I don't know.

I began to suspect that I may have apnea after a friend was recently diagnosed.  I've been reading up on it a bit over the last few weeks, and some of what I read rings too true, but it looks like I have plenty of reasons for doubt.

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In support:
I've heard plenty of comments about my snoring.  My parents both snore regularly as well.  
I have had years of difficulty coming awake -- to the point of failing classes or getting in trouble at work -- and I've only woke up feeling refreshed after sleep a few times for as long as I can remember.  If I have a week off, I'll sleep 12 hrs a night every day of it.  
I have major difficulties concentrating and finding energy to accomplish things (I was evaluated as off-the-chart inattentive ADD).  
Apparently I have a large neck (I read > 16" is large, and I measure in at 17").

Reasons for doubt:
I'm 22 years old, average weight.
I'm tired during the day, but no more than the folks I go to school with (sleep-dep is a way of life here, but I've been sleeping around 8 hrs/night and still have troubles).  I manage to "power through" the day, and infrequently find myself dozing off.
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Out of curiosity (despair?) I set up a microphone next to my face and recorded myself sleep for a night.  Unscientific as this was, I did observe my sleep as disrupted 2-4 times an hour.  Sometimes it was preceded by shallow or inaudible breath (10-15 seconds in length), sometimes I heard myself attempting to swallow while my breathing, as far as I can tell, altogether stopped.  Each of these disturbances was usually followed by a rustling and a gasping breath.

So I know I should see a doctor, but I get my coverage through the military hospital and getting an appointment is very difficult and hard to work out with my school schedule.  And, I've found, getting through the referral process demands I know exactly what I want before I show up or I get turned away and told nothing is wrong.

Does this sound like OSA (in particular the swallowing thing)?  Does it sound like something else?  Are there any other factors that might confirm or deny my suspicions?

Any help or knowledge is greatly appreciated.

Hi Robert,

I'm afraid your reasons to doubt are not valid.  It is a common misconception that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) only happens to middle aged, overweight people.  We have had several people posting recently in their early 20s and a lot of OSA patient are average or even thin.  It is the internal part of your neck that causes it.  Weight can exacerbate it.

Most of us have "powered through" jobs and school until we either couldn't do it anymore or were properly diagnosed.  Most of us blamed our fatigue on other things.  In the links to the left of the forum titles, take the Snore Score test.  I bet you score fairly high.  The only way to confirm your suspicions is to see a sleep doc.  You don't want to mess around with OSA.  It not only makes you feel worse than garbage, it increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.  Best to get an appt. set up now if it will take awhile to get in.  No harm done and you can always cancel it.

Keep us posted on what you do!

Vicki


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