I DO NIGHT DRIVING AT PRESENT TIME, AND HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY DOSING OFF AT STOP LIGHTS, NOT ON PURPOSE. I’M AWARE HOW UNSAFE IT IS, IS THE REASON I SEEN TO IT. I GET 6~8 HRS OF SLEEP BUT STILL HAVE BEEN TIRED. NOW I GOT A MACHINE THAT HELPS FOR THE CONDITION, AND IM MORE GROGIER THAN BEFORE, BUT ITS GOOD IM NOT AT WORK. I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW FRESH AIR HELPS.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 3 years ago out of the clear blue sky. I was 38 years old and never had any major health problems. From what I read it is hereditary but no one in my family has this. I hear it could lead to stroke, heart attack, etc. How in the world could such a disease just come out of the clear blue sky!!!! I am totally confused and need to know how to CURE this disease!!!!!!!!!

First of all, there are a couple of things to factor in… I have been battling depression ever since I can remember but it is not as bad as it used to be(I know this can make you tired). Also, I have moderate sleep apnea and have a c-pap machine but have not been able to use it successfully. I just can’t get used to it. I’ve had it for over 5 years, tried every different mask, herbal sedatives and everything you can imagine. I know the fact that I get poor sleep is a major contributor. I’ve tried mouth devices and the surgery is not an option, obviously making me feel helpless to treating it. I’ve been evaluated by countless doctors. Blood tests and cat-scans show that I don’t have a thyroid disorder. I have been given all kinds of herbal supplements that if taken regularly, prove to slightly improve my energy but not significantly. I’ve been on every wakefullness medication that hasn’t worked, even abused medications that weren’t meant for wakefullness like adderall, which makes me crazy and extremely irritable.They all make my body ache like a 90 year old(I’m 21). I have completely changed my diet, thinking that I might be allergic to gluten but that barely made a difference and I couldn’t afford it(I’m a college student, barely able to manage 2 classes). I’ve tried quick fixes to get through the day like strong ginseng tea but everything that gives me enough energy to get through the day also causes me to crash so hard that I can’t move for the next two days. Ironically, I think I’m allergic to caffeine(it causes throwing up and diarrhea). I practice every common thing that I know to improve energy-drinking a lot of water, vitamins known to improve vitality, exercise(when I can), even expensive shoes that provide special support, you name it. I had trouble sleeping and waking at the same time as the other kids in high school. I worked with disabilities to knock off my first hour class because I couldn’t stay awake in class, or even drive to school without nodding off but I could still function, have friends, and get through most of the day. It’s gotten worse since then. I’m in college and I can’t even make it to once-a-week, nighttime classes. I certainly can’t hold a job and extra things like hanging out with or even contacting friends is to physically exerting. I have a small window of time in each day of a couple hours where I am awake. It’s hard to go out to do things like grocery shop. If I can’t make it back in time, my mind slows down and I become incoherent. When this happens I have trouble making it home. For example, I’ll wake up in another city, my groceries spoiled because I fell asleep and missed my stop. It’s not just my body, it’s my mind. I can’t remember anything or organize my thoughts. Often I will miss things because I think I am in yesterday or tomorrow. My room and hands are covered in notes reminding me to do things like "take a shower, go to bank, eat dinner". Because I can’t sustain myself, I am paying for college in all loans and my mom(who is strapped for money and has other children to raise) is paying for all of this out of pocket and we have no insurance. She is constantly coming up with new things it could be and looking into new treatments that she can’t afford. I know that I have a duty to my mom and everyone pulling for me to keep trying but sometimes I wish that they would just stop. I am a passionate person and don’t want to be part of something I can’t participate in. Ideas?

We’ve been treating my son for ADHD for several years and have had problems with the side effects of meds. He’s now on Strattera but it didn’t seem to be helping this school year. So we’ve increased the dose twice (he did have a growing spurt last summer – he’s 14). This still isn’t helping. Well, in going over my symptoms related to possible sleep apnea with the doctor, I had an "ah-ha" moment that my son has the same symptoms. Low and behold he does have a disorder. However it hasn’t yet been diagnosed with a sleep study (coming up next week).

So I just want to put a bug in parents’ ears that if your child is being treated for ADHD and the meds are not working, perhaps you want to speak to your doctor about the possibility of a sleeping disorder.

But for my question…. Has anybody else experienced a child at school who absolutely will not do his work and found out a sleeping disorder was the cause? Please tell me about your story and if treating the disorder helped your child do better in school.
Yes, seeing an ENT and removal of tonsils and/or adenoids is the expected treatment. Thanks for responses!
I’m agreeing that sleeping disorders should be looked into before giving drugs for ADHD. I wish someone would have asked if my son snored years ago!
Thanks for all responses…hard to choose!

