My husband is 34, normal weight, and was just diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. He has obstructive sleep apnea, but he also holds his breath (up to a minute at a time during his sleep test). During his sleep study they had to wake him up and put him on oxygen. The doctor and sleep study specialists all told him he's commiting suicide every time he goes to sleep, and that it will be a miracle if he doesn't have lung or heart damage. After scaring us both to death, they scheduled the follow up sleep study three weeks later. After a scary incident at night, my husband turned his sleep results into a cardiologist, who got him in to his follow up sleep study within a day. But now, it will be another week before the machine is ready. Two days ago, I thought he was having a heart attack in his sleep. Whenever he rolls on his back, he starts to twitch, and make the scariest noise. I've listened to him snore for seven years, and this is something totally different. He actually stopped snoring in the last month. I'm watching him constantly, but I wake him up all night long, and he's hallucinating, he's got a constant headache, his face is swollen and eyes very glossy. He said he's having problems seeing when he wakes up. We called the sleep study place and they say they can't rush it anymore. When do I take him to the hospital? I'm afraid I'll get him there and he'll be better because he's awake and breathing and they'll just send us home.

abbynormal26 wrote:

My husband is 34, normal weight, and was just diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. He has obstructive sleep apnea, but he also holds his breath (up to a minute at a time during his sleep test). During his sleep study they had to wake him up and put him on oxygen. The doctor and sleep study specialists all told him he's commiting suicide every time he goes to sleep, and that it will be a miracle if he doesn't have lung or heart damage. After scaring us both to death, they scheduled the follow up sleep study three weeks later. After a scary incident at night, my husband turned his sleep results into a cardiologist, who got him in to his follow up sleep study within a day. But now, it will be another week before the machine is ready. Two days ago, I thought he was having a heart attack in his sleep. Whenever he rolls on his back, he starts to twitch, and make the scariest noise. I've listened to him snore for seven years, and this is something totally different. He actually stopped snoring in the last month. I'm watching him constantly, but I wake him up all night long, and he's hallucinating, he's got a constant headache, his face is swollen and eyes very glossy. He said he's having problems seeing when he wakes up. We called the sleep study place and they say they can't rush it anymore. When do I take him to the hospital? I'm afraid I'll get him there and he'll be better because he's awake and breathing and they'll just send us home.

They will send him home if this is solely caused by sleep apnea. But im sure that they will run a boatload of expensive tests first to rule out other possibilities.

Have him sleep upright (in a recliner) until the machine comes. But if I were you, I would call and get the machine rushed. A local DME that works with our lab can get machines to patients in 72 hours, so this 2 week time table that you were given is a bit on the long side.

Hi Abby and Welcome,

abbynormal26 wrote:

He has obstructive sleep apnea, but he also holds his breath (up to a minute at a time during his sleep test).

The word is not "but".  When his throat is obstructed, he is not intentionally holding his breath, he is continuing to try to breath in and can't, it just looks like he is holding his breath.  The twitching is usually the body exerting the effort to get a breath in.  Exactly as you would be twitching if someone was holding a pillow over your face.

abbynormal26 wrote:

I'm watching him constantly, but I wake him up all night long, and he's hallucinating, he's got a constant headache, his face is swollen and eyes very glossy. He said he's having problems seeing when he wakes up.

Sounds like the standard effects of apnea induced hypoxia.  Lack of oxygen to the brain causes common "apnea headaches".  Many of us have apnea nightmares.  If you are suffocating your brain has to process it somehow and many of us have nightmares.

abbynormal26 wrote:

He actually stopped snoring in the last month.

You don't have to snore to be having apneas, don't judge by that.

abbynormal26 wrote:

We called the sleep study place and they say they can't rush it anymore. When do I take him to the hospital? I'm afraid I'll get him there and he'll be better because he's awake and breathing and they'll just send us home.

Call the lab and tell them that he is very sick, can't see when he wakes up, can't work, etc.  The scariest and worst symptoms he is having.  Then tell them that because they know he has OSA, if something bad happens to him, they will be responsible for withholding medical treatment because they are refusing to treat him.  Tell them you want him there as soon as possible and to put him on the cancellation list.  This tact worked great for some here last week who got in right away.

In the meantime, for many people, apneas are worse on their back because that is the greatest pull of gravity, so until his is treated, have him sleep propped up on pillows or many people use a recliner.

Keep us posted!!

Vicki


_________________
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.