For those out there who think they might have sleep apnea... set up a sleep study, NOW. For those out there who have been diagnosed with 'mild' sleep apnea, and aren't sure if they want to spend the money on a CPAP, see if you can get a 'loaner' to try out. It can still make a world of difference.
I have had all the classic symptoms of OSA for years, but just passed it off as being 'part of life'. Then my wife got concerned because I would stop breathing at night, and then wake up coughing and gasping. In the morning I'd hit the snooze 4 or 5 times, and get up after 8+ hours of 'sleep' feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.
About two months ago I went in for a 'split' sleep study -- and did terrible. I declined the sleep aid (bad idea), and had trouble getting comfortable with all the 'wiring', and didn't even get into REM sleep before the allotted cut-off time for the split study (at which point they would have hooked me up to a CPAP). I thought they would call me back for a second study, but instead they simply had me come in to get fitted for a CPAP -- I guess they saw some things during the rest of the night and wanted to treat them (like not breathing for 41 seconds) -- so I went in 10 days ago.
Since my diagnosis was mild, they gave me a loaner RemStar Auto w/ A-Flex, and a gel nasal mask. I was worried about not being able to sleep, since I didn't do well with things strapped to me in the sleep study... but I gave it a shot. I had heard that the first night could actually be worse than 'normal', but was pleasantly surprised when I awoke at 5:30 the next morning feeling completely rested -- something I can't recall feeling for at least 10+ years. I used the loaner for a week, and every morning I woke up before my alarm clock went off, and I felt rested. My wife also liked the results because I slept much quieter, even with the CPAP ramped up at full-bore.
Three days ago I went back in an got my very own RemStar Auto w/ humidifier, and a brand new gel mask. I slept pretty good the first night, but not as good as with the loaner. I adjusted the mask a little better the second night, and that helped considerably, and then last night I think I slept the best so far. My body is finally feeling caught up on sleep, and I don't feel run-down by 4:00 in the afternoon -- which makes life better for my wife and kids, too. I even went and bought my self a new night-stand yesterday afternoon (to lower the elevation of my CPAP), and came home and put it together immediately -- and then still had energy to do all the other normal stuff a father of young kids should be doing.
If I am seeing these kind of results from treating a 'mild' case, I can't imagine what it must be like for some of you with more extreme cases. And for those of you still on the bubble about your diagnosis or treatment -- don't hesitate any longer. Get it taken care of NOW.
PS: It's Saturday... and I was up at 5:45 this morning... because I felt rested and ready to get up and greet the day. Amazing.
You are right, many who have "mild" sleep apnea can have debilitating symptoms and benefit greatly from cpap treatment. The categories of mild, moderate and severe are relative guides, they don't always tell the whole story. Often the term is based on AHI or RDI alone and do not reflect such issues as symptoms, how long one is likely to have had the condition, oxygen levels, and like you, the length of the apneas. Someone with "mild" based on AHI can be far worse especially if the duration of the apneas is longer, as in your case. For example, someone can have an AHI of 10 with an average apnea-length of 15 seconds, while someone else with the same AHI might have average durations say of 30 seconds.
Congratulations, I'm so glad this has worked out for you. And if you don't have perfect days with your cpap, you know what to look out for. Good going. Celebrate!
Linda
Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:43 am
Mrs Rip Van Winkle
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Posts: 2291
Location: Nature Coast, Florida
YAYYYYYY!!!!!! THANK YOU for posting that! Many of those who have more 'severe' cases of SA started years ago with mild SA and was untreated..either through undiagnosed, mis diagnosed or ignorance (sorry, but can't think of a more polite term).
For those out there who think they might have sleep apnea... set up a sleep study, NOW. For those out there who have been diagnosed with 'mild' sleep apnea, and aren't sure if they want to spend the money on a CPAP, see if you can get a 'loaner' to try out. It can still make a world of difference.
I have had all the classic symptoms of OSA for years, but just passed it off as being 'part of life'. Then my wife got concerned because I would stop breathing at night, and then wake up coughing and gasping. In the morning I'd hit the snooze 4 or 5 times, and get up after 8+ hours of 'sleep' feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.
