Do I have sleep apnea?
I’m thinking about seeing a doctor about it. After some time reading about the symptoms and their long-term affects, I feel like I’ve been missing out on what real sleep should feel like.
So, for those who have it or know something about it, I have a couple of questions:
1. With the following symptoms, would you say I’m pretty likely to have it?
- Overweight
- Sleep with my mouth open and wake up with dry mouth most mornings
- breathe through my mouth almost exclusively when I sleep
- irritable/anxious/depressed, especially in the afternoons/evenings
- never feel like I got enough sleep regardless of how long I slept
- Wife says I snore, sometimes quite loud
- Wake up intermittently without any reason, and then I have to go to the bathroom
My wife says she has never noticed me stop breathing or gasp for air, but she is a sound sleeper and always falls asleep before I do. She can get to sleep in like 10-15 minutes, while it takes me at least 30 minutes, sometimes an hour or two, and that’s after the melatonin has kicked in.
2. How long does it take to get used to a CPAP machine? Does it work?
Tagged with: 15 minutes • 30 minutes • afternoons • cpap machine • dry mouth • evenings • melatonin • sleep • sound sleeper • time reading
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Symptoms
1. The symptoms that you list are inadequate to determine whether or not you have sleep apnea. You must see your doctor and get referred to a sleep study center. They will be able to assess your sleep and your level of oxygenation while you are sleeping and then give you a diagnosis.
2. It is very individual as to how long it takes to get used to the machine. I know 4 men very well who use this machine. Only one of them can stand it. The other three have problems with the mask, and not the machine. These 3 men take the mask off because they can’t fall asleep with it on. They have repeatedly tried and have used different masks to see if they can get comfortable. My husband is the one that doesn’t have any problem with it. He falls asleep easily.
We were hoping he would feel better and have more energy, but he doesn’t. On the other hand, I do, because I am able to sleep all night and not deal with anymore snoring. So, for me, it’s perfect. And we both know that his risk of heart attack and stroke due to a lack of oxygenation to his heart is something that we don’t have to worry about anymore.
Good luck to you.
sd
My ex husband had sleep apnea and being a nurse, I am somewhat familiar with this diagnosis. First of all, you need to see your doctor for a physical and his or her referral to a sleep center study. They are the only ones who can properly diagnose you by monitoring your sleep patterns, your breathing and interrupted patterns which would put your health in danger. A CPAP machine does not take a long time at all to get and does enable you to sleep more effectively and keep you from further health problems. Make that appointment, good luck!
It is possible that you could have it. It usually is more of a breathing thing. I would give the breathe right strips, for your nose, a try. They can’t hurt. Some places offer sleep clinics. They observe you while you are sleeping, so they can see if there are any problems. Here are a couple websites that may benefit you.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea_WhatIs.html
http://www.breatheright.com/
http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/cpap.htm
http://www.sleepdex.org/clinics.htm