sleep (but not as much) and I'm sensitive to the reality that people don't want to know that your life consists primarly of commuting to and from work, working, and sleeping. .... I've been suicidally depressed on and off since I was nine - and who knows - this might also be connected to osa. .... I feel cheated. So, I would weigh in with - longer than 15 years - and - as an "average weight, young female," as my former* psychiatriast claimed, "my symptoms didn't merit a sleep study."
*I fired his a$$.

Welcome to the forum!
Interesting story. Funny (also sad) about the "sleep as a hobby" thing. The "I feel cheated" seems to be a common feeling, and this is the reason I posed this poll. Granted it's not a lot of responses, but I did suspect that most people have had clear signs longer than five years, much longer. I feel that is no longer acceptable, given what is now widely known about OSA and its treatment.

You mentioned treatment, how long have you been on a cpap? How is it working for you? Are you still struggling? Have you found some relief? And is sleep not your "hobby" as much any more? Feel free to let us know.

You mentioned a lifetime of depression. One of our members here has been quite open in his description of his lifelong depression. Liam has become quite the writer. If you're interested, you might read his story about depression. I found it interesting. To read it, just click on his name Liam (shown in blue on these posts) to take you to his blog website. Then scroll all the way to the bottom (or use his index) for his story. I found it very interesting.

Take care.

Linda

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:44 am

moving the poll up the list

AlabamaAl · Post by **AlabamaAl** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 11:50 am

My ex wife noticed I would stop breathing in my sleep some thirty odd years ago. I have been thru several docs during that time, but most either did not keep up with the new information, or considered it "junk science", just a passing fad. I requested a sleep study from one doc, he told me "you have lived with it this long, you can live with it longer". Another told me they had never know a cpap to prolong anyone's life...

Here I am thirty years later, after two heart attacks, numerous angioplasties, Bypass surgery, developing an enlarged heart, erratic heartbeat, Type 2 diabeties, Copd, etc, etc. It takes my "new cardiologist", a younger doc a few years out of med school twisting my GP's arm to send me for a sleep study.

After my sleep study, the first words out of my sleep doc's mouth was " God must like you, you should by all rights have died in your sleep years ago. You have one of the worst results I have seen in fifteen years of practice." He also believes that the heart trouble etc, might have never come to fruition if my apnea had been diagnosed earlier..... NOW HE TELLS ME!!

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 12:29 pm

You just replied to a 9 yr old post which will never be responded to by the OPs... Some trolls have recently decided that resurrecting these antiques is fun (if not profitable) and are putting them out here, but we're trying to ignore them so they'll disappear quickly and leave room for current stuff... If you really want to talk about the issues, why not start a new thread and let this one go to troll heaven please.

AlabamaAl · Post by **AlabamaAl** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 12:32 pm

sorry, did not realize what was going on....

How long with symptoms before diagnosis?

How long did you exhibit clear symptoms before finally being diagnosed for sleep apnea?

just to clarify

As far back as I can remember...

Re: As far back as I can remember...

Re: How long with symptoms before diagnosis?

Re: How long with symptoms before diagnosis?

Re: How long with symptoms before diagnosis?

Mask