Question About Sleep Apnea

Hi Everyone,

   My name is Babs and I'm from the lupus and MS forums. Teri told me that some of you have sleep apnea and use CPAP machines.

   I go to a doc on the 9th for a consult for a sleep study. My other doctors think I have either sleep apnea or some other type of sleep problem. Here's some background on me first.

   I was having what I thought or could be seizures from the end of jan. to june. I would pass out and hit the floor and couldn't remember anything when that happened. Sometimes I would be aware of my surroundings and just couldnt walk and hit the floor or I would stumble around like a drunk and run into everything. I was on seizure meds during this time. I went to UAB for a week to the seizure clinic the end of July and didn't have one episode, but the first two days I was there I slept all the time. After that, I was fine.

   I went into the hospital last month nearby for 3 nights for bad swelling and pain in my feet, ankles and lower legs that has been ongoing since just before the seizures or whatever they were started. My heartrate is also abnormal. I have alot of skipped beats and a rapid HR. My rheumy wanted to have my heart and kidneys checked out for the swelling and irregular beats, but everything looked fine.

   The second night while in the hospital. I was sitting up in bed eating some popcorn, watching tv and the next thing I knew the nurse was trying to wake me up. I have never done anything like that before. It took her a few minutes to wake me up and when I finally got awake enough, I noticed I had popcorn in my mouth!!  That kind of scared me to know that I either passed out or fell asleep with food in my mouth.

    I was told not to drive and keep my appt with the sleep study doc and sent home the next day.

    My question is: Do any of these symptoms sound familiar to anyone and what could be going on?  Does this sound like sleep apnea to anyone here?

    Sorry this was so long. Tks in advance for your help. Take care and have a safe and happy holiday!!

                                                         Babs

Hi Babs!!

I'm glad to see you come over for a visit! 

We have had people here that have said that they've had "spells" where they didn't know what happened, and apparently had passed out.  One thing they did have in common is they had irregular heart beats, tachycardia (where the heart races) and you get very dizzy and in some cases pass out.  They needed to see a cardiologist and then were referred to an EP specialist.  (An Electrophysiologist) who specializes in problems of the electrical irregularities of the heart.  There are many things that can cause this, but I think they should at least check this aspect out!  Good Luck!!
"See your doctor if your fainting is associated with any of these features:
Irregular heart beat
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Sudden onset (no warning signs)
Blurred vision
Confusion
Trouble talking
Fainting when you turn your head
Fainting more than once in a month EP Dr.'s are Electrophysiologists"
http://familydoctor.org/065.xml
They also may want to try a Holter Monitor test with your symptoms.
I sure hope some of this has helped, Babs, and please come back and let me know how this goes!!
Bunches of Hugs, Teri

Hello, Babs, I just got back online tonight and read this. It's funny how often sleep apnea seems to come up on a variety of forums I belong to. I have moderate to severe sleep apena and use a CPap (I've always called it my "sleep machine", not sure why, lol). My apnea used to be severe. I could fall asleep sitting on the sofa, in seconds and was not able to stay awake no matter how hard I tried. There were times I fell asleep talking to people or standing up. It was bad. It would happen for just a second or so. I was working many hours at the time, including a lot of driving. I used to drive an hour one way to work and fell asleep numerous times going and coming back from work. It was like nanoseconds that I would fall asleep, but it would repeat and repeat. Until I rear ended someone I finally sought medial assistance and got the diagnosis. I felt like I was in a twilight sleep quite often. I encourage you to get your sleep study done, and not to drive! If you do not have sleep apnea, they can at last rule that out. DRiving sounds dangerous in your case. Heck it was dangerous in my case. It's a wonder I didn't kill someone else or myself! Stick in there. I'm using my machine now and I feel SOOOOOO much better. Hang in there. Hugs, Kathy

"Cardiac electrophysiologist"

"Cardiac electrophysiologists are cardiology doctors (cardiologists) who have specialized training in the heart's electrical system. They specialize in diagnosing and treating heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) such as atrial fibrillation.

Cardiac electrophysiologists can be board-certified through the Board of Internal Medicine, which is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties."
http://my.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/ps2184.asp
http://www.heartrhythmfoundation.org/facts/electrophysiology.asp
http://www.mayoclinic.org/arrhythmia/index.html

Babs, I hope this offers you more info and that it helps to guide you!  Let me/us know how you are doing and what occurs after you continue in your search!

My best wishes always!
Hugs, Teri

Hi Teri,

    Yes it did help me alot!!  Thank you so much for the good links. I go tomorrow to see the sleep specialist and get scheduled for the sleep study. I will let you know how that goes.

    If I don't get any answers from the sleep study I will definately get referred to EP Specialist. Thanks for all your help!! Take care

                                           Love,  Babs

Hi Teri,

    Well, I just got back from the sleep study doctors office. I couldn't be seen because they screwed up my appt time. They signed me in and sent me to the back to check my insurance and this WITCHY nurse came in there and said you have to rechedule your appt!!! She said I was suppose to be there an hour earlier!!  I told her they called me yesterday to comfirm my appt time and they didn't tell me it was an hour earlier. She said well thats what it has here and you will have to rechedule!!

     Needless to say I was very ticked off!!! They won't let me drive and my dad had to take me. He is 71 years old!!  I told them I would not make another appt!!  I'm just so frustrated right now. Sorry to vent here!!  Thanks for listening. Take care.

                                                     Love,  Babs

Hi Teri,

   Tks!!  I'm going to set it up at UAB where I was at the seizure clinic. It's a great hospital with very good doctors. The doctor that was over the seizure clinic will do the sleep study.

    I called my rheumy and told her and also called my PCP that set up the appt with that doctor. My rheumy called me back and left a very nice message on my machine. I was out at the time. She told me to go ahead and schedule the sleep study at UAB and NOT to drive until they find out what is going on. I haven't been able to drive in 6 months and it is driving me crazy!!  I'm a very independant person and hate to ask others to take me places. I guess I will have to suck it up till I do find out what is going on.

    I will let you know when I have an appt at UAB. Thanks again for everything.

                                               Love,  Babs