Sleep Apnea

Hi guys,
I'm starting this thread just to post some info on early symptoms of sleep apnea. I am both a retired health professional and also have had sleep apnea treated for over a decade. I saw a post here...new member describing symptoms he related to cannabis withdrawal...I know...newbs! But the symptoms he described were exactly what you feel when you have untreated sleep apnea. I'll just describe some of them.

Waking up with a headache (not a hangover)
hypertension sometimes poorly responsive to medication
waking with night sweats and feeling short of breath
difficulty controlling glucose (if diabetic)
weight gain
tiredness...need for nap
no dreams remembered
a general feeling of unease because your body is not getting proper REM sleep
snoring

Not everybody has all of them...but some are so common with SA as to be almost diagnostic. If you're worried you may have it...I can guide you in getting a diagnosis and seeking treatment. Plus the needed cpap treatment isn't easy...but I have it down and can help.
JD

I guess it is pretty common these days, I do have snoring issue plus waking up with a headache, not sure if these falls under sleep apnea.

My old man had that bad. He passed in '86 and never had any treatment for it. I don't even snore as any of the many women I've shared a bed with will attest to. My current squeeze of 20+ years has never complained and she doesn't snore either so I can't bitch. About that at least.

The world's greatest actor, Bill Shatner, aka Cap't Kirk, suffers from it to the extent that he even donates his precious time to inform the world about it on TV. lol

Sure doesn't sound like fun.

I've got it and have a cpap machine.
My sleep quality has doubled since getting treatment. Fully covered here in Canada .
I was apprehensive at first, but after a week of good sleeps, I'm sold.
It can change everything in life when you sleep well.

teriastiles said:

I guess it is pretty common these days, I do have snoring issue plus waking up with a headache, not sure if these falls under sleep apnea.

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Well just to put a different perspective,,,it's always been there...but now more people are successfully
being diagnosed. Snoring is a cardinal symptom and if you wake up with headaches...you should be having a sleep study. Start by talking to your Doc and he'll refer you...or just google and see if the sleep doc will see you without a referral.
JD

OldMedUser said:

My old man had that bad. He passed in '86 and never had any treatment for it. I don't even snore as any of the many women I've shared a bed with will attest to. My current squeeze of 20+ years has never complained and she doesn't snore either so I can't bitch. About that at least.

The world's greatest actor, Bill Shatner, aka Cap't Kirk, suffers from it to the extent that he even donates his precious time to inform the world about it on TV. lol

Sure doesn't sound like fun.

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Not only that...it can kill you. A few years back, one of the fisherman on Deadliest Catch died from sleep apnea. I remember that. And ya...my Dad snored bad and probably had it...but Doctors back then weren't clued in.

Cookie Rider said:

I've got it and have a cpap machine.
My sleep quality has doubled since getting treatment. Fully covered here in Canada .
I was apprehensive at first, but after a week of good sleeps, I'm sold.
It can change everything in life when you sleep well.

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Happy to hear Cookie Rider. My sister-in-law has sa and she just loves her machine...her life has improved so much. Keep up the good work. My apnea is mixed...partially obstructive but some central. This is tech stuff...so bear with me. But I use an old BiPap ST I bought on Craigslist. Bipaps are a little more advanced and the machine will breath for me if my brain forgets to breath (central apnea). Newer machines will even monitor your sleep and score your apneas...I had like 25 an hour.
Cheers,
JD

JohnDee said:

Not only that...it can kill you. A few years back, one of the fisherman on Deadliest Catch died from sleep apnea. I remember that. And ya...my Dad snored bad and probably had it...but Doctors back then weren't clued in.

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Don't they do a laser treatment on the palate to tighten it up to prevent snoring or is that unrelated to the apnea part?

OldMedUser said:

Don't they do a laser treatment on the palate to tighten it up to prevent snoring or is that unrelated to the apnea part?

