sleep apnea questions

[cduval04 7]

hey all I have a surgery date for aug 16th...I'm having it done at lahey clinic in burlington ma. I love the place and would put my life in their hands any day....but sometimes I just have to ask myself WHY?

the NP said I didnt need a sleep study cuz I tested 0 on their stupid like 4 question OSA screen, which basicall asked if you wake up in middle of the night gasping for breath and if your neck circumfrence was >16inches and I don't snore (which I've only been told at sleepovers cuz I am single and have my own room and usually sleep with the door shut....I even asked for one b/c several of my other doctors mentioned it...and she said take it up with your primary.....

first of all, I think they are a little narrow minded...I also think it should be a required test pre-op...wouldnt they want to spend a few thousand $ just to rule it out b4 they spend tens of thousands slicing you 9 ways to sunday and banding your stomach.

according to wikipedia..."Regardless of type, the individual with sleep apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening"

it also says "Even the loudest snoring does not mean that an individual has sleep apnea syndrome. The sign that is most suggestive of sleep apneas occurs when snoring stops."

I also had major brain surgery 3 years ago and they put electrodes in my brain wired to battery packs in my chest (DBS) to control a movement disorder....and I also have a neurological history....its like no one even addresses central SA or mixed SA....it's like if ur fat...its OSA..no questions

so I finally had my neurologist order a sleep study which I am going for tommorow....my insomnia has gotten REALLY out of control...I use my inhaler multiple times a day now (I was prescribed it 2 years ago for allergies and used it MAYBE 2x a month)....my metabolism has slowed to a absolute CRAWL (I have a gowear fit and the burn on it today was 200 100 cals LOWER than my BMR (how is that even possible)....and during the day I mine as well be a piece of furniture b/c I am useless for anything due to fatigue....I sit here now with a stiff neck...sore back...and my chest feels like a child is sitting on it..really tight....and yet all my doctors say I am the picture of health and are ready to cut me open in 6 weeks......

I have very bittersweet feelings about a dx of SA....I do not WANT to have it by any means...but if I do I can say that I will definitly be relieved that there is a REASON that I have developed all these health issues and gained 110lbs in the last 2 years....the last year or so has been sheer hell....

has anyone that "doesn't fit the typical SA profile" actually ended up testing pos.? does anyone out there actually have central and not obstructive? I would like to know what you think...despite having a 15 inch neck...I am 327lbs 5'10.5" and have a 54 inch waist so dont be fooled...I'm weird....my neck is small I only have one chin and my 7 inch wrists should be bigger at 330lbs lol

[spoiltmom 44]

I have moderate sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome. I didn't fit the typical profile. I was dxed at age 24. I started having high blood pressure and fatigue at age 21. I was 190 lbs and I was told by my family doc that at that age there had to be a reason for my high blood pressure. He kept me on meds and did all sorts of tests. He even sent me to several specialists and then gave up and said I was healthy I just had hypertension.

Then I went to work for a family doc. I kept complaining to his physician assistant about my blood pressure and how tired I was and he was like well you have sleep apnea. I said no way but he made me go for a sleep study and I tested positive. Come to find out uncontrolled sleep apnea causes high blood pressure.

So yes it's possible you can have it and not know. I was told that if I get banded that my apnea should go away after I lose the weight.

good luck on the sleep study!

[cduval04 7]

I have moderate sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome. I didn't fit the typical profile. I was dxed at age 24. I started having high blood pressure and fatigue at age 21. I was 190 lbs and I was told by my family doc that at that age there had to be a reason for my high blood pressure. He kept me on meds and did all sorts of tests. He even sent me to several specialists and then gave up and said I was healthy I just had hypertension.

Then I went to work for a family doc. I kept complaining to his physician assistant about my blood pressure and how tired I was and he was like well you have sleep apnea. I said no way but he made me go for a sleep study and I tested positive. Come to find out uncontrolled sleep apnea causes high blood pressure.

So yes it's possible you can have it and not know. I was told that if I get banded that my apnea should go away after I lose the weight.

good luck on the sleep study!

Wow that's weird I'm 24 too and I began to gain weight around 21 that is also when I got the inhaler the thing with me is I've never really known if I have hypertension b/c I have been on clonidine ever since I was 6 to help with my tourettes syndrome but its more common use is as an antihypertensive....I bet off if it i def would tho. I have pretty bad tachycardia though worst upon waking & I am on a beta blocker for that which lowers my bp even more.....I just hope I can find a way to sleep tommorow night.....I can't even sleep in my own bed on my $2000 latex mattress without being wired up like the unibomber lol.......do they help u if u absolutely can't sleep like do they give u something? Thanks for ur response!

Edited July 1, 2010 by cduval04

[spoiltmom 44]

No they won't help you they will reschedule you instead. You really need to be able to go to sleep on your own for a true result.

Good Luck to you!

[cduval04 7]

No they won't help you they will reschedule you instead. You really need to be able to go to sleep on your own for a true result.

Good Luck to you!

hey I finally got through it....I took 75mg benadryl, 2.5mg of klonipin and 9mg melatonin woke up at 2 am she said she needed 2 more hours from me so I took 50 more of bdryl 1 more mg of klonipin and 3 more mg of melatonin......I know that sounds like abuse but I know my body and there was just no way I was getting to sleep. Plus I have a tolerance. I had told the tech that my normal bed time at home is no earlier than 1:30am so she kept asking "do u usually sleep like this? I said "I guess I just got lucky. What was I supposed to say I drugged myself. It's 7am tho and I def have a mild hangover. I have to stay at the hospital cuz I live far and have another appointment at 11:30 then another one at 1. I just wish there was somwhere that I could lay down I am not usually able to sleep in a chair even when I am extremely exhausted. in 2-3 weeks I will know if I have sleep apnea. Thanks for all your tips!

Edited July 2, 2010 by cduval04

[spoiltmom 44]

wow! I used to take a 1/4th of a Klonopin and it knocked me out all night. I'd be out for days with that combo.

Did the tech tell you anything at the study? Normally if you have apnea the tech will tell you and they will put a Cpap or Bi Pap machine on you and complete the testing.

[cduval04 7]

No she didn't say anything cept I was sleeping very Well I probably don't have it every test I have comes back neg one of my other drs said they will only wake u up and give u cpap if u have it really bad we will see in 2-3wks