Well, anyways my doctor has me on a oxygen macine with the nose cannulla, and sleep with it at night, the first night I did the oxymonitor test which checks my blood oxygen levels with the machine on and they got down to 53. Well she is going to have me do the oxymonitor test again tonight without the machine, and see how low my levels get to. Does anyone know what other tests she will do from there if my levels are way off again? I believe she will probably have another sleep study done because the last one I had from a previous doctor who did nothing, that’s why I changed, so I’m thinking she might have her own done, but what would she after this? What could possible be wrong with me if my levels are this low at night, they are fine during the day, just when I sleep. Please give me suggestions on what you think.

With not being able to sleep soundly through the night for some time, I’m thinking I might have sleep apnea. I understand there are tests for such conditions and an air mask that one can wear at night to improve breathing.

Now, I’ve seen pictures of such masks and these do not look at all comfortable … you’ve got a band that clamps around your forehead and a cover for your nose with an attached vaccum-type hose.

Has anybody either worn one of these contraptions or known someone who has? Are they custom-fitted? Does one get used to such a mask quickly? Does the accompanying air pump rattle and shake during operation and keep you awake?

Thanx …

I also have anxiety problems and I take zoloft. I wonder if that affects my sleeping. My father also has VERY bad sleep apnea. when the doctors watched him sleep he woke up 600 times and almost went into cardiac arrest twice. My symptoms are: staying awake at night, feeling of butterflies in my stomach, extreme sleepiness in the mornings, horrible and weird dreams, headaches often, getting flushed during the day, alot of other stuff! ahhh and i have really bad hearing. HELP!

Ear nose and throat? Is there another name for ear nose and throat doctor? They don’t have any listed under my insurance plan.
The GP refuses to give us an appointment. She said it sounds like nothing by my description. I’d like to punch her in the face. I’m gonna go to straight to the specialist. Otolaryngologists is on the list, thanks.
No I don’t know if it’s apnea or not. I’m guessing based on what I have read. It also could be asthma. Because the GP is not helping me figure it out, I’m going straight to the specialist.
I brought him to my chiropractor 2 days ago, and he said it’s just really bad sinuses and allergies. He gave him an adjustment and he’s already breathing better. So far he has done last night, through the night without trouble (I stayed awake watching him) and today’s nap and so far tonight, he’s been breathing.
Thanks to everyone for the help and advice. If it happens again, I’ll talk to an ENT, but so far, it’s looking good. I did make an appointment with the allergist to check on it.

I need advice if anyone has these symptoms or knows someone who has experienced this. My husband moves his arms very vigorously through the night while sleeping. I call it "conducting" because that’s what it looks like. He moves his arms for about 30-60 seconds then stops and holds them straight up toward the ceiling. His arms then fall down and land on me. He does this for several hours in the night. I should also mention that he has severe sleep apnea (stopped breathing about 800 times in one night at the sleep lab.) He is unable to use his cpap machine. Anyway, from what I could find online about this, it sounds like periodic limb disorder. Does anyone know about this and can give advice about treatments, etc. Thanks!

I’m getting out of the army in early may (ETS), and I’m filing my VA disability claims (Sleep Apnea w/ CPAP machine & Hypersomnia), and I’m wondering how long it’s going to take for them to kick in? I’m having a lot of trouble finding a job and may be depending partly on that income.

I get dizziness, short term memory loss, disorganization and fatigue daily. I’m trying to figure out what is going on with me. I exercise regularly- except lately I have been feeling really run down, I eat well, drink water, take multi-vitamins, get enough rest, etc. When I get enough rest and I have slept well, I can still fall asleep easily! Like in a meeting at work, or while driving even, and I don’t snore or have sleep apnea. What the heck is wrong with me? I’m 5′3 and 150lbs, so I am not obese. Is it Anemia or low iron possibly?
if you tell me to ask a doctor right now, I won’t because I can’t afford a non-insurance doctor’s visit.
I should add… I had a partial thyroidectomy 3 years ago. I have had my thyroid and TSH levels tested recently. The results came back with normal level, 3.1–3.4 the last results I had just last year.
27 not pregnant/not possible.
I am not all that stressed, but I think I fight depression. The depression got better when I started exercising and I am to the point where I can run 5 miles three times a week, and bicycle 12 miles three times a week, also weight-lifting. I am just so sick of feeling like an air-head. lol
I had mono last June of 07, can’t be mono, I know what that feels like.

