Could I have sleep apnea.?
I am 52, recently diagnosed as post menopausal and have been having
extreme fatigue and sleepiness. It has become more or less regular for me to nap 2-4 hours when I get home from work. Often I won’t even hear the phone ring. Lately I’ve been waking up occasionally with a feeling of a catch in my throat or making a "snorting" sound. I’ve done a little on line research and it sounds very possible. I’m just wondering if anyone else out there has experienced similar symptoms. Any feedback would be helpful. (right now I’m a little anxious about the whole thing)
Tagged with: extreme fatigue • nap • post menopausal • quot
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Symptoms
What you’re describing COULD be apnea, so it’s absolutely worth getting a referral to a sleep disorders clinic.
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 4 years ago, and have been using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine since that time.
My symptoms included constant waking during the night, nodding off during the day and profound fatigue. I pretty much self diagnosed when I started doing face-plants into my keyboard at work; I saw my doctor who agreed that apnea was likely, and she sent me to the sleep disorders clinic.
I will warn you that insurance may not cover the initial exam; it didn’t for me, but once diagnosed I was reimbursed and the CPAP was covered.
Really, that diagnosis saved my life. Even if you don’t have apnea, it’s a good place to start, so talk to your doctor.
Well, clinical sleep apnea is when you stop breathing for over 10 seconds at least 5 times per hour. So you might be on the edge. It happens to me every so often. My wife will bump me if she catches it, so that’s how i know it happens. Now if you don’t have anyone to tell, you, i would suggest taping yourself sleeping(if possible).
If you think it is just minor, try sleeping on your side with a ‘huggy’ pillow. (it helps you from rolling back over) I can sleep a lot better if i am on my side, but of course i prefer to sleep on my back.
well, all in all, if it is bad enough to frighten you i would suggest a visit to the doctor for a sleep study.
Sleep apnea is clearly a possibility. You need a sleep study to diagnose that. A sleep study could also point to other issues that could be causing it. I was born with sleep apnea so I know very well what it is like to have it. However, other conditions could cause it as well. Fibromyalgia is a possible explanation of some of your symptoms. Thyroid problems are also possible. There are many other possibilities.
You should make a list of all of your symptoms and go to your doctor about it. S/he may want to start out with a blood test to look for possibilities there. Be sure to let her/him know that you think a sleep disorder is a possibility. My experience is that doctors tend to over look sleep disorders. You may have to wait until after the blood test results are back in before your doctor will send you for a sleep study.
Hello!
Most of the sleep apnea symptoms happens during your sleep, so you don’t know if you’re snoring, gasping or snorting. If you are single, you can record yourself to hear how do you breathe in sleep.
Sleep apnea can worsen over time. So, you need a treatment. But first, you need to find for sure if you have this sleep disorder. Speak with a sleep technician and take a sleep test. This is the first solution if you want to sleep better again.
Good luck!