Hello,

I know I should go to the doctor and I do have an appointent but thought I would try and get some feed back here.

My problem is this.  When I am going to sleep at night right before I fall asleep I will catch myself not breathing and some times I will wake up gasping.  I say wake up but I haven't actually fell completley asleep.  I will do this for an hour or two at a time until I finally fall into a deep sleep.  Once I am actually asleep as far as I know I dont have any issues the remainder of the night.  It is only just as I am starting to fall asleep.  Is this apnea or something else?

Thankyou

Glen

What you have described are classic sleep apnea symptoms.  Your doctor should give you some blood tests to rule out other causes, but a sleep study is probably in your future.

Bearded One wrote:

What you have described are classic sleep apnea symptoms.  Your doctor should give you some blood tests to rule out other causes, but a sleep study is probably in your future.

Thank you for your response.  I have had blood work done.  And I was shocked to find out my cholesterol and sugar were not high.  Especially with my obeisity.  My doctor had ran a full blood panel.  This was before I discussed the sleep issues.  Are there other blood tests that need to be done.

The most importantant blood test for sleep apnea screening is a thyroid test because hypothyroidism can cause many of the same symptoms of sleep apnea.  Many sleep labs won't do a sleep study unless a thyroid test has been done.

Bearded One wrote:

The most importantant blood test for sleep apnea screening is a thyroid test because hypothyroidism can cause many of the same symptoms of sleep apnea.  Many sleep labs won't do a sleep study unless a thyroid test has been done.

Ok yes my thyroid was a little out of kilter.  He put me on medication for it.  But it had no affect except it made me eat more....lol