Hi, I just typed this but it wouldn't post so I hope I don't end up with 2 posts!!

My son is nearly 14mths, he has a blood condition called autoimmune neutropenia (he has no white blood cells), reflux and milk protein intolerance.  he has always been a good sleeper until about 4mths ago.  Now sleep time involves 3-4hrs constant tossing and turning and then in between turning over about once every 2 minutes.  he has had tonsillitis 5 times since feb and I'm wondering now if he has obstructive sleep apnea.  I would really appreciate any help from people who have wondered this with their own children.

Symptoms I've noticed are, mouth breathing day and night, he doesn't snore but does gasp, sigh and yawn a lot in his sleep, he is irritable and tired during the day.  I have noticed what I think are pauses in his breath but have also read that some bubs do have pauses anyway.  The doc said he had enlarged tonsils but it may be because he's ill alot (cos of his condition)

He has been through so much already so I don't want to make a mountian out of a molehill.  I just know he can't carry on the way he is - and neither can I!

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

To add a few other things...he sleeps in very awkward and odd positions and I have videod him and compared him with a friend of mine's baby, DS does mover so much more over the course of the night..

Please any thoughts welcome.  I am taking him to the doc tomorrow.

It certainly sounds like a sleep study wouldn't be unwarranted. I wouldn't advocate surgery without one, especially with the risk of infection...

Let us know if you have more questions...I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner, but I was away from my home for 2 weeks without internet, otherwise I'd have gotten back with you much quicker...

How did your appointment go?

The doc couldn't find anything "obvious" wrong with him although she did say he had large tonsils.  She got the health visitor to speak with me and she suggested phoning the sleep clinic at southampton general hospital.

Long story short - he is going to be referred to the sleep clinic.  There is however a 12 - 18 wk wait and he's just getting worse!  I think he's in a bit of an very overtired cycle at the mo cos he's not doing naps properly either now.  I noticed him do a massive yawn in his sleep last night and he was definitely asleep - I could see his eyes!!

Thanks for the reply, it's nice to have someone else's opinion.  Are there any other things I can look for or would be a good idea to do in preparation?  I think they are initially going to put him on an ??oximeter?? overnight at home does this sound like a good first step?

Thanks for your help.

I would call the sleep center and see if you can get him put on a cancellation list. I was looking at 2 or 3 weeks and they got me in right away cause someone had canceled.
good luck,
-me

Hi, I'm a newbie to this forum.  I don't usually read the pediatric section, but I happened to tonight.  I can't add anything regarding apnea, but I did want to mention that I also have milk protein intolerance, as do both my grown children.

My mother didn't believe in "allergies" so I didn't find out until I was an adult.  When I was a child, I drank a good bit of whole milk as well as other dairy products, and experienced quite a bit of discomfort.  I can remember many times when I had "gas pains" that were bad enough to keep me from sleeping or other activities.

As I grew older, I learned that I can tolerate small amounts of dairy if I eat or drink it with other food in small meals.  My son at 24 still hasn't learned this lesson   and has a lot of difficulties with IBS type symptoms.  My daughter, on the other hand, has been vegan for the last 3 years, and reports that her gastrointestinal comfort is much improved.

However, my allergist told me that everyone's reaction to allergens is different.  For example, I don't test that high on cat dander in a scratch test, but in the "real world" I turn into an itchy, irritable mess.  I test relatively high on dog dander in a scratch test, but live with two dogs and have relatively few symptoms.

I'm also quite sensitive to a sheep protein and cannot eat lamb (even though I like it), wear wool next to my skin, or use lanolin-containing products.

Just something to consider along with other possible causes of sleep disturbances.


_________________
Marie
Newbie with Severe OSA
ResMed S8 Elite II CPAP with EPR and H4i humidifier
ResMed Mirage Quattro full face mask
Contec CMS 50-E Pulse Oximeter

Hi, thanks for the advice.  I definitely will see if he can get on a cancellation list.  With regard to the allergies, I completely hear what you are saying.  He's on a dairy free diet at the moment but I have wondered if it's "tummy" related...  I guess a sleep study would eliminate apnea ect first.  We are seeing his paed on friday but that is mainly to discuss his neutropenia and I'm not sure how much time he'll have to discuss other things.  I just feel so sorry for my son at the mo because of all of the restlessness he is now chronically overtired and can't sleep!! That goes for me too!  

A pulse oximeter is an easy thing to manage at home. Our son has had one for over a year now and we periodically use it for our daughter when we are suspicious of something.

I'd say a sleep study is a good and noninvasive (if not annoying) test to start with.  Call and ask if they have a cancellation list. The more flexible you are, the higher up the list they will often place you. I always tell them that I just need 4 hours notice, which is all the time it takes to pack a bag and arrange for my dh to meet me there so I'm not juggling two kids and get to the sleep lab.  The last time I called to schedule a sleep study, they booked it for 3 weeks out, which was fine. I reminded them of my last minute availability. They called me back an hour later to see if I could come that night.  Some places will require you to call every day or week to see if there are any cancellations (several of our doc's offices are this way).

Good luck. You might also find out if he is anemic. That can greatly affect sleep, especially restlessness during it.  If he sleeps better sitting up or in a moving vehicle, then figure out how to accomodate him as much as possible...