west-bus
09.Sep.2012
Sleep apnea
It happened about a year ago. I had my usual late night aka hour together with my daily half litre shandy and finishing the evening off with my usual glass of port wine. I remember the night well because I went to bed feeling elated at being awarded a TU from our very own Colleen. It was and still is, a rare event for me!
The night passed away like any other and I awoke to the sun shining into the bedroom. At first I hadn't noticed it but after several more seconds came the realisation that I had stopped breathing and, to my horror, it failed to start again. I was in a state of panic and fear that I had never known. I’m going and nobody to help me. With one last effort I managed to open the bedroom door, I tried to shout but it was so weak I could hardly hear myself. A few more moments went by and it was then, just as I was about to fall, that my breathing started again, slow at first, then a little longer and deeper. I was going to live after all. The next day I gave an account of this to my GP but he didn’t seem too concerned “Ah, sleep apnea, lots of people have it, don’t worry”.
There was no further occurrence till a week ago and this time I insisted on a thorough examination by a specialist. My appointment is tomorrow (10.Sep. at 07:30) at a so called sleep lab followed by one or more nights there hooked up to a computer and monitor.
Of course I now know a lot more about sleep apnea and the risks involved and I just wondered if anyone on aka suffers or has suffered from it.
12 Answers
jhharlan
Ann
That is a very scary experience. I dont have sleep apnea, but I took care of a man 3yrs. ago who did. He always slept in his recliner and had a machine with a mask atached, that delivered air pressure through his nose. He had to wear the mask, covering his mouth and nose. There might be other treatments available. You did the right thing by going to a sleep lab. Good luck and let us know the outcome.
| 12 years ago. Rating: 21 | |
Colleen
It's a pretty rare event for many people to get a TU from me. I give TU's only when deserved, not simply because someone posted something. For all the questions I answer here, I get relatively few TUs. I have high karma because I've answered almost 50,000 questions in the year and a half that I've been here. Many of my answers never get a TU. So yes, please do enjoy the TU you get from me and know that you really earned it ;)
Good luck with your sleep apnea. It seems to affect a lot of people in the world. I've never experienced it but I have suffered from anxiety attacks and those can be pretty scary too.
| 12 years ago. Rating: 17 | |
A lot of it is the fact that I spend so much time answering questions, I do not have the time to go around TUing people. Even when I'm checking answers, I'm mostly just checking certain names to make sure they are behaving, so I do miss a lot of answers by the other members. A moderator's forum life is a busy life with not much time to sit and TU people. I know I find myself surprised when I see TUs from a lot of different people here. I'm use to being ignored because I'm the big bad, mean moderator. Oh well. Someone has to be the bad guy :)
doolittle
They have a machine and nose mask they can give you that continually gives you airflow. Yours sounds quite severe. Usually just rolling off your back and onto your side is enough to open your airway. (alcohol relaxes the inside of your mouth and, in certain positions the relaxed position can temporarily block the wind pipe). I hope your test goes well. It sounds very scary to wake up and not be able to make yourself breathe!
| 12 years ago. Rating: 16 | |
Tommyh
Deleted User
Sounds like you need to go to a sleep lab :( ..
That sleep apnea is a strange thing I have many friends with it the wake up with mask face, they are forever doing things at the sleep lab..
Most actually sleep raised or on a wedge, good luck with it ..
Even listening to someone on a machine at night with that is scary..
| 12 years ago. Rating: 13 | |
Bob/PKB
Thank you for explaining the experience, west-bus; one of my best friends has been diagnosed with sleep apnea and wears the mask that has been described by a couple of our members here. She says she awakens with the mask lying next to her on the bed. How she manages to dislodge it is beyond me. If her experience had been as horrifying as yours (and just thinking about it terrifies me), she didn't tell me. I think her son (early 40's) also has it.
Good for you to NOT just let it go, but to insist on diagnosis and treatment.
| 12 years ago. Rating: 12 | |
facebook
I just wonder if you ever practice breathing excersize, I'm not a Dr. but maybe give it a try and see if it helps, when you do this is like you control your breathing and not just a subconsious thing, and when this APNEA occur to you again you might recall your breathing pratice. JUST A THOUGH , GOOD LUCK!
| 12 years ago. Rating: 12 | |
Chiangmai
The moral of this story: be careful what you wish for especially with regards to TUs. They can be hazardous to your health.
| 12 years ago. Rating: 11 | |
lambshank
Dardaigh
Sorry you have to wait one more entire week. :(
Ich hoffe, es geht alles gut für dich, mein Freund.
((((West))))
| 12 years ago. Rating: 8 | |
mycatsmom
Sleep apnea- - - - I had it when I was in middle school. I think it was caused by anxiety. But, for older people, it seems to go with being overweight. There is too much tissue in the soft palate area, and sometimes the uvula is swollen. A friend of mine just had surgery for that and she's only 35. Don't fall asleep on your back. That'll tend to bring it on. Sometimes drinking too much before bedtime can bring it on. Smoking is a cause, too. The good thing about it is that when it happens, it startles you awake ----taking deep breaths. So, it doesn't hurt you in the long run.
| 12 years ago. Rating: 4 | |
