Sleep apnea?? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

angelface25 · 06-28-2004, 02:13 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?

KimRick · 07-01-2004, 08:50 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.

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, 01:03 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.

crabbyroad · 07-02-2004, 06:23 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, 03:44 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.