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Sleep Apnea? (Read 583 times)

    Does anyone have sleep apnea? I have been finding that every so often during the night (like once or twice a week) I jump awake trying to catch my breath/ feel like im choking. I will talk to my doctor, but I just wanted to see if any of you have gone through something like that.
      I might have had very slight apnea when I was weighing around 320 but went away with the weight(along with the snoring). Definitely go see the doctor about it.
        why yes I do. Have been using a CPAP machine for 3 or 4 years. Usually it shows up in older, heavier males. You do a sleep study at a sleep center to determine it for sure. Your husband may be able to shed some light on this. SA may also present with snoring...do you snore heavily? Are you tired in the afternoon, wake up feeling like you should go back to bed? There are many websites that have some questionaires on them that may give you some more depth and give you a base to discuss with your doctor. Could also be stuffiness and the resulting Post nasal Drip from allergies associated with Dust mites...
          hmm well I dont seem to match many of the symptoms. Dont snore or feel stuffy and I am not overweight. I just simply stop breathing until I jump awake and feel like I was choking. I am usually tired all day and do not feel refreshed in the am but I thought that was just normal. DH is no help because he never remembers anything from the night. In fact I remember him asking if I was okay a few times that I jumped awake, but he doesn't remember it. Roll eyes Ill see what the doc has to say. Im not all that worried just curious.
            You are pretty young....but you do need to get it checked out. there is a laundry list of things that can happen as a result of SA, but these are for long term untreated SA. Your tiredness probably isn't all that normal, you should be full of zip. Of course, there are other factors that feed into that...how many hours of sleep you get a night, kids waking you up, etc...
              Thanks Cagery ill let you know what i learn


              A is A

                Sounds a little like me. It's like I'm holding my breath and I have to force myself to breathe, eventually waking up freaked-out. I haven't done this in some time, though. I thought it was likely related to stress in some way. I also have a tendency to hold my breathe in general -- weird I know. Sometimes if I am running easily enough, I find that I hold my breath, then the stitches come to wake me out of my trance which reminds me to start breathing again! Yes, weirder, I know. Beats me what it's about. If the apnea is causing serious, and consistent sleeping problems for you, I hope your doctor can find an answer. (I find that the better shape I am in, the less stress I have, the less sleep problems I have, at any rate.)


                Old, Slow, Happy

                  Hi, I've been wearing a CPAP mask for 4 years. In that time, I began running and changed my eating habits. When I started I weighed about 295. After 4 years, I weigh 200. I run about 45 miles per week. I never sleep without my CPAP. The sleep clinic doctor told me I would not likely need the CPAP if I lost 50 lbs. I still need it after losing more than 90. It have been turned down to a low setting, but if I don't use it I get the same issues you are describing. I would recommend that you talk with you doctor and have a sleep clinic study done. It is painless, but a little obnoxious to deal with. I recommend the CPAP over any surgery's. The surgery is painful and temporary. The stuff they do grows back. You could try a Breathright strip at night. That might help a little. If any of you have sleep apnea, you will feel much better if you find a way to treat it. It really saps your energy. Good Luck!!! Richard Nyce
                    I don't know a lot about this, but know that I have a friend who has this. He finally broke down and agreed to go to a sleep center and they found out that he actually stopped breathing many times during the night. Sometimes only for a few seconds and sometimes for much longer. I know he ended up with some type of machine (apparatus) and medication and the last time I saw him ( a few years ago) he was resting a lot better nad therefore feeling a lot better.

                    LPH

                    "Today I broke my record for most consecutive days lived!"

                    jimmytownnative


                      I know a little bit about this because of my grad school studies. I did a presentation on it once. Basically there are two forms; Central and Obstructive. Central is less common and is the result of imbalances of 5-HT (serotonin) receptors in your brain. This version is far far less common, but more dangerous. It is accompanied by fewer symptoms and is generally marked by a depression in oxygen flow to the brain from longer pauses in breathing. Obstructive is the common form of sleep apnea. Basically it result from the soft tissue in your airway being obstructed (hence the name). This can be caused by a number of reasons that result from the loss of muscle tone during sleep. My guess is you may have a mild obstructive sleep apnea. Most people who encounter Central Sleep Apnea don't awake during their apneas because it's not as easily sensed within the brain. If you haven't had your tonsils removed this may also be a cause of it. OSA is typically accompanied by anxiety, restlessness during sleep, weight issues, headaches...things like that. The breathing pauses are generally 10 seconds long. Definitely see a doctor if it's a common problem.
                        I have sleep apnea. I had the surgery for it a few years back and things improved quite a bit. Before the surgery I snored a lot and woke up frequently. Since then I have symptoms more like yours. On occasion I'll wake up choking or gasping, but only if I'm on my back with my head in just the right position. It's not a fun experience! Now, not only do I not snore, but I can't even do an imitation of a snore! Before surgery I was about 190 pounds and have since dropped down to about 175. I also had symptoms when I was a skinny kid though, so weight isn't always a factor. It's probably worth talking to a specialist and having a sleep study. Go to the study tired, because they hook so much stuff up to you that you'll have trouble getting to sleep. They'll only call it sleep apnea if you wake up a certain number of times per minute. It's possible that you wake up more than you realize, but only remember the more dramatic times. My sleep specialist recommended the surgery because of my age and health. Others may suggest a CPAP. My father also has it and his doctor suggested sewing a tennis ball into the back of a t-shirt so he can't sleep on his back.

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                        1/2 - 1:29:38 - 5/30/10
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                          Thanks for all of the info. I read that it can be hereditary and recently learned that my dad, dad's cousin and has it and my grandfather did as well.