angelface25
06-28-2004, 05:13 PM
I've been experiencing night sweats for a while now, but for the past month i've had them everyday except when i have a couple of drinks before i go to bed. I sleep next to an a.c so...i know i'm not hot! I take my temp when i wake up sweating, so i'm guessing i'm not sick. I've read that night sweats is a symptom of sleep apnea, so is it possible i have it? my boyfriend says i've been snoring a lot lately....and one night while he was up..he said i did a weird snore and kinda jerked in my sleep. could that be apnea?
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KimRick
07-01-2004, 11:50 AM
My boyfriend was just diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea the other day! The doctor told him that he would have to have surgery to remove his tonsils, cut something else down and completely remove something else in his throat, which could alter his voice OR he could wear a mask at night over his mouth and nose that continuously dispenses oxygen into his nostrils. :eek: I have read up on this and sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which a person stops breathing long enough to decrease the amount of oxygen in the blood and brain and to increase the amount of carbon dioxide. Symptoms include snoring associated with episodes of gasping, pauses in breathing and episodes of sudden awakening. The part that I don't understand is that he doesn't have any of those symptoms!
Belle2003
07-02-2004, 04:03 AM
I agree with the person who posted above. My husband has sleep apnea and so does two of his co-workers. One had it more severe and had a major operation. He had his jaw broken and reset. He had the uvula, tonsils and part of his throat lining removed. It was very painful and took months to heal. When he went back to the sleep clinic to be tested he still had the sleep apnea just as bad. He was very angry that he went through all of that for nothing. Now he is using the CPAP machine.
The other co-worker swears by the CPAP machine. I just wish I could get my husband to use his machine.
The other co-worker swears by the CPAP machine. I just wish I could get my husband to use his machine.
crabbyroad
07-02-2004, 09:23 AM
My brother has sleep apnea as well, went thru all the same operation as Belle's husband in above post, and still has it, full force, didnt decrease the episodes at all.
mrsilva
07-08-2004, 06:44 PM
CPAP machines are in fact almost 100% effective at treating sleep apnea, but its not a cure. Once you stop using CPAP, your problem is still there.
Sleep apnea surgeries, in varying degrees, are not cures either, but in many cases, these treatments can fix problems that cause apnea. I underwent surgery four years ago for apena. Removed my uvula, took out the tonsils and adenoids, fixed a deviated septum, and trimmed my soft palate. Before surgery, I had over 300 apneas a night according to my sleep studies.
Today, after the surgery and a lot of weight loss, I still snore somewhat regularly, but its not anywhere near as bad as before and according to my last sleep study about 6 months ago, I have fewer than 20 apneas a night and it is unlikely to get worse.
The point is, you must talk to a doctor and get a sleep study done. Then you have to see how bad your apnea is. My case was more severe than many. Mild cases may not warrant surgery, but you won't know for sure until you speak to a doctor and get a sleep study done.
Sleep apnea surgeries, in varying degrees, are not cures either, but in many cases, these treatments can fix problems that cause apnea. I underwent surgery four years ago for apena. Removed my uvula, took out the tonsils and adenoids, fixed a deviated septum, and trimmed my soft palate. Before surgery, I had over 300 apneas a night according to my sleep studies.
Today, after the surgery and a lot of weight loss, I still snore somewhat regularly, but its not anywhere near as bad as before and according to my last sleep study about 6 months ago, I have fewer than 20 apneas a night and it is unlikely to get worse.
The point is, you must talk to a doctor and get a sleep study done. Then you have to see how bad your apnea is. My case was more severe than many. Mild cases may not warrant surgery, but you won't know for sure until you speak to a doctor and get a sleep study done.
jennaw
07-17-2004, 06:10 PM
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It is an oxygen mask worn at night for people with sleep apnea. My husband was diagnosed a couple of months ago and perscribed the CPAP. To be diagnosed, you have to participate in a "sleep study" where you go to a place to sleep and they hook you up to electrodes to measure your level of sleep apnea. The CPAP is set according to the level of apnea so it dispenses just enough air. My husbands CPAP work WONDERS when he actually wears it. He starts with it on everynight but takes it off sometimes throughout the night without even knowing it. When he does where it, he doesn't snore/choke and he isn't restless. Before the CPAP, it almost seemed like he was choking and I was worried he was going to pass out everynight! He constantly moved his legs as well. I think the CPAP works, I just wish he could keep it on all night.
swhitey
07-20-2004, 08:19 AM
I've had sleep apnea for 20 years and have been on a Bi-Pap machine for almost 10. The Bi-pap machine is much different from the Cpap. The Bi-pap forces the pressure in much like the cpap but it is set at a lower pressure on the exhale. Thus you don't have the same forceful pressure constantly...makes a big difference in sleeping! I would suggest you try this over a cpap. All you have to do is tell your Doctor that you can't handle the cpap and ask him for a bipap (they cost much more). Insurance won't give you a bi-pap until you've "tried" the cpap.
