Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by Junior

Gang I am afraid that my wife has sleep apnea. At night I can hear her taking long pauses between breaths, and she snores really bad, and wakes up tired most days. I can’t convince her that she may have an issue. Any ideas on how I can convince her that she needs to get checked out?

I suggest doing a little research about the affects of apnea and then present them to her. Increased blood pressure, risk of stroke, heart attack, thickening of heart walls, etc. That might scare her into it. I also know there are a couple of CPAP forums which I've linked below where people discuss the night and day difference between how they felt before and how they felt after CPAP started. Those types of threads are usually stickied, so they shouldn't be hard to find. If she is always tired, she may be intrigued by the possibility of not being tired if she gets checked out. If not, visiting the sites may give you more information you need to really press upon her. Good luck! It's an important cause.

http://www.cpaptalk.com/CPAP-Sleep-A...bdb10f1ac586c3

http://www.apneasupport.org/

She is just convinced it is because of the weight that she put on after having our children. It does scare me. Just the thought of anything happening to her. I will let her know about the forums, and try to get her to take a look at them. I have also been thinking about recording her sleep with a hope that she hears what I do.

Originally Posted by Junior

She is just convinced it is because of the weight that she put on after having our children. It does scare me. Just the thought of anything happening to her. I will let her know about the forums, and try to get her to take a look at them. I have also been thinking about recording her sleep with a hope that she hears what I do.

Junior... I am a woman, a mother, a wife, and I SWEAR, just reading this forum made me eager to find out if I had it. I called hubby and asked them if I had a normal sleep and, apparently, I do. My best tip, for your situation, is to suggest your wife to read this entire thread.... and if trhe scary stuff doens't convince her, the amazing love in your tone and your genuine concernes about something happening to her WILL convince her. Gee... I almost cried....

Originally Posted by Emerald

Junior... I am a woman, a mother, a wife, and I SWEAR, just reading this forum made me eager to find out if I had it. I called hubby and asked them if I had a normal sleep and, apparently, I do. My best tip, for your situation, is to suggest your wife to read this entire thread.... and if trhe scary stuff doens't convince her, the amazing love in your tone and your genuine concernes about something happening to her WILL convince her. Gee... I almost cried....

Thank you I will try to get her to read it tonight. Wish me luck. I don't know what I would do with out her.

Originally Posted by Junior

She is just convinced it is because of the weight that she put on after having our children. It does scare me. Just the thought of anything happening to her. I will let her know about the forums, and try to get her to take a look at them. I have also been thinking about recording her sleep with a hope that she hears what I do.

Tell her you love her and you want to spend many, many years together. Then ask her to get tested "for you".

If that doesn't work make an appointment, tell here your taking here to lunch and deliver here at the doc's office!

[BeerAdvocate]

Im giving my father in law an oximeter to wear over night to see what his O2 stats drop to. I am hoping he can take the report to his doctor and that Dr will see how bad his sleep apnea is, and just bypass the sleep study and prescribe him a CPAP.

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

Im giving my father in law an oximeter to wear over night to see what his O2 stats drop to. I am hoping he can take the report to his doctor and that Dr will see how bad his sleep apnea is, and just bypass the sleep study and prescribe him a CPAP.

Good idea Travis. Hope it works.

Let us know.

[Nabinger16]

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

Im giving my father in law an oximeter to wear over night to see what his O2 stats drop to. I am hoping he can take the report to his doctor and that Dr will see how bad his sleep apnea is, and just bypass the sleep study and prescribe him a CPAP.

He will still have to go through some form of titration study for the CPAP. I can't really see a physician skipping the sleep study entirely though, but every doctor is different so who knows. The important part is he seeks the treatment he needs.

Best of luck! A new life could be on the horizon for your father-in-law.

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

Im giving my father in law an oximeter to wear over night to see what his O2 stats drop to. I am hoping he can take the report to his doctor and that Dr will see how bad his sleep apnea is, and just bypass the sleep study and prescribe him a CPAP.

They will still need to determine what CPAP pressure setting is necessary through a study, so he won't be able to skip it entirely. You could save him one of the two trips though.

One thing I hadn't mentioned before but should have is that my dad actually had the studies conducted at home. They came out and set everything up before bed, and returned in the morning to get all the equipment, data, etc., so he could do it from his own bed. One of the most unpleasant parts of the sleep study is sleeping in the lab (though they do a nice job of making it kind of like a bare-bones hotel room as opposed to a hospital). If you can avoid that aspect, perhaps some of you who are reluctant to go through with the process will give it a shot.

[BeerAdvocate]

Originally Posted by BigCat

They will still need to determine what CPAP pressure setting is necessary through a study, so he won't be able to skip it entirely. You could save him one of the two trips though.

Some doctors (around here anyway) will have the patient skip the sleep study all together, and prescribe them a Bipap machine that has a vairable pressure setting. I work for a medical supply company and sometimes Dr's will send a patient over with his O2 sats and an RX for a Bipap machine.
It just depends on how bad their sats are.

I think I'll get this checked out when I get back home. My wife thinks I may have an issue, but I don't have problems with my sleep. I do snore, but I don't ever recall waking up short of breath. I'm mostly a side sleeper, and sometimes sleep on my back.

However, if there is a potential issue, I want to get it taken care of ASAP.

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by kayaker

I think I'll get this checked out when I get back home. My wife thinks I may have an issue, but I don't have problems with my sleep. I do snore, but I don't ever recall waking up short of breath. I'm mostly a side sleeper, and sometimes sleep on my back.

However, if there is a potential issue, I want to get it taken care of ASAP.

Ian, I never noticed waking up with gasping for breath, even though I have severe apnea, so that is no indication.

[eber]

I have a consultation scheduled tomorrow with the sleep wellness institute, then an appointment for the study will be made

Originally Posted by kaisersozei

Tonight's the night--depending on how tired I am tomorrow I'll post up some "educational" information & pictures for those of you who are being evaluated or considering an evaluation.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by eber

I have a consultation scheduled tomorrow with the sleep wellness institute, then an appointment for the study will be made

Great news!!

[jkim05]

My dad finally got his results, I'm not sure of all the details, but I think he said he got a 99 so he does in fact have sleep apnea.

[Nabinger16]

Originally Posted by jkim05

My dad finally got his results, I'm not sure of all the details, but I think he said he got a 99 so he does in fact have sleep apnea.

If he had an AHI of 99 he does indeed have some pretty severe sleep apnea. Anything over 30 is considered severe.

My wife read thru this thread, and is now going to talk to her doctor.

Originally Posted by Junior

My wife read thru this thread, and is now going to talk to her doctor.

Your post just made my day. I have a huge smile right now. Tell your wife, thank you, from me.

Keep us posted please.

Originally Posted by Junior

My wife read thru this thread, and is now going to talk to her doctor.

She is going to the doctor on Thursday. I will update when I know something.

[eber]

I had my consultation today and scheduled my sleep study for 5/26, they showed me the sleep rooms and WOW they are nicer than my bedroom at my apartment o

Updated List:

eber - Erik (5/26)
beeradvocate - Travis - (Father-In-Law)
dentonparrots - Carl
kaisersozei - Gerard May 14
tripp - Tripp
ggainey - Greg
emjaysmash - M.J.
awsmith4 - Albert
jkim05 - Jeremy - (Dad - awaiting results)
junior - (wife)