I'm trying to see if there is a link that ties Sleep Apnea sufferers together, and I hope to hear from other sufferers to see if we have some common link that might explain Sleep Apnea.

Is SA really a function of Aging? Or is it something else? Is it the shape of our necks? Is it environmental or related to some behavior? habit?


Can you explain why you think you have Sleep Apnea? You can include anything you wish to share.

For myself, I'm going to share things that I'm guessing might be a Link or Factor.

Here goes:I am 37, 234lbs, 5'9. Very Overweight. Have been for most of my life. Male. Non-Smoker, non-drinker. I have a broad beefy body, meaning thick neck, wide shoulders, barrel chested, etc. I tend to slouch over a lot. Bad Posture. I also have a pretty large tongue. Sometimes when I yawn, my right jaw gets dislocated and snaps back in. I also have a Sinusitis condition that creates frequent Nasal congestion. I'm a mouth-breather.  I did have some GERD symptoms ayear ago, and took Nexium for GERD.  I drink a lot of sodas, diet sodas / colas.  No diseases like Diabetes or anything.

You?


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5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm

a cousin also has it so there may be an inheritance factor


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respironics comfort gell mask,resmed S6 lightweight CPAP, pressure 10 no humidifier
NO DOCTOR EVER ASKED ME IF I SNORED

Well, some of my similarities to you are that my jaw gets dislocated and snaps back in also. I also have a Sinusitis condition that creates frequent Nasal congestion just like you as a matter of fact I just returned from the Dr. becasue I have what I thought to be a bad cold but it is Sinusitis!  But the reason for my sleep apnea is because while I am asleep my jaw goes in and my tongue goes back into my throat and closes off my air passage.  I stop breathing 60 times per minute.  My nephew, my brother and my cousin have the same type of apnea.  My ENT, Ontalorologist (sp?) doctor was the one who told me to get the sleep study; no other doctor could explain my exhaustion! Hope it helps.

There are certain anatomical characteristics that can be an indicator of a greater likelihood of sleep apnea.  Some examples are; thick necks (with or without obesity), a receding chin, and morbid obesity.

Quote:

I stop breathing 60 times per minute.

I suspect that is 60 times per hour.

I was an abuser to Afrin!   I had a lot of upper body muscle and my mouth is really itsy bitsy....does that help?...EX: could never bite into an apple, corn of the cob or burger.


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Yes, Bearded one, 60 times per hour, thank you for pointing that out.

Grateful! wrote:

Well, some of my similarities to you are that my jaw gets dislocated and snaps back in also. I also have a Sinusitis condition that creates frequent Nasal congestion just like you as a matter of fact I just returned from the Dr. becasue I have what I thought to be a bad cold but it is Sinusitis!  But the reason for my sleep apnea is because while I am asleep my jaw goes in and my tongue goes back into my throat and closes off my air passage.  I stop breathing 60 times per minute.  My nephew, my brother and my cousin have the same type of apnea.  My ENT, Ontalorologist (sp?) doctor was the one who told me to get the sleep study; no other doctor could explain my exhaustion! Hope it helps.

How did you know "your jaw goes in, and your tongue blocks your throat"? I wish my Sleep Study revealed what type of Obstructive Sleep Apnea I had, whether it's my big fat tongue falling backwards, or whether part of my Upper Throat sags.

If it's the case where the tongue falls backwards, it seems like an Oral device can cure that pretty easily.
If it's the Upper Throat sagging, then a CPAP would keep that open.

I still don't understand WHY I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Nobody has really explained to me the physical cause. It seems if I knew what exactly was causing my Obstruction, maybe I could have a clue on how to solve it?


_________________
5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm

My father was a famous snorer, usually keeping anyone else in the vicinity awake through the night, maybe that should be infamous snorer. I seem to have inherited certain physical characteristics from him and began to snore in a similar fashion some 20+ years ago. Over that time I have also gained some weight and am now slightly into the obese range of BMI. While the weight gain is not solely responsible for the snoring I think it added to the apnea problem. I have found losing the weight harder than quitting smoking which I have done several times & am now smoke free for 7 years.


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Machine: ResMed S8 Elite
Humidifier: HumidAire 3i

I am almost positive mine is from weight gain. I am only 29 and I never noticed any signs of sleep apnea until my weight went way up after having my kids and being on an antidepressant. I also had chronic ear infections this past winter, I got tubes last month! That seemed to help a lot too.


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Started CPAP 4/9/08, ResMed Mirage Quattro Full Face Mask, ResMed S8 Escape with heated humidifier, pressure at 10

My doctor told me I have had SA or I should say OSA since I was born; it is hereditary; my brother, nephew and cousin all have it too (all on CPAP).  My jaw receeds and my tongue goes back into my throat and suffocates me.   Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram. My sleep study revealed I had OSA.  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor.  I found this information on the web site so I could explain it easier.

Grateful! wrote:

Well, some of my similarities to you are that my jaw gets dislocated and snaps back in also. I also have a Sinusitis condition that creates frequent Nasal congestion just like you as a matter of fact I just returned from the Dr. becasue I have what I thought to be a bad cold but it is Sinusitis!  But the reason for my sleep apnea is because while I am asleep my jaw goes in and my tongue goes back into my throat and closes off my air passage.  I stop breathing 60 times per minute.  My nephew, my brother and my cousin have the same type of apnea.  My ENT, Ontalorologist (sp?) doctor was the one who told me to get the sleep study; no other doctor could explain my exhaustion! Hope it helps.

Grateful try sleeping on a massage table face down. You can even wear your sleep ap mask and pass the hose through the hole. Jaw going in and tongue going into your throat are a worry. Alternatively you could wear the sleep apnea mouth guard that will keep your jaw in place. I think Respironics use to market one.

Glad you are young and healthy right now but the weight is a worry and as you age hypertension and diabetes are on the cards as these are directly linked to sleep apnea.
Take care


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Cheers
Ram
http://www.vadclub.com

lynn321 wrote:

a cousin also has it so there may be an inheritance factor

Sleep apnea is common in families where people have small jaws that recede. My mother and maternal aunts also had this problem but no one knew anything about sleep apnea those days.
In fact a nose surgery had to be aborted for me as the anesthetist could not intubate me for general anaesthesia. I was asked to wear a bracelet to warn medicos in an emergency that I have a small jaw and serious problem with intubation. A year later my nose was operated by another surgeon and he had three anesthetists on standby and they still had problems knocking me out.

There are families with congenitally defective arteries that supply the brain, life very small vertebral arteries and this can cause central apneas even when the individual is slim and fit and does not snore.

I have a combination of both obstructive and central apnea, considering I have one blocked vertebral artery and still alive and kicking


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Ram
http://www.vadclub.com

Bearded One wrote:

Quote:

I stop breathing 60 times per minute.

I suspect that is 60 times per hour.

I agree 60 apneas a minute amounts to one every second !!
Each breath cycle consists of inhalation - pause exhalation and pause and takes on an average about three second which amounts to 20 breaths a minute


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Ram
http://www.vadclub.com

Mrs Rip Van Winkle wrote:

I was an abuser to Afrin!   I had a lot of upper body muscle and my mouth is really itsy bitsy....does that help?...EX: could never bite into an apple, corn of the cob or burger.

Funny me too with small jaw opening. I cannot take full bites of big fat bananas either have to take small bites and I take twice as long to eat my meals.

MRS RVW we are one of a kind are we not      


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Cheers
Ram
http://www.vadclub.com