About two months ago I went in for a 'split' sleep study -- and did terrible. I declined the sleep aid (bad idea), and had trouble getting comfortable with all the 'wiring', and didn't even get into REM sleep before the allotted cut-off time for the split study (at which point they would have hooked me up to a CPAP). I thought they would call me back for a second study, but instead they simply had me come in to get fitted for a CPAP -- I guess they saw some things during the rest of the night and wanted to treat them (like not breathing for 41 seconds) -- so I went in 10 days ago.
Since my diagnosis was mild, they gave me a loaner RemStar Auto w/ A-Flex, and a gel nasal mask. I was worried about not being able to sleep, since I didn't do well with things strapped to me in the sleep study... but I gave it a shot. I had heard that the first night could actually be worse than 'normal', but was pleasantly surprised when I awoke at 5:30 the next morning feeling completely rested -- something I can't recall feeling for at least 10+ years. I used the loaner for a week, and every morning I woke up before my alarm clock went off, and I felt rested. My wife also liked the results because I slept much quieter, even with the CPAP ramped up at full-bore.
Three days ago I went back in an got my very own RemStar Auto w/ humidifier, and a brand new gel mask. I slept pretty good the first night, but not as good as with the loaner. I adjusted the mask a little better the second night, and that helped considerably, and then last night I think I slept the best so far. My body is finally feeling caught up on sleep, and I don't feel run-down by 4:00 in the afternoon -- which makes life better for my wife and kids, too. I even went and bought my self a new night-stand yesterday afternoon (to lower the elevation of my CPAP), and came home and put it together immediately -- and then still had energy to do all the other normal stuff a father of young kids should be doing.
If I am seeing these kind of results from treating a 'mild' case, I can't imagine what it must be like for some of you with more extreme cases. And for those of you still on the bubble about your diagnosis or treatment -- don't hesitate any longer. Get it taken care of NOW.
PS: It's Saturday... and I was up at 5:45 this morning... because I felt rested and ready to get up and greet the day. Amazing.
I believe if I had been treated with CPAP after having been diagnosed with mild OSA at Duke University sleep clinic in 2000, I very well might be living an entirely different, vastly better life now in 2008. Instead, I didnt get treated until summer 2007, seven years after the original mild OSA diagnosis. It wasnt until I got treated for OSA that I began experiencing real improvement.
Mild OSA needs to be nipped in the bud early, just like mild hypertension needs to be nipped in the bud early.
Fred
_________________ "We don't need socialized medicine, what we need is insurance reform."
Resmed S8 Autoset Vantage, HumidAire 3i, Resmed Quattro ffmask
I'm new to this and hope that you will have patience with me as I sometimes ramble, and say "dumb" stuff. I'd really appreciate any insight that you can provide.
Here is my history, (I apologize for the length).
I'm a 56 yr old female, living in Ohio. I have taken an anti-depressant since I was 12yr old. I have high cholestorol (300), borderline diabetic (no meds for it, just diet and exercise). Not really exercising, no energy to do it.
I do not smoke or drink or do any kind of recreational drugs. I have not had any kind of self distruct thoughts.
As long as I can remember, I have woke in the night with a gasp or with the feeling of falling and wake with a gasp. Never really put any stock in it, figured it was just something that was happening.
