so what was you wierd not listed symptom?

Papoose,

That is good to hear. It just goes to show how much better the body can function and heal itself when you are sleeping properly. So many people underrate the importance of sleep. They don't realize just how critical it is. I'm glad to hear they didn't drop the ball and thoroughly investigated these symptoms.

Jen

papoose- sorry to hear about your dad and his brother. My dad also died from (recurrence of) esophageal cancer a little over 3 years ago now. His home doctor never sent him for an endoscopy or GI referral even once. Sad to know that it can be prevented, or at least detected, very early, even before it becomes cancerous. Hopefully the CPAP continues to help you... I've also read that lack of magnesium can also cause muscle problems, worth checking into if it's not gone completely.

Moby - yes I had the same thing too, I totally forgot about it. Pins and needles feelings in my toes, sometimes the entire sole of my feet, and if really bad then my hands and fingers as well. Haven't had that in a while!

Echo - What a perfect handle! This will sound like an echo (or perhaps Penelope on SNL)...

My dad died a little more than 3 years ago, too. And doctors never looked inside until it was too late. They gave him 6 months and he died to the day.

It seemed crazy to my doctors that my esophageal spasms worsened during these months, and got so bad that I lost 30 pounds. It was at this time that all the usual tests were run, starting with a magnesium check, upper GI, H pylori, etc., etc.

Nothing was found, although my doctor now concedes that I could have had spasms in the longitudinal muscles of the esophagus (not detectable with manometry or other tests). When none of the usual things were found, my doctor diagnosed me with "somataform disorder," essentially an emotional, or mental, problem. (In other words, I was doing this to myself, and wasn't it crazy that this should be happening when my dad is dying of esophageal cancer?) So all my other symptoms were discounted or ignored.

After my long-awaited OSA diagnosis, my doctor linked all my other symptoms to sleep disordered breathing, but said he wasn't sure about this esophageal thing. He said he never came across it in the literature. But I'm convinced it had to do with lack of sleep. I was my dad's primary caretaker during those six months when he chose to die at home. And I was getting even less sleep than was normal for me. And after my CPAP therapy began, I stopped having those sporadic esophageal cramps.

Hi papoose, sorry for the late reply, I'm still trying to catch up on old mails and posts.

I never heard of esphageal spasms, but I can totally understand what you went through at the time. I also got very very sick after he passed away (I instead gained weight ), and that's what started me on the road to figuring out OSA, among other things. I had the exactly same response from my doctor: I went to him with all my symptoms, also lots of bloodwork and everything prettu much normal- I came out of there with a prescription for Prozac, which I refused - I INSISTED that I had something physical wrong with me, I knew it and I could feel it. But he gave me some blah balh about my dad. Bloody idiot made me sooooo mad I came out of their bawling. It took me a couple of doctors and only 3 years after that to get diagnosed... OSA therapy has helped me with a lot of my symptoms too.

My mother spent the better part of two months last summer suffering from esophogeal spasms that mimicked heart attacks. (Extremely high blood pressure, unable to breathe, etc.) Doctors ran every test they could run (heart and stomach) and ended up telling me and my sister that she was lonely and wanted attention!!!!!
The culprit for her turned out to be a once monthly intravenious dose of Boniva.
BAD STUFF!

Yeah,

Another tale of a hysterical woman bringing on her own symptoms just because the doctors couldn't figure it out. That is pathetic. Doctors should be taught in medical school to say simply, "I don't know." Instead of blaming it on the poor sufferer. I have heard these stories so many times in my own family and even my own doctors have occasionally treated me like my problems were psychological in nature just because they were mystified. That should be grounds for dismissal! Far better to just admit you don't know than blame the patient.

Jen

I now know there's a name for it (nocturia?) , but my favorite "unusual" symprom that disappeared was no longer getting up at night to tinkle!!! I also discovered that a good night's sleep works wonders on the libido.

Who'da thunk it?

Cheers

Robbie wrote:I now know there's a name for it (nocturia?) , but my favorite "unusual" symprom that disappeared was no longer getting up at night to tinkle!!! I also discovered that a good night's sleep works wonders on the libido.

Who'da thunk it?

Cheers

Hey, watch it there with that stick mister!