Hi,

Ok, I need some clarification.  I have mild sleep apneas (7).  So this basically means that I am stopping breathing 7 times an hr, right?  Does this mean that I am waking each time or not?  Also how does the stopping breathing cause you to be so tired, miserable, etc, etc, the next day.  I don't wake up during the night but I don't feel like I don't reach a deep sleep and I wake up every morning with a headache, not refreshed, etc.  I am also waking up earlier and earlier, today was 4:20 and can't get back to sleep.  I guess I can't understand why I am so tired if I don't feel like I wake up between 9pm and 4:20am.  

An unusal thing happened to me last night and the night before.  Once I fell asleep watching tv and I woke up suddenly and told my husband that I felt like I had stopped breathing.  I don't know if I did or not.  It happened again this morning when I woke up.  Is that the apneas that are waking me up?  Does anyone else sleep the entire night without waking up and still feel terrible the next day?

Thanks!
Wendy

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Last edited by another_guest on Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:34 pm; edited 1 time in total

So A_G, the cat jumped on your chest and woke you up on the morning?  Wow, breakfast in bed!

Oh yeah, the things that disturb your sleep continuity are arousals, which last 3 to 15 seconds, and you are not aware of them, and awakenings, which last longer than 15 seconds and which you often are aware, at least at the time of occurence.

Wendy, in your sleep study, you had 20 awakenings and 27 arousals.  I see they have a category for arousals >15 seconds, that's technically not correct, but I'm just picky.  And 24 of the arousals are listed as spontaneous, so that leaves only 3 that came from respiratory events.  Which is also odd because hypopneas NEED either an arousal or a desat to be classified as such, so the technically the most hypopneas you could have would be 5.

Perhaps your situation would better be described as Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), especially if those long "hypopneas" had a flow limitation appearance.
sleepydave

A_G, thanks, I thought you didn't have to wake up because I don't think I do.  That's crazy that about the cat but I am not surprised.  

sleepydave, so what you are saying is that I may not have sleep apnea?  If I only have 5 then this is in the normal range, right?  So, from your knowledge, do you think I am awaking because of something else other than breathing?  If this is the case then a CPAP might not work.  Thanks, I making that clear from the results I posted.  

The DME is fitting me with the mask this afternoon and I am a little nervous.

I'll let you know how it all goes.

Wendy

Hi Wendy,

I think I can answer this one, but I'm sure Dave will correct it if I am wrong.  You might have an Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome  (UARS).  That is, some mild obstruction of your airway that causes arousals (and thus giving you garbage for sleep) but few true apneas.  Therefore a CPAP would still be benefical in opening your airway, decreasing your arousals and giving you better quality sleep.

No need to stress over your CPAP, we're here for quetions.

Vicki


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

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