Hi!  I know my boyfriend has sleep apnea but he refuses to see a doctor or seek treatment.  He is not overweight so he does not have to lose weight.  Is there something we can try?  Please, ANY suggestions are appreciated.  Thank you!

sleeplessinseattle1 wrote:

Hi!  I know my boyfriend has sleep apnea but he refuses to see a doctor or seek treatment.  He is not overweight so he does not have to lose weight.  Is there something we can try?  Please, ANY suggestions are appreciated.  Thank you!

Hi,

You can't try anything until you know for certain that he has Sleep Apnoea. The only way to know for sure is a polysomnogram, an overnight sleep study. He will need a referral from his GP.

There are forms of limited home studies, but Sleep Apnoea is not something to play around with. It is a potentially life threatening disorder and he needs professional help.

The sleep study will either confirm he has the disorder, if not it will help push the eventual diagnosis in the right direction.

I am inclined to tell couples (where one has the disorder) that it is a joint thing. It will take two of you to deal with it, as he will need support (the type you are trying to give him), in return you get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped and that the therapy will get his life back to where it should be. Its a win win situation.

If he continues to refuse to play ball...........you may have to lay down a few ultimatums  

Kind regards,

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Thank you so much.  I will see what I can do!  :)

my doctor sent me home with a simple machine for one night that measures oxygen levels. it was simply like a bandaid on my finger. i took the machine back the next day. went to seattle to visit a cousin. the dr went nuts with my oxygen levels they wanted to send a bottle of oxy that very day. three days later i was home with a bottle and a oxy generator mach. my first sleep study confirmed all for me. 100 episodes an hour, oxy saturation levels of 40%. had my cpap machine within a week.  i was never much of a snorer but rather felt fatigue all the time, sleep
(actually a misnomer for me) 10 hours wake up stay busy 2 hours back to a nap and i still was tired.  this small sacrifice of one nights sleep saved my life. figured i had apnea for at least 10 years. multiply 100 episodes an hour times adrenilan shock to start my heart times 10 years and you start to take this very seriously. it saved my life.  energetic again, no naps and raring to go.  please talk seriously to the boyfriend and find out one way or the other.  dave

Sleepless in Seattle:

Perhaps your boyfriend maybe in denial about the issue? For me, I used to get angry and swear when people told me that I snored and did not sound or appear right when sleeping. It took chest pains to get me to see the light. Furthermore, cannot make anyone do anything. I say this on the basis of experiences from being in recovery on the level of a 12 Step Program. I used to drink all the time and people used to try to make me stop, they could not. I had to be sick and tired of being sick and tired. The most you can do is pray for him and sleep in another part of your house or apartment.

Hang in there!


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Heavy "C"

Heavy C 2002 wrote:

The most you can do is pray for him and sleep in another part of your house or apartment.
Hang in there!

I was similarly stubborn, but eventually, with the threat of separate beds, I had a study and got a machine several weeks later. It seems to be a terrible pain in the ___, but you very quickly realize what a difference it makes, not only in the way you feel during the day, but in the way your significant other feels, both due to better sleep. Not only that, but it's been good for my sex life!

You can PM me for a recommendation of a sleep study clinic if you have insurance. (sleeping much better in Federal Way!)

I can relate to your difficulties getting him to do this.  I was in a state of denial also.  My wife was complaining that I have had low energy.  I know that at the end of the week I would be dead tired.  

She dragged me kicking and screaming to the Doctor.  When he suggested the sleep study I nearly laughed (I didn't because my wife would have killed me    ).  I have Kaiser as my HMO, and they have an excellent program here in VA.  Before they have you do the study they give you an orientation lecture followed by a 1 on 1 meeting.  I found the sleep study to be pretty easy to do (I thought I could never fall asleep with all of the stuff they hook up to you).   Surprise! I found out that I had moderate OSA.  I did not expect this at all.

There is something comforting about knowing that there is a reason why you feel as bad as you do.  I n my case I was thinking that this was just what life is about -- being tired all the time.   If you explain to him that he could start feeling better, even good again perhaps he will follow through.  Try to get him to come to this forum.  It might help him to take the next step.