I'm pretty sure I have sleep apnea. I've always known that I snore and I'm usually pretty tired during the day no matter how much sleep I get the night before. I have had times where I can barely stay awake during the day, but that was usually from only dedicating 4-5 hours of sleep a night. Over the last few years I have started waking up in the middle of the night with my life basically flashing before my eyes, dizziness, skin tingling, out of breath and heart racing. I really thought I was going to die 2 times in the last 2 months. I used to attribute this to an unhealthy lifestyle in general, although I don't smoke cigarettes and rarely drink, I'm not very active and don't have alot of energy. But now it seems to be the opposite, I'm in bad health because I'm not sleeping right.

Well, now I'm to the point where I'm scared to go to sleep. In fact if I try to go to bed routinely, I can't fall asleep! I seem to have the most energy when it's time to retire for the night! It seems that I stay up late in hopes of nodding off without worrying about it...I usually nod off 6 to 8 times (in front of my computer) before seeking the bed (at 5 a.m. or later and then I sleep all day). I'm becoming more and more irritable, lethargic, anxiety attacks, etc. I have been looking into mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, manic depression, etc. but reading about sleep apnea has struck a nerve. It seems to be more debilitating than all those other problems combined.

This has cost me years of my 'life', most of my sanity and all of my financial integrity. I do work, but worrying about finances isn't important to me anymore. I could care less because I feel like there is no end to this madness and I've basically given up.

I don't have insurance now, but the time I did and tried to see a psychiatrist, they were either not taking new patients, 4-6 weeks wait time, etc. That was very frustrating so I never received any medical attention. I had not considered sleep apnea as a potential problem because I've always been a bit 'off kilter' and I really believe I could have a chemical imbalance in addition to apnea. I would rather seek help for this problem first because of the physical impairments it could be causing me.

Now I'm faced with trying to find a sleep specialist and all these studies, treatment etc. It seems overwhelming and I sure don't know how I'm going to pay for it. What in the world can I do? My mother has been using what I think is a CPAP, but I don't recall specific converstations about sleep apnea, so maybe she can shed some light on this...I sure would appreciate any ideas from you as well.

Wish me luck and thanks for this forum! I will keep you posted.

P.S. take note of the time this was posted....

Guest wrote:

I'm pretty sure I have sleep apnea. I've always known that I snore and I'm usually pretty tired during the day no matter how much sleep I get the night before. I have had times where I can barely stay awake during the day, but that was usually from only dedicating 4-5 hours of sleep a night. Over the last few years I have started waking up in the middle of the night with my life basically flashing before my eyes, dizziness, skin tingling, out of breath and heart racing. I really thought I was going to die 2 times in the last 2 months. I used to attribute this to an unhealthy lifestyle in general, although I don't smoke cigarettes and rarely drink, I'm not very active and don't have alot of energy. But now it seems to be the opposite, I'm in bad health because I'm not sleeping right.

Well, now I'm to the point where I'm scared to go to sleep. In fact if I try to go to bed routinely, I can't fall asleep! I seem to have the most energy when it's time to retire for the night! It seems that I stay up late in hopes of nodding off without worrying about it...I usually nod off 6 to 8 times (in front of my computer) before seeking the bed (at 5 a.m. or later and then I sleep all day). I'm becoming more and more irritable, lethargic, anxiety attacks, etc. I have been looking into mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, manic depression, etc. but reading about sleep apnea has struck a nerve. It seems to be more debilitating than all those other problems combined.

This has cost me years of my 'life', most of my sanity and all of my financial integrity. I do work, but worrying about finances isn't important to me anymore. I could care less because I feel like there is no end to this madness and I've basically given up.

I don't have insurance now, but the time I did and tried to see a psychiatrist, they were either not taking new patients, 4-6 weeks wait time, etc. That was very frustrating so I never received any medical attention. I had not considered sleep apnea as a potential problem because I've always been a bit 'off kilter' and I really believe I could have a chemical imbalance in addition to apnea. I would rather seek help for this problem first because of the physical impairments it could be causing me.

Now I'm faced with trying to find a sleep specialist and all these studies, treatment etc. It seems overwhelming and I sure don't know how I'm going to pay for it. What in the world can I do? My mother has been using what I think is a CPAP, but I don't recall specific converstations about sleep apnea, so maybe she can shed some light on this...I sure would appreciate any ideas from you as well.

Wish me luck and thanks for this forum! I will keep you posted.

P.S. take note of the time this was posted....

Hi,

You obviously have a number of issues which need to be addressed, whether OSA or something else, or a number of disorders.

I suggest that your first port of call is to a really good GP and take it from there. Make sure to tell them everything.

Daniel.


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

(Anon)