On 7/23/08, I woke at 2am with a gasp, sat up and had an urgent need to relieve my bowels. I realize that I was shaking like a leaf. I was able to stand with difficulty, and "staggered" to the bathroom. I "reeled" back to my bed, feeling nauseous, light headed, still shaking and feeling as though I would pass out any minute. I was afraid that I would pass out before I could dial my daughter's number, while I was waiting for her to answer, I noticed that my face on the left side felt numb. When my daughter answered, my words came out slurred and my ability to form thoughts, answers to her questions of what was wrong, was VERY difficult. I was able to say that something was wrong, and she said that she would be right over. She lives down the road from me, maybe 5 miles. I noticed that I was beginning to tingle in both arms and both legs. I had pain in the area of my right shoulder blade, that radiated up my back on the right side and up the back of my neck on the right side, just behind my ear. Also radiated around my right side just under my breast and also from my armpit area to my elbow. For some unimaginable reason, I had staggered out onto my front porch and sat down. When my daughter got there, she started to ask me questiions, of which I couldn't form any answer to. She said that most of the time, I just looked at her. She assisted me (with difficulty) to her car and we went to the ER. They were asking me all kinds of questions, and I was unable to reply with any kind of sanity. My daughter told them what had occurred and they took me back to a gerney (where I spent 13 hrs. BEFORE being admitted with the diagnosis of TIA). ANYWAY...., while laying on the gurney in the ER, my symptoms began (after about 1hr) to go away. After they had just about all subsided, I got a headache on the upper left side of my head just above my left ear. It wasn't a bad headache, just a headache. I told the ER nurse, and she gave me nitro (3 or 4 times). It helped a little, but didn't fully take it away. Then she gave me some tylenol. After about 5 of the 13 hours in the ER, the headache went away. Then comes the 13th hour, and they take me to my room. GOODY I'm there maybe 10 minutes and away they take me for an CAT scan. While they had me in the ER, they had run blood work, xray, EKG. The next day (7/24/08), they did an MRI. The neurologist came to see me and said that I had either had a TIA or a Migraine and TIA. His "help" for my condition, go home, make an appoiintment with my family doctor and if the symptoms happened again come to the ER. They did NOTHING for any of the "diagnosis" they had given. I went home and called my family doctor, but couldn't get in to see her until 7/28/08. My family doctor said that it appeared that I had had a TIA. She put me on crestor (for my cholestorol) and 81mg of aspirin daily to thin my blood.
On 7/31/08 at 11:30pm, I again woke with a gasp, my symptoms were the same as on 7/24/08, with the addition of left side of face from just under left eye felt saggy and numb. My hands felt bulky. Again my daughter came and took me to the ER, (same hospital as before), I know, DUMB I spent another 13hrs. (they must have had me on a timer, to only admit me after 13hrs), They finally admitted me, running all kinds of tests. I felt as though dracula had came to work on me. They ran another MRI and did a sonigram of my neck veins. The neurologist came in and said that it might be a TIA, or a migraine. That they were gonna keep me a few days and watch me and run some more tests. The only tests that they ran was more blood work, and had another "neurologist" come see me. After about 10 minutes, she said that it could be vitamin B12 problem, or maybe stress or maybe it was just "mental". She asked if I would see a Psychiatrist, I told her sure that I'd see anyone they wanted me to see if they could help find out what was wrong and help me. I told her that I really didn't think that this was mental, that I'd never had feeling of self harm. She went out and didn't come back. A psychiatrist NEVER appeared, and the first neurologist came in and said that their findings were possible, TIA, possible TIA/Migraine, possible hysteria induced, possible vitamin B12 problem, possible stress related, possible "MENTAL". Told me to go home, call my family doctor, continue with meds that my family doctor had given me, and if symptoms continued come back. Boy was my daughter **^%%*^%!. She said that she'd NEVER take me to those quacks again! God forbid it happened again. I was discharged on 8/4/08. Racking up those medical bills!!!!!!!!!!!
I couldn't get in to see my family doctor until 8/11/08. WELLLLLL..... on 8/10/08 at 2am, I woke with a start, the left side of my face was numb. I needed to go to the bathroom same as before, but was unable to stand. I reached for the phone and called my daughter. I had difficulty speaking, my mouth seemed paralized! My thought process was way out in loony land, but was able to say come quick to my daughter. When she got there, I was unable to stand, talked was VERY slurred, my shaking was horrible, my arms and legs just felt numb and tingly all over, my left arm was like a piece of meat hanging there. My daughter called the emergency squad and when they got there, she said that under NO circumstances was I to be taken to ****** hospital, that she wanted me to go to OSU Medical Center (it's a teaching hospital, for those not familiar with it), it is farther from my home (maybe 15 minutes on the freeway). The squad put me on the gurney, started an iv, ran ekg, pulse, bp and took me to the OSU ER. They were waiting on me to come in and right away took me back to a cubical and a neurologist came in immediately, order all kinds of tests and put me in a room. Everybody was all over me like a new skin!!!! The neurologist and about 15 of his students came into my room on the day they discharged me (8/12/08) and there was a discussion between all of them, my daughter and myself as to what they felt had occurred and what should be done. When they admitted me, they had put me on 100mg of neurontin, and the neurologist said that it may have to be increased, but that they would start me at that mg., it was discussed that I had complicated migraine, possible contributor of sleep apnea, with possibly a TIA, but that the tests came back as negative. Still possible TIA. They said that it would be a good idea to see a sleep apnea doctor and set an appointment for 8/25/08, and a follow-up with the neurologist on 9/11/08.
