Treatment question

I am first going to the sleep specialist to be tested. If I have this, can it be caused by very bad allergies? I am afraid that I will have to wear a mask and I just got married. I am hoping maybe medicine and nasal spray might be an option.
Please advise. I am very nervous. I know it all depends on the severity but I have 4 pets and am always stuffed up. I hope this is causing it, but I could be wrong.
Thanks

What are your symptoms ?

Why the sleep study ?

No need to be nervous. If you can feel better, it's worth it.

snoring,low sex drive,chocking during sleep (possible post nasal drip) sweating sometimes during sleep, drooling, always tired. It is a chore to stay away past 9:30-10 ( even if I get 9 hrs sleep), hard to stay awake during lectures or meetings. Have dry mouth during night and day and wake up numerous times at night. I also have vivid dreams on a nightly basis
I thought it might be hormones at first and still waiting those results. But I am only 34. I went on serafin ( form of prozac) because I was moody and irratable. I heard that people are misdiagnosed sometimes with depression.
I hope I get to the bottom of this. The low sex drive was my first major concern being I am a newlywed. But I cant get in the mood after 8-9 pm

Maggie, when you go for a sleep study,IF your nose is so stuffy and stopped up that you can't breathe through it, be sure to tell them, "I am not able to breathe through my nose. If you put a mask on me, will you please be sure it's a full face mask?" Despite the name "full face", a full face mask does not cover your entire face. It will cover only your nose and mouth, so you can breathe easily through your mouth if need be.

I would be surprised if all of those symptoms are because of allergies. It is possible that not being able to breathe through your nose keeps you up at night, and could explain why your mouth is dry.

Your symptoms are classic for Sleep Apnea (Sorry). The good news is that it's treatable.

Some of your problems could be due to your medication. SSRI's are brutal drugs (my opinion only) that are sadly being handed out like candy. (See http://www.quitpaxil.info/ They have a very negative influence on one's sex drive. Many people quit because of this sexual side effect. If you feel you are truly clinically depressed, switching to another type may be better for you and improve your libido.

Many MD's consider insomnia and fatigue as symptoms of depression. Some statistics indicate that this is true in about 50% of cases. However, it's the old chicken and the egg routine. Is the depression causing the sleep problems or our my sleep problems causing the depression ?

Regrettably, antidepressants, in particular SSRI's suppress REM sleep and since it is not uncommon for someone to have the majority of apneatic episodes in REM, it is no wonder that many people feel they sleep better on an AD. Too bad it is only treating the symptom, not the cause.

Wearing a mask is not the end of the world. If CPAP therapy treats your
condition and your sex drive improves, I'm sure he won't mind you wearing a mask over your nose while you sleep !

Good luck and let us know how things go.

Regards

A trip to an allergist for testing will determine if and what you are allergic to. If you are allergic to your pets there are antigen treatments you can take, as well as having the dogs sleep somewhere besides your bedroom and vacuuming regularly to help remove the dog dander and bathing them about once a week. Most Dr.s will recommend getting rid of your pets, but this is not an option, as far as most are concerned but it is the simple "out".

I have allergies to several things and am completing my third round of antigen shots in 20 years. I have lots of dog since I'm a dog show exhibitor, breeder, and i am NOT allergic to dogs. We live on a gravel road so that creates a lot of dust, but I am not allergic to Dust or Molds, either. Everyone in this area is allergic to "cedar" pollen severely. 10 years here and I'm not, I'm allergic to Live Oaks, but I love them and none of them are coming down.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

It would seem logical to first get treated for the allergies before going for a sleep study. Breatheing thru a mask with a blocked nose just doesnt make sense during the study.. All the numbers will be skewed.

Cheers,

Chris

Janelle, what breed?

I was a breeder/exhibitor/handler for 30+ years - showing my own Rotties as well as handling dogs (Rotties and occasional other breeds) for people. Had no idea sleep apnea was what was making me so drowsy driving on those long weekend trips....whew. An absolute wonder I never had an accident. I pulled over to take a brief nap many a time. Retired from showing a couple of years ago - now staying happily at home with two Rotties, a cat, and a boarding/grooming business.

Pictures of me with my dogs are at:

http://www.tnlc.com/Lara/showdogs/

Are those SAS shoes you're wearing


Waverly

I have beagles, but was also a professional handler, all breeds for over 20 years, just retired from handling to become a judge last year. And Guest, those probably are SAS shoes, nearly all the dog show people wear them or orthopedic shoes. We all have bad feet, bad knees, bad backs!

And please do not judge dog show people by that idiotic portrayal on CSI-NY last night!!!!!!!

Hey Janelle,

Sounds like bad feet and apnea.

I didn't see CSI but I do crack up evertime I see that movie "Best in show"