I’ve had my CPAP for a year and a half now and I just can’t adjust to using it. I have tried three different facial masks and I invariably wake up in the morning with the mask on the bed beside me or on the floor. The straps on the masks give me a headache and, if I loosen them, they don’t stay on. I sleep so much better without the mask anyhow, but the machine was terribly expensive, as were the additional masks, and i know that I should be using the machine regularly. Any suggestions as to how I can get used to it and use it regularly? Thanks!
Whoa. Don’t you think a tracheatomy is a little bit drastic? Thanks but no thanks. I think I’ll just continue looking for a different mask before I do something that drastic.

I had a sleep test done, I stop breathing 149 times per hour. How common is that?

So I only have to wear the tube that goes around your ears and slightly into the nose when I sleep at night, but I’m finding that the oxygen is uncomfortable and almost impossible to sleep with. I keep taking it off right before I fall asleep.
Is the oxygen machine too high for me? It’s at 2 liters an hour. I guess really what I need to know is if it’s always uncomfortable and I’ll just have to get used to it, or if I can get it tweaked a little bit.
Mary – Yes, I had two sleep studies. The Dr. told me they needed me to go back for a third one, with a cpap, to see how it goes… but they never gave me an appointment date or anything.

Also what I’m specifically talking about is the feeling of the oxygen tube ends in my nose. They are just super uncomfortable. I was wondering if I could trim them down a little? I’ve been on it for almost a week now and I’m getting used to the actual oxygen, it’s just the tubes in my nose that drive me nuts!

the ones to keep you awake… as in antipsychotics, narcotics etc… trying to locate what would be covered under our insurance because my husband’s prescription is not and I can’t figure out what category to look under.

Hi yahoo answers tell me the cases which affect sleep disorder……….

I think i might have pcos, for some reason, it just keeps comming back to thise here are my syptoms, and note, i kno! i am working twords getting healthier….

-im 16
-300 lbs..i know god, im trying to loose wight, dont be mean!
-freqrent boils, thats why im self consions about gyno.
-diagnosed with hypothyroid about 1 1/2 year ago, dont take meds anymore tho.
-periods last longer and with spotting, for 6 months, never ending.
-sleep apnea
-insillion resistence
-hair thinning
-body, facial hair.
-feels some times like someone pushing with one finger on my lower stomach, doesnt really hurt, just pressure…

i must sound like a freak show!..im trying to get heathier, ive never been to the gyno, so im really scared and self consiounce because of my wight and disscoloration, i look like a freak!!!

its biology, and i hear it is hard, should i only get 6.5 hours of sleep, or study and get 7.5 -8 hours of sleep?

Here is the latest treatment for snoring hope it helps out tell me what you think of it?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/22/health…

. It is a little bit price-y but hey if you know of someone who can’t sleep and you they have that sleep apnea and are at risk for even death then the price should be covered by insurance I think. Any one know if it is covered by insurance? What do you think of the new device to stop snoring? Sounds like a good idea to me, if anyone has gets more information please tell me. Thanks

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/22/health/22snor.html?ex=1290315600&en=965133238a7da47c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

IF the other link does not work try this one..
oh sorry that was not my intend to spam……i was just thinking if it could help someone it would be nice.. That is all.
Oh gosh thanks so much for making me laugh today. It is funny don’t you think? I like the one that said she was afraid she might actually kill him… and where it says they both snore and even the ones where they say sleeping in another room is cheaper. Oh I just pictured all of us talking about it and laughing our socks off. To hilarious

Ok, So I know what it is.. and I was tested at home, using a machine from my husbands company!
I must have taken it off for threeh ours and not noticed!
The total times I stopped breathing was 16 in 5 hours.
One was 4 an hour, 2 an hour, 7 an hour… blah blah blah
Is it true that anything over 5 an hour is Mild Apnea?

I was also told I need to do this again, because the three hours I missed were the "peak hours"???

I have been told I hold my breath at night, but very rarely awaken in the middle of the night. I always am tired in the mornings, and through out the day.

She has done this for a while now. But last night she would stop for about 10 seconds,when she came out of it she somewhat snorted and when to sleeping normally. 3 breaths later the same thing. She was sleeping on her back. We rolled her onto her side and it didn’t happen again.

A couple of years ago she did this,I shook the living crap out of her and she didn’t budge. After last night I am concerned about sleep apnea. She is 5 years old. Any parents experience these symptoms in their child?

My hubby had his adenoids taken out in infancy(he went blue when sleeping and limp)is it something that is hereditary?

thanks for reading.
YES I have heard of Dr’s.
I just wanted personal experiences on the apnea. Beacause I am not entirely sure she has it,I am booking an appt tonight to have her seen.

I apparently only stop breathing when I dream, and really dont want a cpap machine, but think i have to get one. any suggestions or ideas?