I was discharged on 8/12/08 at 9pm with a prescription for neurontin 100mg, and told to schedule an appointment with my family doctor in about 1-2 wks, go to the sleep center on 8/25/08 and see the neurologist on 9/11/08, and to start a journal and keep track of the occurrances during each day, so that I could share with my neurologist and my family doctor.
This time, my daughter had me go to her house and spend the night. She was tired and needed to get some rest, so I agreed and went to her house. At 2:00am on 8/13/08, I had another occurrance, this time it seemed like I was on my way to dying! My daughter and I sat on the side of the bed for about 15 minutes, waiting. Then she decided that they weren't gonna go away, so she got me in the car and drove to the OSU ER. The neurologist on call was one that I had seen, and he came in and started working with me. With this occurrance, my speech would come and go, the paralysis would come and go, the shaking would come and go, I had trouble swallowing, it felt like someone was choking me. After about 20 minutes in the ER, the symptoms were ALL gone and I was back to my old self! I didn't get a headache afterwards this time. On all of the occasions, I had gotten a headache. The neurologist said that the meds had stopped it. He said that they would keep me overnight and monitor me. I was released later in the afternoon. They upped my meds to 300mg twice a day, and told me to do the follow-up as they had said on the 12th.
Well, I went to the sleep clinic on 8/25/08, the tech that did it said that I had mild apnea and that I should look for a call for a second night. She said that my tests hadn't been scored yet, but that there were signs of mild apnea. On 9/3/08 I called the sleep center neurologist's office and asked when I would be seen for the second night of sleep, and the secretary said that since I only had mild apnea, it didn't call for a second night with the CPAP. I asked what I was suppose to do about it and she said that the doctor would talk to me about it on 9/9/08 at 1:15pm. I have no idea what my numbers were or anything. Guess I'll have to wait till Tuesday to find out what they "WON'T" be doing for me. Then I'll go to the neurologist on 9/11/08 and see what he has to say. Then to my family doctor on 9/12/08 to see when I can be released to go back to work. Oh I forgot to mention that I haven't been allowed to work since 7/23/08, and my company is lettiing people go right and left. I'm afraid that the axe will fall on my head and there isn't anything I can do. I've been racking up medical bills, that my insurance will only pay a portion of, the bills are starting to roll in for my part of the expense, worried about losing my job, my house, my car. Can we say loads of stress here!!!!!!!!!
Can you guys and girls PLEASE assist with questions and thoughts that I can have as information when I go to see the doctor on Tuesday!!!!Please I need help!!!
Thanks for listening to my LONGGGGGGG and rambling note. You are the greatest!
Janice, you might want to start a new thread , you'd get more responses. I'd suggest that you'd look for a neorologist who specializes in sleep disorders. Have you had an eeg? Garbratron is an anti-seizure med, but it is also given to treat migraines. I have a seizure disorder, the doctors tell me that sleep apnea does not cause seizures, but it can trigger one in people who have a low seizure threshhold. Do you know how low your oxygen desatted during your sleep study? How many apneas you had throughout the night? I'm a bit foggy at the moment, I'm sure others will come on board soon and give you some suggestions. Virginia
_________________ Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA
I get complicated migraines and have been worked up for TIA. Apnea, even my "mild" apnea, is a major trigger. I get them a lot less now that I use cpap. Hormones still trigger mine, but they are tons better. My AHI was only 7, but my o2 dropped to 88%, and my average apnea was 23 seconds, longest 53.
I went to the Diamond headache clinic in chicago for diagnosis and treatment.
My headaches and neuro symptoms were the first things to improve on cpap.
Thanks so much for the replies. I really appreciate it. I go back to the neurologist tomorrow to find out what my scores were. The secretary said that I ONLY have mild apnea, so I won't get a second night in the clinic. The tech that ran the test, told me after the test that I should be getting another call back. I guess the tech and the neurologist are on different pages.
Any advise or information or questions that I can take with me tomorrow would be greatly appreciated, if you could assist.