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OMU,
I was a member of a sleep apnea forum for several years. Every now and again...the subject of surgery comes up. It helps some people and not others...so it's not a magic bullet. There are actually multiple types of surgeries. One is put in under local...sort of like an IUD for your palate. The stick it in there straight...but then it curves to take up slack. I'll just keep using my machine till they come up with a perfect cure. Oh and some guys are even trying breathing pacemakers...but I think it's experimental yet. I really don't keep up anymore.
Cheers,
JD

Cookie Rider said:

wow 25 is a lot.
Mine is very mild at only 3-7 times an hour. It started w waking up w migraine headaches. Like being kicked in the head while I tried to sleep.
I woke up at least five times a night. Never getting much of a stretch of good rest. Man I was a cunt in the mornings at times. Lol
Nearly got my ass fired for mouthing off to the wrong people all because I was just shitbagged exhausted.
After visiting the doctor I saw a poster on the wall, listing all the consequences of SA I decided to inquire about it.
A few questions later and I was going to a sleep clinic. They sent me home w a blood oxygen monitor and a cpap.
Which records my sleep patterns and sends the report wifi to the clinic.
Next I had my own cpap, good to go!
I strongly recommend looking into it further if you think you only might have it.
I'm "young" I think, at 42 lol.
So I'm unsure how this will develop as I age and cure into old age. It helps me now, that's for sure.

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Thanks Cookie for a great post. I have heard so many stories like that. I'm disabled from a MVI (drunk driver) and for many years...I was depressed, overweight, and had the panoply of sleep apnea symptoms...but I did not suspect I had it...so it went un-diagnosed for years.

Your rig sounds great. Pressures can change...like if you have the flu...or lose weight or whatever. They can tell if your pressures are working. I'm an old timer and use the old white Legacy BiPap st...loaf of bread one...you've probably never seen one...but very strong and last forever. I've heard of guys getting 40,000 out of them. I maintain mine well and it keeps plugging along. Still use the old Quattro..still fits my face even after 60 pound weight loss. Is a single cuff design and very comfortable. Discontinued...go figure...but I have a bagfull of them plus replacement cuffs. I'm good for the armededdon.

It's an impressive little unit.
Only thing I'd like to see is an alarm clock function as it sits right next to me. You think they'd just add that function in somehow.
I am sorry to hear of your car accident.
I've been in a few with short term injuries. I consider myself lucky.
But on a better note,
way to go losing 60 lbs! That's unreal.
Really life changing I'm sure.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, good and bad. It's nice to share with ya.

OldMedUser said:

Don't they do a laser treatment on the palate to tighten it up to prevent snoring or is that unrelated to the apnea part?

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Yes, uvulopalatoplasty, never did the laser assisted one but did quite a few uvulopalatopharyngoplastys in my day.

I love my cpap.
Had one for 25 years and I still can’t sleep.

curious2garden said:

uvulopalatoplastyuvulopalatopharyngoplastys

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Looks like my cat was on the keyboard

Cookie Rider said:

It's an impressive little unit.
Only thing I'd like to see is an alarm clock function as it sits right next to me. You think they'd just add that function in somehow.
I am sorry to hear of your car accident.
I've been in a few with short term injuries. I consider myself lucky.
But on a better note,
way to go losing 60 lbs! That's unreal.
Really life changing I'm sure.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, good and bad. It's nice to share with ya.

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Hey you too Cookie...ya the weight loss was triggered by medical necessity...my life was needing change...stopped drinking, eliminated coffee...eating smaller better meals and even exercising...what little I can do! So I'm working hard at this. Not happening by magic. lol
JD

mysunnyboy said:

Looks like my cat was on the keyboard

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I see you found the post that inspired me to start this thread. @Hust17 Dude...you need a sleep study asap! No shit...this is serious.

Well now I've done my part by warning him...
JD

JohnDee said:

Hey you too Cookie...ya the weight loss was triggered by medical necessity...my life was needing change...stopped drinking, eliminated coffee...eating smaller better meals and even exercising...what little I can do! So I'm working hard at this. Not happening by magic. lol
JD



I see you found the post that inspired me to start this thread. @Hust17 Dude...you need a sleep study asap! No shit...this is serious.

Well now I've done my part by warning him...
JD

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LOL I found the post the minute it was typed.

mysunnyboy said:

LOL I found the post the minute it was typed.

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Scary isn't it...the guy clearly has sleep apnea and doesn't know it. I tried sending a PM but it's blocked. Maybe he died.
JD

Morning guys,
Another member reminded me of a symptom I left off the list. Grinding of teeth can also occur...though not quite as clear cut as to why. And speaking of teeth...sometimes with some people a simple tooth guard similar to what football players wear. Dentists fit them and the goal is to move the lower jaw outward a bit. Helps some people,,,but I tried and couldn't wear it.
JD

JohnDee said:

Scary isn't it...the guy clearly has sleep apnea and doesn't know it. I tried sending a PM but it's blocked. Maybe he died.
JD

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That member trolled me and was banned, for what I don’t know. That member is on another forum now.