Sleep Apnea? - Down Syndrome Message Board

Austin's Mom · 09-16-2001, 07:14 PM

Hello again to all. I was just wanting some info on sleep apnea. Austin is 9 years old and has been a HORRIBLE sleeper forever. He is extremely restless and always tossing and turning. He also likes to sleep with his legs crossed indian style and sitting up arched over on my back or hip. Does any of this sound familiar from others. Or is this just his weird habbit. Anyway the dr. is going to do a sleep study on him to check for sleep apnea so I was just wanting some insight from other parents. Any information is appreciated. Thanks so much.

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Sheri

rlgunter · 09-17-2001, 07:49 PM

Hi Sheri, this is Robin, mother of Tanner,who is 5 and sleeps weird too. Cross legged indian style and with his body folded over in front of him with his head laying flat on the mattress. Tanner too is a restless sleeper, he is all over the bed, just rotating like a wind mill all night long. I have even found him standing up and his head laying on the mattress. I'll be interested to know what you find out.

Robin

Anne523 · 09-25-2001, 09:22 AM

Hi Austins Mom..I Hve a 6 year old son with DS..he als had sleep apnea...We took him to the ENT and was told that the sleep apnea was causing him to stop breathing for short periods of time..I'm not sure but maybe youre son is going into those positions during sleep time because he can breathe better...My son had his tonsils and adnoids removed...this has helped greatly with his sleeping problems actually he doesnt have them anymore...I dont know if youre son has had his tonsils and adnoids removed but if not I would check with youre ENT..Annie

hpearl41 · 02-04-2002, 08:38 PM

Hi Austins mom, I am Hazel I have a son named James who had similiar problems at that age. I had his tonsils and adnoids removed. not only does he sleep better but his behavior improved too because he wasnt tired all the time.
Hazel

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utw · 02-05-2002, 07:25 AM

I Austin's mom! I thought that was only my name or so it has been for the past 23 years. I too have an Austin with DS, but he is soon to turn 24 yrs. I would definitely check with your ENT, but it is very common. The best advice I can give you is No.1, don't have him sleep with you, and No.2 don't worry over his sleep positions, he will change if uncomfortable. In all these years, I have learned one very important lesson: Allow your child the right to be himself. There are some things that we "normal" people try to assert on our kids that really are not an issue for our kids to learn or do. We do this because it is "normal". Sometimes we need to just sit back and say OK it is perfectly alright for you to sit like that, OK for you to dress like that, OK for you to watch the same movie 50 times, and so on. It is amazing to think back through the years at all the things we fretted over about the future and now that it is here, we just have this wonderful, handsome, polite young man with a heart as big as Texas, who works 40 hours a week at Albertson's and loves every minute of it! Love to compare stories sometime.