Thanks again and God bless.
Janice
Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:45 pm
Mrs Rip Van Winkle
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Posts: 2291
Location: Nature Coast, Florida
Janice...go ahead and start a new thread. You can Copy and Paste your first post in this thread... about a different topic into.... it if it will be easier for you. To start a new thread go the Sleep Apnea Help forum (which this thread is on) and click New Topic. You will get more answers and feedback.
Janice...go ahead and start a new thread. You can Copy and Paste your first post in this thread... about a different topic into.... it if it will be easier for you. To start a new thread go the Sleep Apnea Help forum (which this thread is on) and click New Topic. You will get more answers and feedback.
Thanks Mrs. Rip Wan Winkle - It's posted under Mild Apnea - Need Advise. Also I am looking at the weight loss sight.
Janice...go ahead and start a new thread. You can Copy and Paste your first post in this thread... about a different topic into.... it if it will be easier for you. To start a new thread go the Sleep Apnea Help forum (which this thread is on) and click New Topic. You will get more answers and feedback.
Thanks Mrs. Rip Wan Winkle - It's posted under Mild Apnea - Need Advise. Also I am looking at the weight loss sight.
Again thanks!
I apologize for the "W" instead of a "V", I hit send before I caught it
I have now gone two weeks with my CPAP, and things aren't quite as rosy as they were on Saturday... but the fix should be simple (I hope).
I felt great and had tons of energy on Saturday, felt OK on Sunday, and felt terrible Monday. I had a headache most of the day, and came home from work and needed to take a nap. I used my CPAP during the nap, and slept solid for close to an hour -- and felt much better when I woke up. Yesterday was a little better, but I still didn't feel as good as I had last week. Last night I made a discovery as to what might be happening -- I awoke at one point with my mouth hanging wide open... which obviously isn't a good thing with a nasal mask.
My first thought was a full-face mask, but after looking at the cost, and searching this forum for ideas, I have decided to try a chin-strap. Hopefully that will get me back on the right track...
Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:44 pm
Mrs Rip Van Winkle
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Posts: 2291
Location: Nature Coast, Florida
I heard the Tiara Ruby or something like that is a good chin strap. Like masks, they are trial and error. Until then, tape your mouth using a Paper Medical Tape.."Ouchless" on the label...I think Johnson and Johnson makes one. Only about 3 bucks to see if that is your problem.
After doing some experimenting with my wife's bathrobe ties, I determined which orientation seemed to hold my mouth closed the best, and I order a Respironics 'Premium' chin strap -- which arrived on Friday. That evening before bed, I put on both the mask and the chin strap, and looked the mirror and wondered how I was possibly going to be able to sleep with all the stuff strapped to my head/face -- but I slept... soundly.
Before the chinstrap, my 7-day average leak rate was 31.5 lpm. After just one night with the chin strap, my 7-day average dropped to 29.5 lpm -- after the second night it was down to 28.6, and I forgot to check this morning. I haven't taken the time to do the math on this, but if one night can make a 7% drop in the 7-day leak rate, I'd say it was a fairly significant difference.
The biggest difference is not in the numbers, of course, but in how I actually sleep. I can now fall asleep fairly quickly (compared to pre-CPAP), and I sleep like a baby for about 4-5 hours, get up to use the loo, and then return to bed and sleep soundly until I wake up in the morning feeling rested. If I manage to sleep until my alarm goes off, I shut it off and jump in the shower right away. Before CPAP, I'd hit the snooze so many times that I didn't have time in the morning to shower or shave -- and I wouldn't have the energy or the awareness to take care of those things even if I had time. I didn't really have energy in the afternoon or evening either, but I had the time... so I'd take care of it then... except the shaving part. I always had a scruffy face before CPAP, because I never had the energy to shave!
Before CPAP, the main priority in the morning was coffee -- and strong, french-pressed coffee at that. I could not get by without it -- unless I wanted experience the OSA haze all day, instead of just in the afternoons. Now I feel like I could quit coffee altogether... which may be the next step in my treatment.
PS- Thank you all for your comments and advice. I feel like I've learned a ton of good information just reading through the threads on this forum, and I will definitely continue to use the search feature if any questions pop up, and then ask questions if I can't find the answers via that method. Great forum.
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