I also looked into the surgery. Here's the skinny... the surgery MAY result in a 50% reduction in the number of sleep apnea episodes you have in a given hour. I have 58 episodes an hour so if the surgery worked I could get down to having only 29 episodes (non breathing) an hour. This would do me no good as anything over 20 episodes per hour means you need a breathing machine. So remember it is really the amount of episodes an hour that is important. And of course it may not work at all.
I use the Adams mask with sleep pillows. they are absolutely the most comfortable for me!
I also looked into the surgery. Here's the skinny... the surgery MAY result in a 50% reduction in the number of sleep apnea episodes you have in a given hour. I have 58 episodes an hour so if the surgery worked I could get down to having only 29 episodes (non breathing) an hour. This would do me no good as anything over 20 episodes per hour means you need a breathing machine. So remember it is really the amount of episodes an hour that is important. And of course it may not work at all.
I use the Adams mask with sleep pillows. they are absolutely the most comfortable for me!
coop
08-09-2004, 10:16 AM
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I have found this site to be very informative. I am 41 yrs old and once or twice amonth for the past 20 yrs, I jerk awake after just falling asleep having lost my breath with what feels like my heart beating out of my chest.In the begining it caused severe panic attacks. All the hospital or my doctor ever said was they were panic attacks, and I agree, but the were fueled by this no breathing jerk reaction. It has happened so long I ignore it and go back to sleep, however recently, the heart beat seems to be slower and stronger, still able to go back to sleep, but why the change in heart (presure)?. How would you catagorize this disorder? Please reply.
I have found this site to be very informative. I am 41 yrs old and once or twice amonth for the past 20 yrs, I jerk awake after just falling asleep having lost my breath with what feels like my heart beating out of my chest.In the begining it caused severe panic attacks. All the hospital or my doctor ever said was they were panic attacks, and I agree, but the were fueled by this no breathing jerk reaction. It has happened so long I ignore it and go back to sleep, however recently, the heart beat seems to be slower and stronger, still able to go back to sleep, but why the change in heart (presure)?. How would you catagorize this disorder? Please reply.
Belle2003
08-11-2004, 05:12 AM
Have you noticed or have you been told that you snore in your sleep? Do you find that when you sleep at night you breathe out of your mouth causing your lips to make puffing noises as the air blows out of your mouth? All of these and the way you have stopped breathing are symptoms of sleep apnea. The only way to be sure is to go to a sleep clinic. Discuss this with your primary care physician. You might want to find out first if you snore and/or puff in your sleep too before you see your doctor.
My husband has sleep apnea and he very seldom wakes up out of breathe. Of course everyone is different depending upon the severity of their sleep apnea. What happens to him is that he stops breathing, but it does not completely wake him up, it is just enough for him to roll over. So consequently he is changing sides all night long. Plus he snores and puffs all night long. This is why we have separate beds! Do you find that your sheets are a wreck when you wake up in the morning?
Good luck in finding out if you indeed have sleep apnea.
My husband has sleep apnea and he very seldom wakes up out of breathe. Of course everyone is different depending upon the severity of their sleep apnea. What happens to him is that he stops breathing, but it does not completely wake him up, it is just enough for him to roll over. So consequently he is changing sides all night long. Plus he snores and puffs all night long. This is why we have separate beds! Do you find that your sheets are a wreck when you wake up in the morning?
Good luck in finding out if you indeed have sleep apnea.
clarkfarm
08-16-2004, 09:22 AM
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 3 months ago. My husband noticed I had been holding my breath in my sleep for about 4 years. Sleep apnea occurs mostly in men; people who are over weight; and in people that snore. I am about 20 lbs. over weight (really not OVER weight) I am a female and I do not snore, so why I have it is unknown. I do know I was diagnosed in November 03 with high blood pressure which could be the results from long term untreated sleep apnea. Anytime your oxygen level drops, your system starts shutting down oxygen to your limbs, etc to keep oxygen close to your vital organs. I stop breathing about every 3 minutes for an average of 15 seconds. I am considered moderate, but damage is still being done. I tried the CPAP but kept swallowing air causing horrible abdominal pain. Between some other issues I am having I have been researching a technique called Neuro Cranial Restructuring (NCR) which claims to be helpful for sleep apnea. If you think you have sleep apnea, get it checked out.
Clarkfarm
Clarkfarm
MayorG
08-22-2004, 12:12 PM
I would go to bed totally exhausted but so wound up on coffee that I couldnt fall a sleep. I would wake up with a pounding headache because my blood ox would go as low as 81%. If you have any suspicions that you have any of the symtoms of apnea...GO GET TESTED! My brother and I are both on a cpap machine. I am a million percent better. My brother though has a bit of a memery issue. He is 8 years older than me. It has been mentioned that sleep apnea and the loss of blood ox it brings can be the onset of alheimers desease, as well as cause strokes etc.. I notice no signs of short term memory loss, however my brother will repeat the same story/ideas and conversations over and over in one day. Dont be hard headed like me and my brother...go get tested. I sleep like a baby and my wife quit punching me in the middle of the night because my snoring woke her up....CHUCKLE! :D :o