Sleep Apnea

Teri16 · April 13, 2005, 11:52pm

What is Sleep Apnea?

Teri16 · April 14, 2005, 4:32am

Here's a great article on just the basics of understanding the brain and how we sleep, along with some of the disorders that occur and why!

LilacGal · April 16, 2005, 2:35pm

Great information Teri. I read some of it to my husband. I was just diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea a couple days ago. (woohoo...just one more thing on my laundry list. <g>) Anyway, my pulmonologist said that while it's not causing my arrhythmias, it could certainly be contributing to the serverity of the problems I'm having related to them. Makes sense to me.

Lil

Teri16 · April 16, 2005, 3:24pm

Hi Lil!

LilacGal · April 16, 2005, 5:08pm

Vent? Me? Noooooo....never. :)

Still trying to get used to the idea of having sleep apnea. Heck, I'm still trying to get used to the idea of having all the stuff I've found out about in the past two weeks. Lots to digest and come to accept.

Oh cool! It's a Smurf smiley!!

Teri, you didn't tell me y'all had Smurf smileys!

Lil

_{^{Afterwards, the universe will explode for your pleasure. - Douglas Adams}}

heartangel · April 16, 2005, 7:33pm

Lil they also say sleep apena and lack of sleep makes our heart disease worse for women, I havwenot heard anything about how it affects the men though probably in the smae way i guess but take it all in. our Cousin has it too and wears a mask and has felt better since he has been on the machine.

Teri16 · April 17, 2005, 3:07am

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

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pandacrazy42 · April 17, 2005, 5:04am

Hi Teri, I was asked the other day when I went to see that physicians assistant if I had sleep apnea. I told her I didn't think so and then she asked if I snore. I told her my husband says I do. She said I could have it then. I believe it that heart problems come from lack of sleep. They think that is part of my problem. I haven't had enough sleep for the last 10 years. I'm working on trying to get more sleep. It's kind of hard though when you work 2 jobs and one of them is a night job. Well speaking of sleep better get to bed. Barb

LilacGal · April 17, 2005, 9:43am

I've got to get a cpap machine now. I spoke to my uncle who has one. He said after a couple days, it changed his life. He's had one for a while now and wouldn't live without it. I'm hoping it has the same impact on my life.

Teri16 · April 17, 2005, 3:29pm

Hi Everyone!

Barb, perhaps with your crazy schedule and working nights it would affect your sleep habits anyway!~but with sleep apnea it could really cause you problems. I'd talk to your Dr. about a sleep study. They're becoming more and more prevalent now a days and they're finding a lot more people out there with sleep problems and when they're able to fix it, I understand that it's a wonderful thing!!

Lil, I'm waiting to hear finally, that you've got a good night's sleep! Keep me posted!

Thanks for the info, Heidi!

Big Texas Hugs, Teri

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

pandacrazy42 · April 17, 2005, 4:05pm

Well first step is for me to find a doctor that wants to take me on. I'm going to ask my cardio next week who he recommends because after a year he wants to give my care over mostly to my regular doc and then see me once a year if no problems occur. He is watching me very carefully the first year though. I think I'll ask the stomach doctor too when I go May 5th. I've been asking around to get ideas from other people. I think patients are the best ones to get reccomendations from. Well have to go get ready to go to a baby shower. Talk to you later. Barb

Teri16 · April 17, 2005, 4:17pm

Barb, perhaps a referral to an internist might be in your favor? Have fun at the baby shower!! Teri :)

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

LilacGal · April 17, 2005, 4:21pm

Well, this was my second sleep study that found this...and the only reason I had this one was to prove the first one wrong. The first sleep study was ordered by my old cardio to see if I had sleep apnea. (I'm 26 and really didn't think that could be my problem.) He got the results and said I didn't have sleep apnea - but I wasn't reaching REM sleep which could be a big problem. I told him the reason I didn't reach REM sleep was because the dang pulse ox monitor on my finger was malfunctioning and kept waking me up. Once when it woke me up I looked on the monitor - said my pulse and oxygen were both zero...ummm...no! Apparently though, the malfunctioning monitor wasn't mentioned in the report.

I left that cardio soon after and insisten to my pcp that I wanted another sleep study. If I really wasn't reaching REM sleep (which I didn't believe) then that could be a problem. I had the second one in March and got the results last week. That found out I had sleep apnea.

I have forever been blaming me being tired on my job. I'm a teacher - of course I'm tired! I spend nine hours a day on my feet entertaining third graders! Who wouldn't be exhausted after that. I've tried getting more sleep...I've tried getting less sleep. I only use my bed to sleep in. If I can't fall asleep within thirty min, I get up and go to the other room...all that kind of stuff. I'm so glad I told my primary that I wanted another study. I can't wait to get a good night's sleep. When I do, Teri - you'll be one of the first to know. :)

Lil

_{^{Afterwards, the universe will explode for your pleasure. - Douglas Adams}}

Teri16 · April 17, 2005, 4:35pm

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating:

http://www.healingwell.com/donate/

pandacrazy42 · April 17, 2005, 5:59pm

Hi Teri, good thing I had my hubby check the time on that invitation because it is not until next week. That's good though because now I can finish making the baby blanket. I have until next Sunday to do it. I already started on it so that should be easy to do. The reason I got the date wrong is this is the date that your supposed to RSVP by is today. Oh well it's too nice to be inside today. I sure hope I can handle a walk today. Talk to you later. Barb

Teri16 · April 17, 2005, 9:21pm

Okay, Barb, my next question is...? Who's the baby shower for? lol Hugs, Teri :)

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

pandacrazy42 · April 18, 2005, 2:33pm

It's for one of my cousins. I have alot of them on my moms side. There were 12 kids in her family. My son called yesterday and is doing ok. He hates these things called dirt devils that are like tornados with sand. They have to throw on goggles and crawl under the trucks. They end up with sand in their ears. He said they had a small one come right into the shop yesterday. He doesn't like the heat either. He said the temps reach into the hundreds during the day. Bad news I got was when him and his wife are done with the Marines they want to move to Monatana. I don't want to move there. That's colder than Wisconsin. I sure hope they change their mind about that one. Oh well that's over a year away from now. I took it easy on my walk and made it all the way to Shopko yesterday. That's over a mile from my house. I'll have to measure it sometime when I go in the car. I'd sure like to ride my bike to work but am afraid to try that at this time until they figure out my health issues. Have a great day. Talk to you later. Barb

Teri16 · June 2, 2005, 3:47pm

I'm bumping this up for any new or old members that might be interested in reading this... :)

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas