Hello

I'm 19 years old and have been snoring for as long as I can remember. After a year of driving my college roomates insane I went to the doctor. Within 10 minutes with my primary doctor he was writing me a referall for a sleep study. I was born with a very small mouth, pallate and a short neck. A bad combination so I am told. Last night I had my sleep study and it was an experience to say the least. The techie couldnt give me much of an answer but he said that there was no doubt I had sleep apnea but to what degree I still do not know. I have a visit with the sleep specialist in a few weeks so I'll be on edge until then. I worry about my heart because I know the complications apnea causes but I also had a childhood stroke and while its a million in one chance that I'd stroke out again I dont want anything to put me in harms way I guess. Anyway after that long shpeel I just wanted to know if anyone here has had obstructive sleep apnea and had surgery (tonsils etc.) taken out or are you all using c-pap machines? My father had sleep apnea terribly and about 5 years ago my mother finally forced him to go to the doctor. He know using the machine (just nose mask) and its worked wonders for him. I would really like to have the surgery, I am only 19 and I admit it, I'd feel so weird wearing it. I know I sound vain but I'm just a young girl, if I was married and everything I wouldnt care but I could just picture having friends walk in my dorm and see me sleeping away with this "moon mask" as my father refers to it on. Dramatic I now......anyway any help, comments,flames(be nice?) are welcome.

-Kristina

Kristina-
I truly have great sympathy for your situation, but at this point, I wouldn't be seeking any solutions, because you don't really know what the problem is.  And I have to say that personally, I think it's professionally inappropriate for a technician to give an incomplete, unsubstantiated diagnosis like that to a patient like yourself, who must now sit in the dark and worry for a month about how good or bad the situation is.  This should make us all aware of the effect saying something like that can have on a person, especially a young lady as yourself, and be a heckuva lot more considerate.  I believe that most sleep labs are not like that, and perhaps a call to your doctor might result in a preliminary report to help ease your mind somewhat.  Especially if you mention that the technician already told you that you had sleep apnea, and then voice your concerns as you have done here, I've got a pretty good feeling he doesn't condone that either.  Once you get a little more info, get back and we'll try to offer as many suggestions as we can if the answers you get seem a little lacking.  Write back.
sleepydave

Well I've just about lost it. I went for my follow up with my doctor to talk about my sleep study. He said I had 23% of heavy sleep which is great but he said I only had 13% of REM 4 Sleep, bad I guess. He also informed me that I have a severe problem because my throat is compromised by a small lower jaw, a large tounge and a small airway. I asked about removing my tonsils and he said not to becausee I could get scar tissue and end up worse. All this I get. Then he told me I needed to lose weight. I expected he'd tell me to lose maybe 20-30 tops. Oh no he tells me I am obese, not morbidly obese but that at 5'3 I should be at 115lbs not 180. Now I get his thinking but to look at numbers and to look at me is 2 different things. I dont look fat. I dont have is "stored" all in one place I guess. Well I spent the last hour of the 90 minute session fighting back tears(I didnt win) He told me to sign up for weight watchers. I'm still crying now. I know its right to do but I mean he was on the brink of saying I was fat. And i'm sure the only thing that stopped him was my mother who is a little heavy sitting next to him.

I'm just sad is all. But I wanted to update you all.

Say, what was the word on the apnea though?  Will you need the CPAP?  Was weight loss the alternative to CPAP?  REM might be a little low, but you have to put that in context.  If you can get more info, perhaps we can toss in a few things.  Write back.
sleepydave

I'm going to be loaned a regular cpap machine but he told me that I should buy a smart cpap machine but that insurance doesnt cover it. It's 1300 dollars that I dont have. I'm sure he knows what he's talking about but I guess some doctors need to re-examine their attitude. I may be just a patient to him but I am also a 19 year old girl who spent hours crying over his words. I am not an emotional person and I want to be healthy and get my apnea under control but he just made me feel worse rather than effectively trying to help me.

Hi Kristina,
Hang in there !  I may be much older then you are, but my doctors words sent me crying too.  I think some just don't realize how their words affect others.  That said....I'm sure once your friends know why you're using that crazy looking thing (CPAP) they'll understand and be very supportive of you.  Who knows, you might be the life of the party with everyone wanting to know all about it.  You have a long life to live yet and you want to be sure its a healthy one.  You're doing the right thing!  And be sure to stick around this forum.  There is so much support here for you.
Linda (roseinpa57)

Hi Kristina:
Yeah, I agree that it sounds like the explanations are poor, or even non-existent.  Can you get your sleep study reports, the complete ones?  Maybe we can offer some guidance there.  Especially since I'm somewhat suspicious about going straight to the AutoCPAP.  There are specific reasons for going about it that way, but if you gotta shell out $1300, you should have a right to know why.  Regular CPAP can be fine in most cases, and perhaps it should be your choice if the propective benefits are really worth that much or even if they are necessary.  And sometimes people get put on AutoCPAP if their titrations are inadequate, and that's really not a good reason to use that therapy.  We should get a clue from the study results, though.
We do a little bit on weight control and metabolic testing, if you want to talk about that at some point, when you're ready.
Stay in touch.
sleepydave



Last edited by sleepydave on Sat Oct 15, 2005 8:06 am; edited 1 time in total

Kristina,

Hey I am a 22 yr old female and I too have OSA. Your post hit home about not wanting to wear the mask and worried about your roommates and all, not to mention I can relate about the weight issue as well...

I had a lot of problem adjusting to CPAP, not to the mask and pressure of cpap, but the simple fact of having to wear it and other ppl seeing me. At the time I started CPAP, I stayed at my bf's house just about every night. We have since split up and sometimes it makes me wonder if that had anything to do with it. I have had a hard time wanting to date or things liek that due to this. A couple of my friends are EMTs or EMS and udnerstand what it is, and those who don't really understand it think it is strange I explain to them like this, either i can wear it and feel better, or I can die, not that I will but when it comes down to it and reality it can kill you and in letting ppl know the reality of it maybe makes them in my opinion understand just how serious this is. I remember asking my doc when she called me with my sleep study results and was like so how serious is it really she was like well think about it if you arent breathing then you can die. Simple as that...Made me wake up really quick...

As far as the weight issue, I am also 5'3 and well I weigh a bit more than you. My doc was sooo nice the first two times i saw her then I go back after having been on CPAP and well before I could get in her office while we are walking down the hallway mind you she starts in on me about my weight and I lost it I was crying in the hallway! This guy maybe a few yrs older than me was in the hallway and gave me the biggest sympathy look like I can't believe she just said that! I felt horrible! Everyone in my family is big not that that is an excuse but in all honesty I really feel it contributes a bit. We don't eat all that bad, yes, I could diff exercise more, I also have a lot of other medical probs including asthma which at times that in itsself makes exercising difficult...

I just want you to know that you aren't alone in this. I sure thought I was at first. I usually post on a different group of boards for OSA and there is only one person close to my age on those boards so when I was browsing on this and saw your post I had to sign up to respond. I do believe my email addy is on my profile if you ever needed someone to talk to ok :) Good Luck!

~ Heather ~